Advertising News South Africa

[Newsmaker] Mthunzi Plaatjie

Mthunzi Plaatjie has been appointed as the manager director of integrated agency, AVATAR's Cape Town office. Plaatjie has a wealth of experience in the industry having successfully launched BET Networks across Africa.
Mthunzi Plaatjie
Mthunzi Plaatjie

Bizcommunity Briefly tell us about your new role?

Plaatjie: I’m tasked with the monumental task of launching Avatar’s Cape Town office. This will also bring us closer to our Caltex client (who is Cape Town based) and will also give us an opportunity to play in the Cape Town market.

Bizcommunity What will your first order of business be?

Plaatjie: Continue building the Caltex brand and also build Avatar Cape Town’s client base in the process.

Bizcommunity What will your core strategy be?

Plaatjie: No buzzwords needed for this one, it’s simple…excellence, excellence, excellence. If we remain EXCELLENT in everything we do then clients will appreciate us more (excellent business practice. Excellent work. Excellent results. All delivered by excellent people). Other clients will note the excellence and hopefully want in on our EXCELLENCE.

Bizcommunity What is your main business challenge?

Plaatjie: We are fortunate to launch our office with a power brand such as Caltex, but our challenge will be to grow our agency’s client base.

Bizcommunity The biggest trend in your industry?

Plaatjie: Everyone right now is crazy about the concept of “storytelling” but the danger in “storytelling” is that some brands end up narrating their own stories and tend to forget to craft stories that reflect their consumers’ lives/lifestyles or they end up forcing their consumers’ stories into their brand “stories”.

Bizcommunity Most important attribute needed to do your job?

Plaatjie: A strategic creative mind coupled with patience and high tolerance of meeting people from all walks of life.

Bizcommunity What inspires you?

Plaatjie: A room full of magical minds. Avatar’s leadership IS that room filled with magical minds and that inspires me.

Bizcommunity What's at the top of your bucket list?

Plaatjie: Driving 35 laps at the Monza (Italy - home of Ferrari…enough said) Grand Prix circuit inside a Formula One racing car. I think I deserve a lap for every year I’ve lived. What a life! Lol.

About Beverley Klein

Beverley Klein is the editor of the Marketing Media South Africa section on Bizcommunity.com. With a background in journalism and historical studies, she's dived into the world of industry news, curating content, writing and interviewing thought leaders. She's often spotted in a forest on the weekend and rarely seen without a camera. Follow @BevCPT.
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