With a six-month transition period, as Neil Hart, founder and current MD of Boomtown steps into the role of chairman, focussing on strategic involvement in the business, Harrison will officially take over the reigns from 1 August 2012.
He will combine his experience with the agency's contemporary approach to create a powerful business structure. He has worked in the South African advertising industry since 1989, gaining experience in specialised companies as well as large global networks.
Harrison began his professional life on the creative side at Ogilvy and has worked on brands such as Volkswagen South Africa, Old Mutual, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, South African Breweries and Pam Golding Property Group. In recent years, he crossed over into business leadership and strategy.
"The agency has grown significantly over the past few years with great growth from its offices in Joburg and Port Elizabeth. The change will allow for new focus and strategic input from a fresh perspective," said Hart.
"I'm excited to join a growing agency that has already achieved so much on a national scale and I believe there are many more business-building ideas to come out of it," concluded Harrison.
Adding his new generation skills, with an emphasis on digital expertise, Donnelly joins CaratSA from digital marketing specialists Aqua Online.
He has extensive experience in the ICT industry, delivering high-value campaigns and programmes in the banking, government, mobile and web sectors. His work involved the leading of large multi-disciplinary and multi-national teams and he has a strong reputation as a leader, project and programme manager, digital advertising and business strategist, and client relationship manager.
Says Quinton Jones, MD of CaratSA, "We believe his appointment will set new standards for the industry and will enable the group to keep moving the agency forward at the pace we have set for ourselves. As a non-conventional agency, this latest appointment proves how our progressive thinking continues to give clients the edge."
According to Jones, the agency has gone from being unheard of to the number one slot on RECMA in just three years. He says that Donnelly will help the agency 'future-proof' clients' media investments.
