Paris - Publicis
Groupe has announced the acquisition of BrandsRock, South Africa’s industry
leader in brand engagement.
BrandsRock
will merge with Saatchi & Saatchi South Africa, forming a new entity, Saatchi
& Saatchi BrandsRock. The BrandsRock staff team of 45 will be integrated
into the Saatchi & Saatchi offices in both Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Founded
in September 2009, BrandsRock is a through-the-line brand solutions agency with
offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg. They operate with a growing team of
experienced, skilled individuals who understand business, brands, strategy and
the best creative marketing programs needed to deliver results.
The
BrandsRock Group services a portfolio of blue chip clients with four integrated
offerings - marketing & brand strategy; creative design & advertising;
digital engagement and shopper marketing & experiential brand activations
through their amp Experiential division. Clients include: Harley-Davidson®,
KWV, eBucks, Jose Cuervo Tequila, Nando's, Seartec, 466/64 Fashion, Isotherm, Vukani,
Puma, Brandhouse, Touchlab, Vodacom and Kiehl's.
John
Dixon, CEO of BrandsRock, becomes CEO of both Saatchi & Saatchi BrandsRock
and the Saatchi & Saatchi group in South Africa. Brandsrock founder, Mike
Joubert, becomes Chief Strategy Officer of Saatchi & Saatchi BrandsRock.
BrandsRock’s Chief Creative
Officer, Jonathan Beggs, and Chief Operating Officer, Heidi Nelson, make up the
remainder of the leadership team for the new entity.
Justin
Billingsley, COO of Saatchi & Saatchi EMEA, explains the logic behind the
merger: “South
Africa is ranked as the eighth fastest growing advertising market in the world
between 2013 and 2016 and the growth opportunities across the African continent are
well documented. The new integrated group will capitalize on this growth. The
all-new Saatchi & Saatchi South Africa will include best of breed skills in
experiential, traditional communications and digital; all under really strong
leadership.”
According
to Dixon the Saatchi & Saatchi ethos of “Nothing is Impossible” was a key
attraction. “It’s not just etched in a stair at their London office, it’s lived
by everyone we’ve come in contact with. This is an attitude which resonates
with us as Africans,” he says.
Joubert adds: “The merger with Saatchi & Saatchi is the fulfillment of a dream for me. Together we will be a strategically led brand engagement agency for the digital age based on an approach to consumer centric work that is powerful, practical and measurable. We will make brands happen. We are not just creators, but also curators of great work.”
Photo (l to r): John Dixon and Mike Joubert
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