Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. Ads24 appoints new general manager. Yolisa Phahle appointed as CEO of M-Net South Africa. Mabaso now head of local interest channels for M-Net. Ogilvy & Mather SA names Lauren Woolf as chief marketing & talent officer. Dennis joins Al Jazeera English. Aisha Mohamed leaves 5FM. New appointments at Tribeca Public Relations. BBC Worldwide appoints VP and GM for Africa. Jedd Cokayne heads the AMF. Steenberg has new marketing manager. Robertsons soars with marcusbrewster. FanPic digital brand experience arrives in South Africa. Gas Week 2014: Glass Slipper Communications. In-car marketing specialist AutoReach selects innovative print solution. Acceleration Media renamed 25AM as it charts a course for the future. Draftfcb simplifies brand to FCB In global name change. TREAD turns five, announces growth initiatives. NET1 Mobile Solutions launches Pay in Private in US
Who’s moved where
Ads24 appoints new general manager
Ané Honiball has been appointed as the new general manager for Ads24, the national sales and trade marketing division for Media24 News. This follows the resignation of Ads24 CEO, Linda Gibson, in January. Honiball has been promoted from her role as advertising manager at Media24 where she oversees Beeld, Rapport, Daily Sun, City Press and Sunday Sun. She was appointed to this role in 2013 to head up the integration of the advertising sales teams of the various titles. Prior to that she was in charge of the sales team for the former English titles.
Honiball’s career at Media24 began 14 years ago after completing her BCom (Law) degree at the University of Pretoria. She started work as a national sales consultant for Rapport and City Press in 2000.
Yolisa Phahle appointed As CEO of M-Net South Africa
MultiChoice South Africa Group CEO, Imtiaz Patel, has named Yolisa Phahle as the CEO of M-Net South Africa. M-Net is a wholly owned subsidiary of MultiChoice South Africa.
“We are delighted to appoint a person of Yolisa’s calibre to such a key position,” Patel said. “She is a rare talent and has proven herself to be a dynamic and extremely capable all-round broadcasting executive. We have no doubt that Yolisa will lead M-Net’s South African operations to even greater heights, cement its leadership in the media and entertainment space, and win over more loyal viewers to the range of channels offered by M-Net. Yolisa has been at the forefront of local content development, which has led to more diverse growth in the viewership base. ”
Phahle is currently the director for local interest channels at M-Net. She joined the group in 2005 as general manager of Channel O, spearheading the channel’s revival and turning it into the number one music channel in Africa.
Mabaso now head of local interest channels for M-Net
M-Net has named Nkateko Mabaso as director for Local Interest Channels in South Africa. Mabaso will succeed Yolisa Phahle, who becomes M-Net’s first CEO: South Africa. Mabaso is currently M-Net’s general manager for Local Interest Channels.
The CEO of M-Net Sub-Saharan Africa, Ms Patricia van Rooyen, said Mabaso joined M-Net in 2010 as Marketing Manager for Vuzu and Channel O. “He made a great contribution to the successful launch of the acclaimed Mzansi Magic channel and his role soon evolved into that of the head of marketing and public relations for Local Interest,” Van Rooyen said. “In his new position, reporting to Ms Phahle, Nkateko will be a key leader of the South African team responsible for ensuring that M-Net delivers only the most relevant, most compelling content.”
Ogilvy & Mather SA names Lauren Woolf as chief marketing & talent officer
Ogilvy & Mather South Africa (O&M SA) have announced that Lauren Woolf, group marketing director, has been appointed to the newly created position of chief marketing and talent. She will be based in Johannesburg and report to O&M SA’s CEO, Abey Mokgwatsane.
In her new role, Woolf will develop and implement the agency’s talent and innovation culture strategy while continuing to oversee the group’s marketing and corporate communication initiatives.
“In this newly created role, Lauren will oversee the crucial areas of talent and culture as well as marketing and communication. These two areas of business are inextricably linked and having Lauren guide them both and make the connections between how our brand lives inside and outside, is a fresh and dynamic approach,” says Mokgwatsane.
