The Media Online’s weekly round up. Tanja Lategan joins Creative Spark as MD. Condé Nast Independent Magazines senior management team strengthened. Linda Gibson heads Conde Nast commercial. Natasha Omokhodion-Banda takes helm at Ninety9cents Lusaka office. Vuma sings MOUs with four African comms agencies. GreenQueen Communications to represent WOW Cosmetics South Africa. ASG and Bidvest Car Rental join hands in cycling deal. UrbanHouse Media celebrates fifth anniversary with expansion.
This week’s BIG move: Tanja Lategan joins Creative Spark as MD
Creative Spark has announced the appointment of a new managing director, Tanja Lategan (pictured left), who will steer the digital agency through its next phase of growth and ramp up the company’s integrated marketing offering. Former MD, Matthew Buckland, moves into a group role as founder and chief executive of digital, with a focus on key Creative Spark clients and group digital clients.
Creative Spark, acquired by the M&C Saatchi Group in 2015, is a Johannesburg and Cape Town-based specialist digital agency partnering with clients Philips, Kimberly-Clark, EOH and Gautrain. More recently the agency has been appointed as the digital transformation partner for Medscheme and full-service digital agency for the Danone stable of brands, which includes NutriDay, Ultramel and YogiSip.
Lategan will oversee the delivery and continued growth of the seven-year old agency comprising of about 60 people that provides strategic digital solutions, creative digital design, web and app development to clients in both South Africa, across the continent, and within the M&C Saatchi network.
Lategan comes with 14-years digital experience – most recently heading up Primedia Online, where she was responsible for the launch of sales agency Dash of Lime and founded the content marketing business Juice Content.
“I am very excited to join such an inspirational group of creative companies. As a member of the M&C Saatchi Group, Creative Spark is in a position to provide brilliantly simple solutions for their clients, delivered by their diversity of talent, range of services and ability to innovate,” Lategan says.
People moves
Condé Nast senior management team strengthened with Khoza and Gibson
To complement the dynamic senior management team at Condé Nast Independent Magazines (CNIM), the company recently appointed Mbuso Khoza (pictured left) as group business director and Linda Gibson as commercial director.
Khoza, who currently heads Independent Media’s lifestyle division, has been given the added responsibility of assisting Michelle Fenwick, MD of CNIM in executing the new business strategy for the group. With a strong FMCG marketing, strategy execution and project management background, Khoza joined Independent Media 18 months ago.
Her responsibilities included the redesign of the various lifestyle platforms within the group which has led to the relaunch of the Entertainment, Lifestyle and Travel verticals on iol.co.za, as well as the recent launch of Saturday Live, a national lifestyle supplement on Independent Media’s Saturday publications.
Linda Gibson heads Conde Nast commercial
Linda Gibson (pictured left), a media industry stalwart with over 20 years of sales and advertising experience, will complement Fenwick’s senior management team. As commercial director, she will assume full responsibility for the sales operation of CNIM with a focus on print, digital, events and custom solutions while also overseeing the commercial portfolio of Independent Media’s Lifestyle division.
Fenwick, who replaced retired magazine doyenne and founding director, Elizabeth Rees-Jones in January 2015, expressed her delight at having Khoza and Gibson by her side. “It is with great pleasure that I welcome Mbuso and Linda to Condé Nast Independent Magazines. It illustrates the depth of talent within Independent Media that the ideal candidates where found within the Group. We are a small dynamic team and I am confident that having them on board we are destined for greater achievements.
“Both executives have the expertise and gravitas needed to boost the CNIM team. They have made a significant impact on Independent Media’s new content solutions platforms and revenue generation and I’m confident that their expertise will boost the CNIM business objectives,” said owner, Dr Iqbal Survé.
Gareth Grant joins The MediaShop
The MediaShop’s Johannesburg MD, Kgaugelo Maphai, has announced the appointment of Gareth Grant (pictured left) as business unit manager to head up the Nedbank account.
