Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. Josephine Buys new country manager for IAB. eNCA’s Africa editor Chris Maroleng resigns. Caxton Magazines announces new editors for leading titles. Trevor Waberski appointed national operations manager activations at PMG. News duo joins Obama’s Young Africa Leaders Initiative. New board appointments at Mortimer Harvey. Arno Lindemann appointed as Loeries jury chairman for Print, Outdoor and Collateral Media. IHS and Zentrick Partner for Unique Research into Interactive Video Market. Wunderbrand acquires award-winning production studio Voltaire
This week’s BIG move: Josephine Buys new country manager for IAB
Media and marketing pioneer, Josephine Buys (nee Swainbank) has been appointed country manager of South Africa’s media industry’s digital body, IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) as of 01 June 2014.
For 11 years, the IAB (previously DMMA and OPA) has operated as a volunteer body with only part-time administrative staff. “The appointment of a full-time, senior manager for the organisation marks an important moment in digital maturing as an industry, and a medium” says Jarred Cinman, chairman of IAB SA.
This is a brand new position, so Buys expects it to constantly evolve, much like the world of digital itself. “Essentially my role is to build awareness, instil confidence, and ultimately increase revenue for the South African digital industry as a whole,” says Buys.
Throughout her career in media & marketing, Buys has initiated new titles with progressive magazine publishers including Condé Nast, Uppercase Media and Media Nova.
Buys perceives her role as one of planning, as well as managing IAB South Africa’s operations, members and industry relations to protect the interests of publishers, advertisers and brands in the online space, while also identifying new areas of opportunity for the IAB.
“There is an abundance of creativity and original thinking amongst the media, as well as a constant flow of digital firsts and start-ups coming from South African talent,” explains Buys. Her particular interest is in addressing the shortage of digital professionals in the current workforce through education and transformation.
Who’s moved where
eNCA’s Africa editor Chris Maroleng resigns
eNCA has announced the resignation of Africa editor, Chris Maroleng, after six years with the broadcaster. Maroleng is leaving the channel in order to pursue a career in the corporate sector in South Africa. His last day with the channel will be on 12 July 2014.
Maroleng was already a well-regarded Africa specialist with the Institute for Security Studies when he joined the channel six years ago. He led the team which started eNews Africa in 2009 and has built up a Africa division, which has done excellent work bringing stories of our continent to South Africans, viewers across Africa and further afield.
“eNCA can confirm that Chris Maroleng has resigned. The good work done by Chris and his team will continue,” says Ben Said, group news editor. “eNCA remains committed to bringing credible and balanced news from around the African continent. He will be greatly missed for his knowledge and expertise.”
Caxton Magazines announces new editors for leading titles
Caxton Magazines has announced the appointment of new editors for both Bona and Living and Loving magazines. Linda Mali and Sonya Naude are the new women at the helm who have been tasked with continuing the great work started by their predecessors at these iconic titles.
Having worked on such diverse publications as Kick Off, Men’s Health, Horizons and Cosmopolitan, Mali is definitely up for the challenge of guiding the four-language edition of Bona forward.
“Linda is a great talent and her appointment is wonderful news for Caxton Magazines and Bona,” says general manager, Anton Botes. “Her editorial eye and key sense for innovation will undoubtedly play a vital role to drive this successful brand through both our print and digital media.”
Botes said Naude is “the perfect fit” for the Living and Loving. “Our aim is to position Living and Loving as a parenting magazine that delivers expert advice from pregnancy to pre-school. I have no doubt that under Sonya’s direction the title is firmly set to achieve its vision and that she will continue to strengthen the Living and Loving brand.”
Having spent the last decade editing Longevity magazine, mother of two and PICA-award winner, Naude says she is looking forward to engaging with new moms and moms-to-be.
Trevor Waberski appointed national operations manager activations at PMG
With 18 years’ experience across various types of management, Trevor Waberski brings an array of sought-after skills to Provantage Media Group (PMG). With expertise ranging from financial management, general management, quality management and consulting, his role as national operations manager activations will strengthen and enhance the PMG team.
Having worked in various countries in South East Asia, Waberski brings with him an understanding of cultures and a broad knowledge of how to successfully unify people in a team – a key component of effective activations.
“I believe that simplicity, clarity and accountability are the guiding principles that allow people to perform at their best. Building on an already strong team, I look forward to taking the activations division at PMG to the next level,” Waberski says.
News duo joins Obama’s Young Africa Leaders Initiative
eNCA anchor, Cathy Mohlahlana and Sunrise presenter, Faith Mangope, have been chosen to take part in the prestigious Washington Fellowship, US President Barack Obama’s exchange programme, the Young African Leaders Initiative. The duo will be part of the US based programme from 16 June until 31 August 2014.
The Obama Administration’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which started in 2010, is a long-term effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. The programme brings over 500 young leaders to the United States for leadership training, academic coursework and mentoring. This initiative seeks to create unique opportunities for young leaders while equipping them with new skills required to propel economic growth.
Mohlahlana and Mangope will get the opportunity to interact with Obama over a 3-day Summit, they will also enroll for six-weeks of intensive academic and leadership programme at a chosen US institution, meet members of the US government as well as civic and business leaders.
New board appointments at Mortimer Harvey
Mortimer Harvey has announced the appointment of three new directors to its board of directors.
The new board members are Neo Lengana and Bongekile Dlamini, both from the Community Individual Development Trust, which pioneers the free university education movement in South Africa and has a 26% per cent shareholding in Mortimer Harvey, and Andrew Fradd, managing director of Mortimer Harvey.