Dennis joins Al Jazeera English
International broadcaster Martine Dennis has joined Al Jazeera English as a news presenter. The former Carte Blanche presenter started her broadcasting career as a graduate trainee at LBC/IRN in London in 1983. In 1985 she joined BBC World Service Radio at the United Nations.
In 1989, Dennis became a presenter, reporter and producer at Sky News, before moving to South Africa in 1991, freelancing for the BBC World Service, mainly covering the final days of Apartheid South Africa. In 1994 she became the presenter of Carte Blanche, South Africa’s top weekly current affairs feature programme.
“My Journalistic career has allowed me the opportunity to cover some of the biggest broadcasting events in the world. In my eyes, Al Jazeera has always been a media organisation which reports and covers the key events with courage, tenacity and through innovative ways. I hope by joining Al Jazeera I can not only bring my experience as a journalist but also be part of Al Jazeera’s success as it continues to report as an innovative and invigorating news channel,” Dennis says.
Aisha Mohamed leaves 5FM
Longstanding station manager of 5FM, Aisha Mohamed, has resigned from the station to take up a senior position within the commercial portfolio at SABC TV. She joined the station age 29 as the youngest ever station manager for the premier music station. 5FM said it was “sad” Mohamed was leaving after she oversaw massive growth for the station.
“5FM is a brand that I am truly passionate about. I’ve been blessed over the last four years to have held the title of station manager,” Mohamed says. “
The brand remains dynamic and competitive. I have had many amazing experiences with the station, and have had the opportunity to work with some extraordinary people. Whilst I leave the station, the brand will always remain in my heart. It has been an exceptionally rewarding challenge and I look forward to the next chapter in my career at the SABC. ”
New appointments at Tribeca Public Relations
Tribeca Public Relations has welcomed Keri Krug (formerly Buhai) and Davina Malan to its team of consultants. Both have been appointed account directors, bringing their experience to Tribeca’s well-established team of public relations professionals.
“Keri and Davina bring a wealth of experience to Tribeca’s growing team of public relations professionals, and we are thrilled to have them on board,” says Nicky James, co-owner of Tribeca. “They join us at a time when our client portfolio has been boosted with the winning of several key accounts, such as Imperial Auto and Cathay Pacific, and position us perfectly to expand our portfolio even further during 2014.”
BBC Worldwide appoints VP and GM for Africa
BBC Worldwide has announced the appointment of Joel Churcher as vice president and general manager Africa, BBC Worldwide. The appointment is a new role for the business and underlines a long-term commitment to Africa as a priority market.
The role was created in line with the reorganisation of BBC Worldwide last year from divisional to geographic lines of management, enabling it to capture future growth opportunities around the world.
Based in Johannesburg, Chucher will be responsible for strategy and business development across all BBC Worldwide businesses in the region, including TV and digital sales, production and format sales, licensing and Publishing, Live Events and the daily management of the BBC branded channels portfolio available on DStv.
Churcher takes up his new position after a highly successful tenure as account director for BBC Worldwide Channels across the EMEA region.
Jedd Cokayne heads the AMF
The MediaShop’s Jedd Cokayne has been confirmed as the newest chairman of the AMF (Advertising Media Forum). The AMF is a collective of media agencies and individuals that includes media strategists, planners, buyers and consultants.
Cokayne’s duties will include chairing executive committee meetings and overseeing all portfolios, ensuring that the required deliverables are met. Committees include outdoor, print, radio, TV, research, mobile and industry liaison.
“The AMF aims to create open channels of communication and encourage and support transparent policies, strategies and transactions within the industry,” says Cokayne. “I’m confident that I can make a real difference to this organisation.”