“We’re delighted to have Gareth on board and we’re already seeing the positive impact and attitude he has been displaying in the few short days since he’s been with the team,” says Kgaugelo. “He has experienced both the agency and client side of media and brings with him a fresh perspective on managing a financial account.”
Having joined the advertising industry in 2005, Grant quickly made a name for himself in the industry. As a newbie he was invited to guest lecturer at the AAA during 2006 and 2008, providing unique insights into his first impressions of the workplace. From his humble beginnings at UM as a media planner, Grant quickly proved his worth over the next few years, landing a great opportunity as senior media strategist at FNB, a position he held for four years before joining The MediaShop team.
Natasha Omokhodion-Banda takes helm at Ninety9cents Lusaka office
Ninety9cents (99c) has appointed Natasha Omokhodion-Banda (pictured left) as the managing director of the Lusaka office. Omokhodion-Banda will be responsible for heading up the agency’s operations, and ultimately, growing the agency into broader Africa.
Andrew Brand, MD at 99c, says, “Opening the Lusaka office has been new territory for us, and we knew we needed to find the perfect candidate to manage the business.
“Natasha’s passion and drive to do great work is extremely admirable and something we look for in our people, while her impeccable credentials gives us a strategic edge to create real momentum in the market. I have every faith that she will help us make our mark as a pan-African independent group.”
Omokhodion-Banda’s experience spans a decade across a wide range of disciplines, including media planning and buying, public relations, event management, brand development, and corporate communications. She has previously held positions as media specialist at Zamtel (Zambia), head of media and PR at The Jupiter Drawing Room in Lusaka, and country head of marketing at Ecobank Zambia.
Business moves
Vuma signs MOUs with four African comms agencies
Vuma Reputation Management has announced that it has signed memorandums of understanding (MOU) with four leading African communications agencies, boosting the footprint of this leading South African reputation and crisis management company across the continent.
Vuma Reputation Management is a certified AAA Level 1 contributor to broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) with a proven track record for working with multi-national companies across Africa.
In line with its strategy to grow its presence in Africa, the Johannesburg-headquartered company announced that it had signed MOUs with the following agencies.
- Kenya – BSD Group (based in Nairobi)
- Ethiopia – Zeleman (based in Addis Ababa)
- Ghana – Prosper Agbenyega (based in Accra)
- Zambia – Design Innovation (based at Lusaka)
“With economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa projected by the World Bank to rebound over the next three years, following a lull last year, we want to be part of this growth story and contribute to the advancement of our beautiful continent,” said Janine Hills, CEO and founder of Vuma Reputation Management, and also a board member for Brand South Africa.
As part of its expansion strategy, Vuma Reputation Management has established the Africa Division, which is led by Nonye Mpho Omotola, Business Director – Africa, who is a communications specialist with more than 15 years in strategic brand experience gained in the UK, South Africa, and Nigeria.
GreenQueen Communications to represent WOW Cosmetics South Africa
GreenQueen Communications has been appointed to represent WOW Cosmetics South Africa. GreenQueen specialises in consumer PR and promotions, alongside entrepreneurship.
The WOW Cosmetics brand was founded in Israel in 2005 with the primary aim of introducing quality cosmetics products at competitive prices. The WOW brand expanded rapidly and quickly became the cosmetics brand with the largest number of stores in Israel and entered the South African market in 2008 – bringing consumers on-trend, quality and premium cosmetics, affordably priced.
WOW Cosmetics boast a wide range of makeup, fashion accessories, and face, body and hair care products, appropriate for every age group and designed to satisfy the dynamic cosmetics needs. GreenQueen is looking forward to continuing the success of the brand.
Direct Pay Online Group acquires Virtual Card Services (VCS) South Africa
Direct Pay Online Group (DPO) has announced the acquisition of Virtual Card Services (VCS) South Africa. This marks the completion of DPO’s purchase of VCS Group, post the earlier acquisition of VCS Namibia and VCS Botswana. Furthermore this acquisition further bolsters DPO’s leading position in Southern Africa post its previous acquisitions of PayThru and PayGate.
