King James – the road less travelled

by Herman Manson (@marklives) Fourteen years after its launch King James has emerged as South Africa’s most acclaimed independent ad agency. Growing organically, the agency has finally reached a tipping point to boost confidence, influence and revenues, even as it steers the challenges of offering a fully integrated, digitally adept service. James Barty scribbled the budget for the start-up agency he was planning with Alistair King on a piece of... Read More

Punk’d out of ATL funk

by Herman Manson Alistair King, group creative director of the King James Group, doesn’t bother to hide his enthusiasm for the latest, possibly bravest, move within his agency to further define its offering in a competitive market, where budgets are shifting from above-the-line to integrated campaigns and what was traditionally considered below-the-line work. King  recently introduced Michael Udell, formerly deputy MD at DDB South Africa, and... Read More

DDB loses Matt Ross, Michael Udell to King James

DB South Africa has lost its deputy MD, Michael Udell, and one of its two executive creative directors, Matt Ross, to King James in Cape Town. Emmet O’Hanlon, MD at DDB SA, says Udell and Ross, known for working together closely, had some time ago informed DDB that they wanted to work in Cape Town where both live, and that they went out looking for an opportunity to both stay and work in Cape Town with the blessing of DDB. O’Hanlon says... Read More