ICOM independent network looking to enter South Africa

Based in Rollinsville, Colorado, USA, ICOM has more than 85 member agencies in 50+ markets handling more than US$2 billion worth of advertising and marketing spending annually. Networks like ICOM give agencies many of the benefits of a large global agency while at the same time allowing them to maintain their independence. ICOM provides members with valuable resources for a variety of situations, such as new business presentations, advertising in other countries, staging events in other cities and ready access to the principals of other member agencies.

Membership also affords agency management the opportunity to participate in an exchange of information, ideas and experiences with peers from around the world, says Executive Director Gary Burandt. "We are looking for an agency to represent ICOM in South Africa that understands the importance of working in a global marketplace and of international connections for itself and its clients."

Typically, only one agency member is selected for each country except in very large advertising markets. "We need to have representatives in every important international marketplace, and South Africa is increasingly important to our members and clients," Burandt says.

Within the past year, ICOM has added members in China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Greece, Guatemala, Indonesia, Lithuania, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, China, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. Agencies applying for membership must be financially sound, doing high quality work and have leadership that will be compatible with the sharing culture of ICOM.

"We are especially interested in young agencies that offer their clients integrated services because we believe that is the future of the business," Burandt says.

ICOM keeps membership fees low with a lean management structure. An elected volunteer board is made up of two members from each region (North America, South America, Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia/Pacific). The board elects one member as president for a two-year term and hires an executive director (Burandt) at the two-person headquarters.

The current Europe/Middle East/Africa directors are Iñigo Muguiro of Veinte Segundos, Madrid, and Patrick Walhain of Dassas Group, Paris.

Additional information about the network is available on the website at www.icomagencies.com.