IAS Masterclass – Loeries Durban

How Clients and Agencies can Adapt, Evolve and be Future-Fit for the Inevitable Digital Disruption

An interactive session facilitated by Johanna McDowell, CEO of IAS, with Mike Schalit, CCO of BBDO South Africa, Gau Narayan, Regional Director for BBDO Africa and Selvin Govender, Marketing Director, Mercedes Benz South Africa.

• Discussion of the Agency/Client relationship and the challenges faced today
• Some research findings from the SCOPEN Agency Scope 2016 study
• A look at digital transformation at Mercedes Benz South Africa and how they are playing a leading role in driving this within Daimler Worldwide
• How shifts at Mercedes Benz South Africa have impacted the Net#work BBDO relationship, the way of working and advertising development process
• Implications and necessary shifts in the client/agency relationship that digital transformation will bring
• Q&A

                              

 Johanna McDowell Profile

 Currently the Managing Director of the Independent Agency Search and Selection Company (IAS), and with a background that includes being on both the agency and the client side of the fence, Johanna McDowell is well placed to offer commentary on marketing and advertising in both the South African and international contexts.   McDowell has built her career in marketing and advertising since 1974, holding directorship in both South Africa and British advertising agencies until she was appointed Managing Director of Grey Phillips Advertising in 1988.

An “entrepreneurial heart in a power suit”, McDowell understands the industry from the inside: She built Integrated Communications, a public relations-driven marketing communications company that went from zero base in 1991 to an R 8 million fee turnover by December 2004. After graduating in marketing and business studies, her experience had spanned large corporates including banking, manufacturing and retail both in UK and South Africa, along with a 15-year stint in two of the largest advertising agencies in South Africa and in a medium sized agency in the UK.

Widely published and quoted in local media, McDowell regularly gives media input on topics such as:  Delivering high quality B2B communication results, The importance of measurement tools to marketers, Why agencies often don’t make the next round of a pitch, Managing and strengthening client/agency relationships for long-term success, The importance of ethical dealing and truthful communication etc.

 A BBDO lifer, Gau arrived from AMVBBDO in London, one of the best agencies in the BBDO network where he had the privilege of working on some of their flagship brands including Guinness, MARS & British Telecom. Gau was also selected by the Agency’s Management to launch Lunar BBDO a creative-media start up where he tripled the business, won effectiveness awards and Gunn points for BBDO.

Gau joined Net#work BBDO in December 2014, on the back of the Guinness Africa pitch win. Since then he has focused on talent development across the four BBDO offices and has helped BBDO land the Tusker business in Kenya, Virgin Money Insurance in South Africa and the Google account across Africa.

With three children under 8, spare time is a distant memory, but when he can, he devours biographies. Gau is a keen cricketer, has represented his county, captained his university and is a qualified coach. However, a lack of talent has meant that his cricketing ambitions will have to be channelled through his children.

Founding Partner, Net#Work BBDO.   Chief Creative Officer, BBDO SA & Africa.    Founder & Chairman, The MAL Foundation.

Mike began his career by failing as a rock musician. He then nearly ended it with a B.Comm.

Since co-founding Net#work in April ’94 Mike’s accolades include 17 Loerie Grand Prix, 3 Cannes Grand Prix, 2 Lifetime Achievement Awards , SA Advertising Hall of Fame,  SA’s No.1 Creative Director for eleven consecutive years, Most Influential Person in Advertising, Advertising Person of the Year and Achiever of the Decade.

Selvin brings his flair for interpreting trends, and understanding market needs to the role of Divisional Manager Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Cars. His career advancement in the Mercedes-Benz South Africa group of companies is based on a wide range of expertise gained throughout his career, and also through his formal studies.

Holding an MBA, Selvin also has a degree in Supply Chain Management and National Diplomas in Transportation Management and Mechanical Engineering. He has excelled in all three of the organisations that make up the Mercedes-Benz group in South Africa, having cut his teeth at debis Fleet Management (a part of the company’s Services Group) as a key accounts executive. Other positions include gaining experience in areas such as remarketing, pre-owned, residual value management, and fleet services at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. Selvin’s position as National Sales Manager for Mercedes-Benz SA has been the final stepping stone before his appointment to head up the Marketing Division, making him a well-rounded asset to the business.