Steenberg has new marketing manager
Premier Cape Winelands destination, Steenberg Estate, has appointed Caroline Mazeppa Poulter as the Marketing Manager responsible for the estate’s renowned wine offerings through Steenberg VineyardsCaroline held the title of Sales and Marketing Manager for Strandveld Wines from 2009 to 2014, being involved in many aspects of the business and proving her knowledge and understanding of wine itself, as well as the industry which produces, markets and sells it.
Who’s won what
Robertsons soars with marcusbrewster
Robertsons Herbs and Spices, part of the Unilever stable of brands, has appointed marcusbrewster for media, blogger and influencer relations surrounding its Sky Dine activation. Four lucky planeloads of unsuspecting passengers on kulula.com domestic routes will be taken to new heights of culinary enjoyment this month when Robertsons serves a three course, in-flight haute cuisine meal by award-winning restaurateur and celebrity chef, Reuben Riffel.
marcusbrewster will be working with Robertsons’ lead agency The Hardy Boys and digital agency Liquorice to show how the right combination of herbs and spices can make meals memorable. “This brand activation demonstrates that fine dining experiences are not limited to restaurants – passengers on board the flights will have their perceptions of in-flight meals changed with a surprising fun twist” says account director Monica Braganca, Gauteng bureau chief for marcusbrewster’s Johannesburg office.
Tin Can Gets to ‘Sell It’ with SA’s Number One – OLX
Tin Can PR has been appointed for the second year running by OLX as its PR agency, to further bolster the brand’s presence.
“Tin Can PR was the agency for Kalahari Ads and they assisted us with creating awareness around the name change from Kalahari Ads to OLX at the end of 2011, with pro-active profiling of the new brand, which now enjoys widespread brand recognition,” says Bronwyn Johnson, head of marketing, OLX South Africa.
“We have invested heavily in marketing our offering with an integrated approach, with traditional PR playing an integral part in ensuring the OLX brand is well known to South Africans.” she explains..”
Tin Can co-owner, Kisha van Vuuren says that it is great to work with a team that applies forward thinking to their marketing efforts and enjoys taking risks.
FanPic digital brand experience arrives in South Africa
Local brand integration agency Fluency has been appointed as the exclusive South African partner to the Huggity FanPic application providing brands with an innovative way to let music and sports fans share their experiences.
“This is a new kind of digital sponsorship inventory local companies have not had access to before. Designed to engage fans, extend brand exposure beyond the event, and delivers measurable results, Fluency is very excited to bring this innovative digital solution to the South African sports and entertainment market,” says Warren Couchman, managing director of Fluency.
Huggity FanPic is based on giant 360-degree, multibillion pixel crowd images taken at a venue during an event. Once a FanPic is posted online, users can zoom into a crowd photo to find themselves and their friends.
Gas Week 2014: Glass Slipper Communications wins account
IIR SA, a provider of strategic conferences, training courses and customised training solutions, has appointed Glass Slipper Communications to drive the publicity and marketing requirements of Gas Week 2014.
With energy and environmental issues featuring continually in the news, Gas Week 2014 enters into a second successful year, as it delivers high calibre content, networking and solutions, which many have come to expect from this must-attend, national gas event. Save the date for Gas Week 2014, from 23 – 27 June 2014, at The Forum in Bryanston, which guarantees to inform and equip all those looking to overcome the day-to-day challenges of the prevailing market.
In-car marketing specialist AutoReach selects innovative print solution
AutoReach has selected a custom-shaped Z-CARD as an accessory to its latest brochure and as an engaging marketing tool to portray information about its 25-year anniversary and all of its ‘Behind the Scenes’ information.
AutoReach, previously known as TollReach, provides advertisers with a unique platform to interact with motorists and passengers who are travelling to holiday destinations, sporting events and cultural festivals along national toll roads.
“The high LSM consumer target audience that we are able to reach has the mobility, mind-set and means to not only absorb but to also react to a brand’s marketing message,” says AutoReach manager designate, Kristen Storm Wohlberg.
