MTN, MediaCompete to part ways

MTN South Africa and MediaCompete, a division of Grey Group South Africa, announced yesterday afternoon, Monday, 11 August 2008, that they have mutual agreed to part ways after 18 months and that the MTN business will be moved to Mindshare, a sister company in GroupM.

This follows a series of meetings aimed at determining how MTN SA's future needs would best be served in terms of service delivery and account management.

The business has been bedded down and stabilised over the past 18 months but MTN SA is of the view that the move will provide the optimal levels of service delivery that it requires for its business moving forward.

MediaCompete will conclude all currently active projects before handing over to Mindshare.

“We have taken a joint decision to move the business based on the specific needs of the MTN SA business,” said MTN SA chief marketing officer Pieter Verkade.

“There has been significant growth and demand with regard to our media needs in recent months and we feel that we will gain added value and benefit by moving the account. We have enjoyed a fantastic working relationship with MediaCompete and appreciate their understanding of these particular circumstances. We part ways on very amicable terms,” Verkade said.

“After handling the business for over a year, I understand from a WPP Group perspective that the business could be managed more appropriately in one of our sister agencies. As Peter says, we part as good friends,” concludes Paul Wilkins, CEO MediaCompete and GroupM director.