The Media Online’s weekly round up of people, account and business moves in media.
This week’s BIG move: MediaCom rated as SA’s top agency in COMvergence rankings
After assessing 3 582 media account moves and retentions across 46 countries, COMvergence has named MediaCom as the number one new business agency for 2020. This honour applies to both MediaCom Global and MediaCom South Africa, who has had an extremely successful year despite the challenges and ever-changing landscape brought on by the pandemic.
Prioritising a purposeful talent strategy to realise this big-picture goal was crucial, explained MediaCom SA CEO Ashish Williams, as he shared how talent and technology paved the way to success – despite a pandemic.
In a 2017 interview, Ashish shared this bold vision: to make MediaCom the number one media agency in South Africa.
“To create and secure long-term growth for not only our company, but our clients as well, required a purpose-driven path. Having a vision is only the start. This is why MediaCom’s ethos is that we don’t just dream – we do,” said Williams. “And without putting people first, which we see as our talent and our clients, these achievements would never have been realised.”
People moves
SABC Radio appoints four radio business managers
The South African Broadcasting Corporation has appointed four business managers to oversee six of its radio stations. These critical appointments form part of the new structure of the corporation’s radio portfolio that will ensure audience and revenue growth. The public broadcaster congratulates the following Business Managers on their respective appointments and wishes them well in their new roles:
Sbongi Ngcobo, business manager – Ukhozi FM. Ngcobo began her career at the SABC as marketing manager for trufm. Before this appointment, she was Ukhozi fm’s acting station manager, a position she held from February 2018. Ngcobo holds a BA degree from the University of Natal (now University of KwaZulu Natal) where she majored in English and Media and Communication for her undergraduate degree and Cultural Media Studies in her Honours Degree. Ngcobo has also studied a People Management Programme at GIBS Business School.
JD Mostert, Business Manager: PCS Combo (5FM and Good Hope FM). Mostert, previously the station manager at 5FM, is a media enthusiast with more than 12 years’ experience in the media industry. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Gordon Institute of Business Science Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), has a Post Graduate Diploma in General Management (PGDip) from Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), as well as a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management (BCom) from the University of Pretoria.
Louise Jooste, business manager – RSG has been with RSG (and the SABC) for just over 14 years, where she played an integral part of the station’s strategy and illustrated through many successful marketing campaigns how powerful the Afrikaans radio station and its audience are. She has also been more involved in the daily operations of the radio station as acting programme manager, working closely with the current station manager to continue driving one of the top brands of the SABC. Jooste holds an Honours Degree in Communications from North West University and complemented it with Business Management studies at Wits Business School.
Madikana Matjila, business manager – Limpopo Combo (Munghana Lonene FM, Thobela FM and Phalaphala FM). Matjila previously held the position of Station Manager at Thobela FM since January 2020. Mr. Matjila is a professional radio broadcasting manager, who possesses career experience and formal training in radio production, community media and broadcast policy and compliance. He holds a Master’s degree in Media Studies from the University of Limpopo, an Advanced Radio certificate from the University of Witwatersrand and a Performance Management certificate from the Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership.
hoola Modern Agency elevates marketing offering with appointment of new head of digital innovations
hoola Modern Agency recently welcomed their new head of digital innovations, Esther McGeer, to elevate the dynamic digital solutions which the agency offers.
McGeer, who comes with a wealth of experience after working in the media and communications industry for 15 years, and who completed a degree in language and communications at the University of Pretoria, said being part of a modern agency not only meant aspiring to work differently by working more closely with clients to develop solutions that significantly impact business goals, but also meant staying agile and open to optimisation in all that they do.
“It really is about wanting to understand consumers and how they are evolving, as well as tapping into insights around who they are and how to present the brands we partner with to them,” she said.
She added that COVID-19 had created a bigger need for businesses to advertise online and more businesses were pushing higher advertising spend into the digital sphere, which has led to a “very noisy environment” for consumers, causing them to fall into advertising paralysis.
Business moves
Wavemaker South Africa named 2020’s most successful agency
In the just released report from the independent research company, Wavemaker leads the agency ranking with a new business result of $25m in new client wins.
Wavemaker’s leadership position follows recent new business successes, including snapping up accounts for Telkom Group, Huawei Mobile Services, Viacom, and Campari.
Lwandile Qokweni, CEO of Wavemaker South Africa, said, “We’ve worked incredibly hard to consistently build the scale and expertise it takes to provoke growth for all our clients in a tough environment – and still win new business.”
In March of 2020 Wavemaker relaunched with an evolved proposition, product and attitude to refocus the agency for growth and global consistency. The new positioning, Positive Provocation, focuses on creating growth for brands through bold change, enabled by the agency’s new modular AI powered planning process.
“Our data-driven approach to strategy, alongside our provocative planning proposition positioned Wavemaker as the go-to partner for brands who are looking to grow fearlessly,” said Qokweni
OFyt creates brand collateral for newly launched Galaxy and Co.
