Media agency Carat, which was recently named AdReview's "media agency of the year" for 2009, has also received an "A" rating from Research Company Evaluating the Media Agency Industry ("RECMA").
Carat is one of only two South African media agency to have received an "A" RECMA ranking during 2009. And at the AdReview awards ceremony at which the company was named the media agency of the year, it was the only full-service media agency to be awarded an AdReview "AA" rating.
The RECMA research covers more than 289 media agencies in 26 countries, and evaluates agencies on an annual basis. Agencies are ranked with grades from A+ to C, largely on the basis of competitiveness in pitches ("compitches").
During the course of 2009 Carat was successful in winning new business valued at almost R 1 billion, including Old Mutual, Woolworths and Cell C. The staff complement at Carat grew by some 170% during the year in order to handle the new business.
Carat MD Quinton Jones said that the RECMA "A" rating was a fitting tribute to the hard work and dedication of Carat staff in the past 18 months.
"Our ability to attract and develop good staff means that we are able to provide the strongest communication solution to clients. It is flattering to receive strong ratings from RECMA, but I am well aware that the biggest challenge lies in consistent delivery to these clients at the highest level each and every day. I am pleased that we are continually delivering and improving - it bodes well for the growth of the agency in the future" he said.
Carat South Africa belongs to the global Carat network which is part of Aegis Group Plc, listed on the London Stock Exchange. The Carat network spans 70 countries with 5220 people worldwide, and is today the world's largest independent media agency network.
