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Frampton sets the record straight

6 May 2009

Mike Frampton has refuted the assertion in Tony Koenderman's AdReview 2009 that Framptons International “failed to deliver the image and reputation that DDB [Worldwide] came to expect of its network members” in a press statement entitled “Of Fact or Fiction” released yesterday, Tuesday, 5 May 2009.

Mike Frampton

According to Frampton, various rumors have been circulating throughout the industry for a number of months and the time has come to set the record straight.

In this year's AdReview, it states under Agency of the Year: “When a plan comes together - DDB Worldwide, one of the great creative agency networks, has had a chequered history in South Africa. The agency Bill Bernback was associated with for a few years was called Framptons International, but the SA shop failed to deliver the image and reputation that DDB came to expect of its network members.”

Frampton denies this is true, pointing out that he has remained the second-largest shareholder of DDB South Africa and has refused to sell any remaining equity in the company. He also states that he headhunted the current talent at DDB and concluded, over a three-and-a-half year period, the original deal with The Jupiter Drawing Room. On the back of Jupiter selling to WPP, DDB has now taken a stake in the local DDB SA agency, of which he remains a major shareholder and has to date refused to sell any further equity, continues the statement.

“Framptons International was awarded Small Agency of the Year in 1998 prior to the brand's association with DDB. Framptons International was approached at this time to associate itself with the DDB Global brand... which Framptons embraced. The rest is history and Framptons/DDB has gone on to win just about every major accolade that it deserved.”

Despite Frampton no longer being an active member of the DDB team (he is a non-executive director), he remains highly active in the South African advertising industry and has created a new company known as Frida Communication as it was felt that the need for a specialist and boutique agency was of paramount importance to brands.

Frampton currently consults and manages brands such as Standard Bank, Samsung, Hyde Park (and a number of other shopping centres) and Holiday Tours, as well as contributing to the brand development of Garmin, SABC and RCI.