by Herman Manson (@marklives) We list the most-read-about account pitches and new business wins on MarkLives during the course of 2017. The biggest — and most-controversial — came courtesy of Telkom.
Telkom
Telkom out to pitch; ACA concerned
Telkom issued a request for proposals (RFP) or tender for a number of elements within its marketing environment — but The Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA) was concerned over various contraventions of the ACA Code of Conduct, such as that as many as 12–15 agencies had been approached, including major networks and some independents.
“The biggest threat to our industry is that more and more clients behave unfairly towards agencies during pitches or, when contracted, agencies are given unreasonable turnaround times or margins are driven down to limit agencies’ revenue, etc. It is paramount to the sustainability of the profession that agencies stand united against these unscrupulous practices in order to maintain the value and currency of the profession,” said Odette van der Haar, ACA CEO.
Telkom appoints three agencies
Integrated agency, Wunderman (WPP), was appointed to provide above-the-line creative and digital marketing, with direct marketing to Demographica. Retail and brand activations went to Retail Insight.
ACA suspends DDB SA, Ireland/Davenport, Wunderman
The ACA subsequently suspended member agencies who participated in the pitch.
MTN
After an exhaustive process, MTN finally announced its new agency partner in January 2017.
Omnicom appointed as MTN’s integrated global agency
The MTN Group confirmed the appointment of the Omnicom Group as its integrated global agency. Six global agency networks — Dentsu Aegis Network, Havas, Interpublic Group, Omnicom, Publicis and incumbent WPP (through MetropolitanRepublic and Aqua) — had been invited to tender for the account in March 2016. Three (Omnicom, Publicis and WPP) continued into a second round late last year.
Engen
Engen moved from FCB Cape Town to Saatchi & Saatchi South Africa.
EXCLUSIVE: Engen moves from FCB Cape Town
Engen ended its relationship with FCB Cape Town after a six-year run. The preferred bidder was Saatchi & Saatchi South Africa. FCB had pitched against Saatchi & Saatchi, King James Group, M&C Saatchi Abel and 34.
Allan Gray
EXCLUSIVE: Allan Gray leaves Ogilvy Cape Town
Allan Gray ended its relationship with agency Ogilvy & Mather Cape Town. The account had moved to Ogilvy Cape Town in 2014 after King James resigned the business as it had won Sanlam.
EXCLUSIVE: Allan Gray appoints King James the Second
Allan Gray announced the appointment of its new agency partner: King James the Second (II). King James Cape Town has continued to handle the Sanlam business; all parties have agreed to ring-fence the two regional offices to enable both pieces of business to be run independently from each city.
AB InBev
AB InBev Global Brands appoints South African agency
Following a three-way pitch process, the King James Group was awarded the AB InBev Global Brands business. Through this new partnership, the global brewers have collaborated with the integrated agency to establish and grow its international brands, including Corona, Stella Artois and Beck’s, in South Africa.
Old Mutual
Old Mutual appoints Publicis Communications
Old Mutual appointed Publicis Communications as its new lead agency across the African continent, including South Africa. The account is being serviced out of both Johannesburg and Cape Town by a team pulled together from various Publicis agencies.
Old Mutual moved its business from FCB Africa after the agency won the Barclays Africa account from The Jupiter Drawing Room (Johannesburg) in late 2016. Old Mutual is a 54% shareholder in Nedbank Group.
Publicis Communications is the creative communications hub of Publicis Groupe, bringing together the Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, Publicis Worldwide, BBH, Marcel, Fallon, MSLGROUP and Prodigious networks. It is managing brand strategy, above-the-line, below-the-line, digital creative and production for all integrated campaigns.
Spur
EXCLUSIVE: Ninety9cents wins Spur Steak Ranches
Ninety9cents (99c) was appointed as lead creative and digital agency for Spur Steak Ranches, following a four-way pitch. The account had been held by Haas since 2012, when it followed Francois de Villiers from Draftfcb. Haas declined to repitch, although invited to do so.
99c was working on the John Dory’s, Panarottis and Captain DoRego’s accounts, which fall under the Spur Corporation umbrella.
Hyundai
EXCLUSIVE: Hyundai set to leave Jupiter Cape Town
Hyundai left agency The Jupiter Drawing Room (Cape Town) after a relationship that spanned 16 years. During that time, the brand went from the 28th to the third-largest passenger-car brand in South Africa.
Hyundai South Africa appoints FoxP2
Hyundai South Africa appointed FoxP2 to handle its through-the-line advertising account.
The Diageo Scotch, Gin & Reserve portfolios
EXCLUSIVE: McCann wins Diageo Scotch, Gin & Reserve portfolios
McCann Worldgroup was awarded the Diageo SA Scotch, Gin and Reserve portfolios, effective 1 July 2017. Brands that moved to the McCann stable included the entire Johnnie Walker portfolio, Bells, J&B, Black & White, Singleton and Tanqueray.
Kulula.com
EXCLUSIVE: kulula.com moves to McCann Worldgroup
McCann Worldgroup won the kulula.com and MTbeds accounts. The business was previously held by King James Group and Native VML (digital).
Windhoek
Windhoek Beer appoints M&C Saatchi Abel JHB
Having parted with The Jupiter Drawing Room (Cape Town), its agency of over 10 years, Windhoek Beer announced the appointment of M&C Saatchi Abel Johannesburg as its new lead agency in South Africa. The agency is also working on the Namibian business.
Heineken (media)
Heineken appoints Dentsu Aegis to global media roster
Heineken appointed Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN) to its roster of global media agencies, alongside current agency, Starcom MediaVest (SMG).
Herman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com.
— Sign up now for the MarkLives email newsletter every Monday and Thursday, now including headlines from the Ramify.biz company newsroom service!