Old Friends Young Talent (OFyt) – that bunch of wise, very experienced advertising people working with some very smart, younger, slightly better-looking people – recently created the brand collateral for TFG (The Foschini Group) re imagined pure play jewellery brand, Galaxy and Co.
The relationship between TFG and OFyt started with the agency redesigning the American Swiss brand identity in 2017 and delivering additional brand and design solutions across their jewellery offerings which includes Sterns.
The current relationship has grown to extend into group marketing and OFyt continues to build brand driven solutions within the bigger ecosystem. The result is the latest work on Galaxy and Co.
OFyt was handed the re imagined brand identity which allowed the team to be completely objective about the application and roll-out thereof into a digital space. in a way we have not done before as an agency.
Contrary to Galaxy and Co’s previous form and focus, the brand is wanting to connect with the younger, fashion conscious consumer.
2AM Agency gets creative to deliver innovative, accessible Old Mutual Alternative Investments Sustainability Report
How do you present the annual sustainability data of a large financial services company in a format other than the traditional print or pdf report? This was the question for 2AM Agency when Old Mutual Alternative Investments (OMAI) tasked them with devising a fresh, more effective format for the Sustainability Report.
2AM’s solution came in the form of a creative concept that speaks to the core values of OMAI, while simultaneously highlighting the company’s commitment to sustainability, as well as the unique way in which they draw on both data and cultural insight to ensure they invest with significance.
ESG – short for Environmental, Social and Governance – refers to a set of standards that measure a company’s operations to ensure they’re acting as responsible corporate citizens. As such, illustrating OMAI’s dual approach to ESG had to be at the core of the creative concept.
Rather than another sleek book, 2AM opted to instead create a real-time online portal where new and existing customers can access information about the company’s investment performance in this area.
Recognising that Old Mutual has offices across the African continent, 2AM knew they had to marry the cultural insights garnered from the men and women on the ground with the analytics and data analysis capabilities, as well as the heritage that set Old Mutual apart from their competitors.
Facebook Paid Online Events enables local businesses and content creators to monetise events
Facebook has launched their Paid Online Events tool in South Africa, enabling content creators and businesses to earn money and thrive on the platform. Paid Online Events is available in 20 countries and is expanding to 24 additional countries in the coming weeks, with South Africa being the first country in Africa where the tool is launching.
Said Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, head of strategic media partnerships, Sub-Saharan Africa: “Since launching Paid Online Events in August 2020, it has grown tremendously, providing creators and businesses another valuable way to earn money on Facebook. Many conference organisers, musicians, trainers, theatre producers, creators and businesses are losing revenue during the pandemic due to social distancing measures. Paid online events will help them to reconnect with their fans, monetize and reach larger audiences all around the world.”
With Paid Online Events, your guests can watch your paid event through the Facebook event page on their phone, tablet or computer, or through the Facebook TV app. Paid Online Events work with the live video method that works best for your needs, whether that’s Facebook Live or a third-party site.
Narratiive launches new brand look and website
Narratiive has refreshed its brand and visual identity across all its platforms. It has new logo and colors, reflecting its mission to power conversations between marketers, publishers and providers with insights and intelligence (the ii’s in Narratiive). There’s also a new site and blog section, to keep clients up to date on the industry. And there’s an updated product suite, with a clearer segmentation by customer types, showcasing what we have to offer and how it can benefit you.
Reed Exhibition’s framework for safety
To reflect the essential role that the exhibitions and events industry has in helping to protect the health and well-being of customers and employees, Reed Exhibitions Africa has established a robust programme of measures for Covid-19 safety and compliance.
“While no organisation or industry sector can guarantee complete safety from an ever-changing virus, Reed Exhibitions Africa has already implemented the framework for a consistent and coherent programme of enhanced measures to ensure our shows and events have human health and well-being as our number one priority when next we meet in organised gatherings,” said managing direct Carol Weaving.
The enhanced health and well-being protocols include the precautions and preventive measures for organised industry gatherings that will emerge post Covid-19 are encompassed in a five-point plan covering collaboration and engagement with the relevant authorities; risk management by working closely with relevant partners to conduct dynamic risk assessments leading up to the show; early planning and collaboration with venue owners, partners and the relevant authorities; continued communications with all stakeholders and attendees through a variety of channels and platforms to ensure optimal safety of all; and precautionary measures, controls and counter-measures that will deliver – as far as reasonably practicable and in line with all best-practice directions – a safe and secure show setting and visitor experience.
Moving Walls Group launches dedicated VideOOH portal
Moving Walls group, a provider of location-based and out of home (OOH) media technology in Asia, has launched VideOOH.Deals, an e-commerce platform that connects all advertisers to curated audience-based deals for real-world video advertising on Out-of-Home (OOH) media.
OOH advertising is expensive. It cannot be measured. It is a luxury brand awareness medium available to those with hefty budgets. These are just some of the feelings around OOH. The medium has not been helped by the uncertainty around people movement that has seen marketers shift to digital. In fact, OOH and other traditional media experienced the biggest declines in media spends.
