According to chief creative officer Mike Schalit, the time is now right to align the Johannesburg and Cape Town offices as the value systems and creative culture are now in unison. He agrees with executive creative director Ivan Johnson, who says that Net#work has been an industry leader for much of its 15 years, with a very strong creative heritage: “I resisted the rebranding until we had proved we could match the Johannesburg agency in terms of creative quality. This milestone was reached last year.”
Net#work BBDO Cape Town will be led by the duo of MD Eric D'Oliveira and Johnson (who won two of the most prestigious global creative awards for South Africa last year - a Gold Cannes Lion and a D&AD Pencil), by the experienced Schalit (who was recently ranked by his peers as South Africa's leading creative director for an unprecedented 11 consecutive years) and CEO Keith Shipley.
D'Oliveira, who was pursued by Shipley and Schalit for a number of years before coming on board, is described by Shipley as epitomising the “can-do attitude that BBDO were looking for in Cape Town”. His account management and planning team includes planning director Stephanie Safari and a newly appointed deputy MD Sandra Woodburn.
“We believe this combination of youthful ambition and industry experience is unique in the Cape Town market at this time,” says Shipley.
In this tough economic period, BBDO believe that dedication towards innovative and big ideas will be a very attractive proposition in the Cape Town market.
“Attracting and retaining a disproportionate share of the best talent with the intent to produce breakthrough work is a top priority. Net#work's good industry reputation is well-known and will assist us to attract the best talent in all disciplines, with obvious benefit to our clients,” adds D'Oliveira.
Says Schalit, “I am encouraged by the young talent in our Cape Town office and my big challenge will be to ensure that the global BBDO and local Net#work standard is maintained and even exceeded. There is no reason why this office cannot lead the creative renaissance that is much needed in the Cape ad market.”