Arno Lindemann appointed as Loeries jury chairman for Print, Outdoor and Collateral Media
In the first year that Arno Lindemann opened his new agency – Lukas Lindemann Rosinski – the agency brought home an incredible nine Cannes Lions! The chief creative officer of Hamburg based Lukas Lindemann Rosinski, Lindemann has been appointed jury chairman for Print, Outdoor and Collateral Media for the 2014 Loeries.
Who’s won what
ASICS appoints Starcom as global media agency partner
ASICS, the sport performance brand, has appointed Starcom as their global media agency partner. Starcom will handle ASICS’ global communications strategy as well as all media planning and buying, and data and analytics, and was awarded the account following a successful competitive pitch. Working in partnership with ASICS existing global creative agency, 180 Amsterdam, Starcom will develop an integrated communications model across 14 markets globally.
This announcement builds on the momentum that SMG has gained and follows the news that SMG has expanded its Global Network Clients Operation with two new hires: Jeremy Paul who will join as managing director Strategy, Global Network Clients and Erica Rosengart who will join as Global Client Managing Director. SMG was also named Media Network of the Year at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and the most effective agency network at the North American Effie Awards Gala.
Ukusela Ekapa connects with Greater Than
Greater Than has been appointed by Ukusela eKapa, a World Design Capital 2014 initiative, to amplify their innovative design initiative. Ukusela eKapa (#WDC411), Slurp Kaapstad Op or Drink Cape Town In, is a joint venture between ceramic artist, Hennie Meyer, and architect, Janine de Waal, which endeavours to raise design awareness through connecting Capetonians with an imprinted “handshake” on a ceramic drinking vessel.
Greater Than has been tasked with creating awareness of this collaborative project and will be enticing hands-on participation from locals and tourists through a series of “squeezes” at schools, hospitals, parliament, businesses, sport events and more. The goal is to get people from all walks and parts of the city to connect and hand-make 10 000 of these useful objects.
Topshop launches Kate Moss Collection through cab branding
To drive awareness of the launch of a new and exclusive Topshop South Africa range, the fashion retailer took to the streets with an extensive and national transit campaign in conjunction with New Wave Outdoor Media.
“Topshop embarked on a two month campaign with us, whereby we branded four Toyota Avanza cabs that circulated around Cape Town for the launch of an exclusive range by Kate Moss,” says MD of NWOM, Warren Weiner. “Vehicle branding is the marketing solution that works for your business 24/7. As more South Africans spend longer hours on the road, mobile advertisers have access to a larger base of “captive” audiences in an unobtrusive way.”
The matt black Topshop cabs were a pivotal part of generating wide and far reaching awareness, and another feather in New Wave’s cap.
A. Vogel selects Brandyourcar.com for a second time to promote Echinaforce
Based on the success of its 2013 campaign SA Natural Products (Pty) Ltd has again selected transit media specialist Brandyourcar.com to generate awareness of A.Vogel Echinaforce.
The new campaign, which runs until September 2014, highlights the benefits of A. Vogel Echinaforce as a scientifically proven prevention and treatment for colds and flu. Using various A, B & C category cars registered on brandyourcar.com’s database, this year the campaign has expanded to include Cape Town as well as Gauteng.
“As our brand ambassadors are using the product themselves, they have first-hand experience of how it can help potential consumers and their families,” says Brandyourcar.com’s Jeff Ostrom.
Who’s making moves
IHS and Zentrick partner for research into interactive video market
With 81 percent of brands already integrating online video production into their marketing strategies and video budgets expected to increase in the next year, interactive video pioneer Zentrick has partnered with IHS, the leading global source of information and insight, to create the first ever global research into the evolution of this growing sector; interactive video.
Pairing Zentrick’s usage data and campaign intelligence together with IHS’ own industry data and insight, they will conduct a definitive analysis report that will not only quantify the size and value of the market, but also identify growth factors, future opportunities and potential challenges. The resulting whitepaper, scheduled for completion in autumn 2014, will be the first of its kind.
“While comments, likes and links create a certain level of engagement, those activities are not part of the narrative. Residing outside of the viewing experience, they often fail to truly capture the viewer’s attention,” said Zentrick CEO and co-founder Pieter Mees. “While today’s audiences are more sophisticated in their approaches to content consumption, they also have far shorter attention spans. Content therefore needs to focus on nonlinear stories that succeed in standing out in a cluttered marketplace, continually refocussing the user’s attention and holding their interest. It is not enough for storytellers to create content they hope will be shared, it needs to be more actively engaging. We see interactive video as achieving that new level of engagement and hope to be able to bring more clarity to the opportunity for brands and marketers worldwide with this IHS research partnership.”
Wunderbrand acquires award-winning production studio Voltaire
Wunderbrand, an African owned brand consultancy, has recently celebrated its first year of operations in Africa, and with its growth on the continent has expanded its offerings by acquiring television and animation production studio Voltaire. Voltaire, owned by award-winning Malcolm Ché, brings with it a roster of clients that include MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. Ché now joins Wunderbrand as creative director overseeing and directing all creative output for their pan-African business.
“Having worked together at MTV and Comedy Central the work ethic and future forward view that Malcolm brings to Wunderbrand is one of the reasons that acquiring the company was a good fit. Our clients will now benefit from world-class animation and tv production at African rates,” sayss Nicholas Kuhne, MD of Wunderbrand.
Wunderbrand also welcome Brooklyn Pathaki trend forecasting and research exec, Belinda Kisten, as graphic designer, Melissa Workman in client service and Aquilina Dongo as financial manager to their team.
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