In short
Tuned In Publicity has started off 2014 with a bang and signed on a number of new clients. The company is working with Watershed around the release of their new single; has taken on CrashCarBurn on an ongoing basis and will be working with rockers Evolver One around the release of their comeback album. The Joburg-based PR company is also working with new comers Rubber Duc, Connecting Stars and YouTube sensation Filipa. In the mix is music industry legend Cindy Alter from the multi-million selling girl-band Clout.
Who’s making moves
Draftfcb simplifies brand to FCB In global name change
Six months after becoming Global CEO of Draftfcb, Carter Murray is changing the agency’s name to FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding).
“Two distinct brands, Draft and FCB, were merged together seven years ago,” said Murray. “The entities have united and now have one seamless offering. It’s time to simplify our brand name as well to reflect our focused identity and direction.”
Specifically, the global network will be called FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding), with an important local element celebrated market-by-market. Typically, each office will add the city in which they operate, for instance, FCB Shanghai, FCB Paris or FCB Chicago, using a diagonal line through the B and the first letter of the local moniker.
“In some markets we will add the name of an acquired company such as in London, where the office will be FCB Inferno, due to the local equity and relevance of the acquired company. In instances where there is an agency with specific expertise, it will take on that name, as with FCB Health. And, in rare cases, the name of a highly respected creative leader will be used to further enhance the office’s delivery and reputation. That is the situation in New York, where the agency is being renamed FCB Garfinkel.”
Importantly, Howard Draft remains executive chairman and key advisor to Murray. “Howard has been incredibly supportive of me and the direction we are taking the company,” said Murray. “All of the capabilities that made Draft such an industry leader remain essential to the future of FCB, including CRM, analytics, retail and activation. We will continue to invest in and deliver on all of these while ensuring a strong overall creative product.”
Acceleration Media renamed 25AM as it charts a course for the future
Acceleration Media has changed its name to 25AM to signal its evolution from a digital media agency into a customer engagement focused digital consultancy. The move follows the purchase late last year, of a 50% stake in the business by Amorphous New Media, a partly owned subsidiary of the Times Media Group. Lagardère Active Radio International (LARI) continues to own the other 50% of the company.
Acceleration Media is one of South Africa’s leading strategic digital media consultancies and provides a range of digital marketing solutions and services to many of the country’s top brands.
25AM is positioning itself to take advantage of the rapid growth in the digital marketing and customer engagement market in South Africa and the rest of the continent. The new name looks to the future of around-the-clock business while nodding to Acceleration’s legacy as a digital pioneer. The new name came into effect on 4 March 2014.
TREAD turns five, announces growth initiatives
Mountain biking brand, TREAD – Mountain Biking With Soul, turns five this month and has announced its growth plans aimed at continuing to provide the burgeoning South African mountain biking market with added depth and value.
The first growth initiative is related to the company’s magazine frequency, with the brand taking it’s market-leading print publication from six issues a year up to eight. TREAD magazine, South Africa’s premier mountain bike-specific magazine, will now be published approximately every six weeks in 2014, giving readers more frequent access to the brand’s authoritative, South African-specific features and regulars.
Also new will be an electronic edition, which will launch in early April with Issue 28 and will be available on the Zinio newsstand. It will be sold by single copy and one-year (eight-issue) subscription.
NET1 Mobile Solutions launches Pay in Private in US
South African-based Net1 Mobile Solutions, a business unit of Net 1 UEPS Technologies, Inc. has announced it has launched its Mobile Virtual Card (MVC) technology with selected partner, Pay in Private, in the United States.
Pay in Private is in partnership with a US-based marketer with experience in online financial services and the solution offers users unmatched security and accessibility to transact online using mobile handsets. Pay in Private is a new way to pay online that uses Net1’s proprietary one-time use MVC Debit MasterCard® generated by a smart phone App.
In September last year a report from the Pew Research Center in the US found that 86% of internet users have taken steps to increase their privacy as a result of ongoing compromises related to their personal and financial information.
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