ISSUED BY: FCB AFRICA FCB Africa is celebrating several recent B-BBEE milestones that, once again, highlight that the group is one of only a handful in the industry that doesn't pay lip-service to the word "broad" in the phrase "broad-based black economic empowerment". As one of South Africa’s largest marketing and communications agency groups, FCB Africa’s B-BBEE initiatives have, since the outset, acknowledged the need for diversity and flexibility. The most recent milestone on its ongoing transformation journey was when its broad-based shareholder (The Maharishi Institute) was able to fully pay off its loan well ahead of projections, thanks to FCB group’s strong...

Posted By: TMO Reporter A billboard with the wording, ‘100% Black Owned Advertising Agency. Some things are better at 100%”, using an image of a cup of black coffee, is not racist, the Advertising Standards Authority has ruled. The BWD Advertising billboard, on a footbridge spanning across the M1 South approximately one kilometre north of the Marlboro Drive off-ramp in Johannesburg, was the subject of a complaint lodged by a member of the public in February. After a two-month investigation, the ASA directorate said transformation processes, such as B-BBEE, were the result of government policy, and were aimed at improving the overall wealth and prosperity of...

by MarkLives (@marklives)  Avatar has been awarded the Caltex above-the-line account. The business will be shared between its Johannesburg and Cape Town agencies. This is the second major account win announced by the agency this year, following hot on the heels of the the integrated agency business win for global fashion retailer, H&M, in South Africa. “Our journey with Caltex started two years ago, when we were appointed as their digital agency, to now being appointed as the brand’s full-service agency,” says Mthunzi Plaatjie, Cape Town managing director. “It was a tough three-way pitch but our team’s experience, creative excellence and integrated approach won it for us.” “We are...

by Herman Manson (@marklives)    The Nedbank advertising account has gone out to pitch. “In adherence with principles of good governance, we can confirm that a number of Nedbank accounts\services are out to pitch, including creative, both ATL and BTL,” confirms Khensani Nobanda, Nedbank group executive, marketing and corporate affairs. “As the process is currently underway, we are not in a position to provide further detail due to confidentiality issues; however, further information will be provided in due course. We have enlisted the services of an independent service provider to rollout the process from a governance perspective. The process is due to conclude...