VCS has over 20 years of experience in developing and implementing credit, debit and smart card processing systems for major card issuers in South Africa. DPO plans to merge both VCS SA and PayThru, which it acquired last month, with PayGate to create the leading Payments Service Provider in South Africa.
Last year, Direct Pay Online began its Southern African expansion by merging with PayGate (Pty) Ltd, a leading online payments processor in South Africa with over 15 years of experience and gateway integration to banks in 24 African markets. In March of this year, the group expanded into Botswana and Namibia with the acquisition of Virtual Card Services subsidiaries in both countries. Last month, DPO announced the acquisition of PayThru South Africa.
ASG and Bidvest Car Rental join hands in cycling deal
In a new deal for cycling races under their umbrella, ASG Events have announced a sponsorship agreement with Bidvest Car Rental set to benefit both parties. The partnership will see the Johannesburg-based rental company, who are already involved with the RoadCover team, extend their cycling sponsorship portfolio.
Bidvest sales and marketing executive Gaynor von Loggenburg said they had a strong sports footprint as they were the official car rental suppliers to both SA Rugby and Cricket SA. “Becoming involved with ASG Events is broadening the exposure of our brand in the ever-growing cycling arena. In addition, we are supporting something our customers are passionate about.”
Von Loggenburg said sports sponsorship had been an integral part of their strategy to build the Bidvest Car Rental brand since their launch.
ASG Events operations manager Darren Herbst said the partnership with Bidvest Car Rental would be a massive help given the logistics they faced with each event.
Making moves
UrbanHouse Media celebrates fifth anniversary with expansion
KZN-based PR and brand communications agency, UrbanHouse Media, is embracing the challenges of a growing business as they welcome Hilton Quarry Superspar and Tops to their client portfolio and expand their service offering to businesses that wish to get social media savvy, with the launch of The Green Light.
“We are delighted to be working with Hilton Quarry Superspar and Tops and look forward to adding to their public presence within local media and online,” says director of UrbanHouse Media, Cindy Kidger (centre).
Now in its fifth year, UrbanHouse Media has also amplified its offering by launching The Green Light – a training consultancy to assist, and equip, small business owners and entrepreneurs with the know-how and confidence to market their brands effectively online in this digitally-driven 21st century.
“It is essential that businesses and brands embrace the opportunities that digital trends can provide. We hope to enable brands to capitalise on their social media platforms; whether it be to generate leads, broaden public reach or maintain a positive public image,” says Kidger.
At the same time, UrbanHouse Media has welcomed a new member to the team, media communications intern, Cassandra Judd. Eager to accumulate some experience in the industry, Judd is in her second year at Varsity College (Pietermaritzburg) where she is completing a Corporate Communications degree.
New app for Dialdirect
Dialdirect has launched a smartphone App that uses the latest in international telematics technology to monitor driving behaviour.
Customers with comprehensive car insurance will benefit from receiving up to 75% of their premiums back in cash, every single month. This is significantly higher than what’s on offer by any competing insurance brands, and is the first offering of its kind in the market.
“It’s no secret that insurance is seen as a grudge purchase. With our App, we are turning this general consensus, as well as the traditional insurance model, on its head. Now, consumers have the opportunity to participate in their risk management and tangibly determine what they pay for insurance. In other words, do your thing, get back ching,” says Bianca de Beer, marketing manager of Dialdirect.
Rocking the Cradle
Hot 91.9FM is presenting the Magalies Rocks The Cradle Weekend Festival taking place from 25 – 27 August 2017. It is a three-day weekend festival for the whole family.
The Hot 91.9FM Magalies Rocks the Cradle Weekend Festival brings together billions of years of heritage, the very best in food, wine, craft beer and the peerless natural beauty of the Magaliesberg. Follow the art route, discover the kids route or browse the many markets for home-made and hand-made goodies.
Join Simon Parkinson on Friday on the Big Joburg Drive, The Mark Pilgrim Show on Saturday morning, and Joburg’s Best old Skool & R&B on Sunday. Stay the whole weekend or just stay for the day.