The VideOOH Deals platform has been built to address some of these barriers. It presents affordable deals based on real-time inventory information and makes it accessible to any business regardless of their size or stage of growth. Finally, the deals are all audience-based and come with a guarantee of delivery.
The platform is powered by Location Media Xchange (LMX), the group’s independent supply-focused arm.
Making moves
Briefly News the first SA media company to join the UN Sustainable Development Goals media compact
Briefly.co.za has reached another major milestone by joining the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Media Compact. Briefly News will now play a critical role in raising awareness about the SDG.
Briefly.co.za is the only South African media company on the United Nation’s SDG Media Compact list at present.
It is a special privilege that the UN extends to leading media organisations around the world to partake in the collective responsibility of making the world a safer and better place, as envisioned in the SDG agenda.
“This gives Briefly News the chance to engage with the United Nations while highlighting issues pertaining to Sustainable Development Goals,” said Briefly.co.za’s managing director, Rianette Cluley.
Before joining the UN’s SDG Media Compact, Briefly.co.za had already contributed to the SDG through its consistent coverage of life-changing human-interest stories, alongside Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes that have positively impacted the lives of many to date.
Ster-Kinekor’s CSI flagship programme, Vision Mission, screened learners for a #Back2School campaign
Ster-Kinekor’s longstanding CSI project, Vision Mission, provides eye care for children in underprivileged areas – this also includes corneal transplants sponsored by reputable donors and partners. Vision Mission screened leaners from Soweto in partnership with Coca Cola SA, Meals on Wheels, and Shoes 4 Soul for the KayaFM #Back2School campaign.
“Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, we made sure that all health and safety regulations were adhered. Learners were screened and sanitised on entering the school. Masks for the learners and sanitizers were handed out to everybody in attendance,” Ster Kinekor said in a press release.
Over the years all the Ster Kinekor’s Vision Mission campaigns main purpose were to identify learners in disadvantaged schools who had challenges with their eyesight and failed to comprehend the teachings on the board. In view of this, the #BacktoSchool campaign will be one of the many focus areas in 2021 for Ster Kinekor’s Vision Mission. We will use campaigns such as this one to detect early eye challenges of learners.
SA’s biggest board meeting, The Directors Event, will focus on reimagining South Africa
Now in its seventh year and billed as ‘SA’s biggest board meeting,’ The Directors Event – futured by BCX, and presented in association with the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA) – is part of the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies profile that will focus on the myriad of opportunities that the Covid-19 crisis has created for the country to reimagine, innovate and do things differently.
This year’s event takes place online on 11 June and is themed Reimagining South Africa. Three expertly moderated panel discussions will aim to deliver a greater understanding of what can be learnt from the past months in terms of building a leading digital economy to support SA’s economic revival; the necessity for investment in affordable, high quality technology and skills development; and reviewing a healthcare system that has been stretched beyond capacity.
S’thembiso Msomi, editor of the Sunday Times, believes it is crucial for the country to address the socio-economic hardships that have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic but says: “It is also time for South Africans to prove their mettle in rising above adversity with an attitude of innovation and progress, to ensure we do not remain on the backfoot in years to come. We need to learn and adapt at speed, and do everything we can to let this experience drive our determination to overcome and thrive. As the editor of South Africa’s biggest-selling English newspaper, it’s a privilege to drive the impact of The Directors Event.”
KFM and premium fresh-fruit brand Tru-Cape launch fitness challenge
The Tru-Cape Fitness Challenge, in conjunction with radio KFM 94.7, runs until 29 March. Runners, cyclists, spinners, swimmers, joggers or those just starting their fitness journey are all invited to get involved by logging kilometres and calories burnt via an @KFM link.
The largest exporter of South African apples and pears is entirely owned by its growers. Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing growers produce apples and pears sold throughout South Africa and in 105 countries around the globe. As eating fresh fruit and vegetables is a proven part of a healthy and immune-system boosting diet, Tru-Cape focuses its sponsorship efforts on healthy pursuits in which the whole family can participate.
Rotary International invites organisations to exhibit initiatives to further expand impactful socio-economic change in Africa
Uniting people from all continents and cultures and taking action to deliver real, long-term solutions to some of the world’s most persistent issues, is the cornerstone of what this global network is all about. 2021 sees Rotary International celebrate 100 years in Africa – a century of doing good and facilitating impactful socio-economic change on the continent.
Their 1.2 million members take action to create lasting change, pouring their passion and integrity into completing projects that have a lasting impact.
This year’s Zone 22 Rotary Africa Centennial International Conference is taking place on the 24 and 25 April and will see delegates from around the world gather online to hear from and network with leading visionaries, pioneers, leaders and icons.
Because real-life humanitarian service happens when business and professional leaders partner for good, this African House of Friendship Virtual Projects Fair will unpack the latest trends, challenges and innovations in the local and international socio-economic, impact investing and volunteering space.
