M&C Saatchi Mobile, an industry leader in mobile marketing, has announced its expansion into the sub-Saharan continent with the launch of South African offices in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. The company has launched full mobile marketing services agencies, offering three core services – Media Planning & Buying, Creative & Production and Consultancy.
By establishing a presence in South Africa, M&C Saatchi Mobile intends to bring its expertise as a full service mobile marketing agency to bear upon a new raft of companies in the region that are looking to leverage the growing mobile medium.
The move will further enable existing M&C Saatchi Mobile clients to greatly increase the local capabilities of their global campaigns. South Africa’s mobile market currently represents one of the fastest growing opportunities for mobile marketing on the continent with over 95% mobile penetration of the population of which up to 18% is comprised of smartphones. It is a country where more people use their phones than listen to the radio or watch TV and for many people, mobile phones represent their primary access point to the internet.
“M&C Saatchi Mobile has well established London, New York, Los Angeles and Paris offices. We are delighted to announce the expansion of our Mobile offerings to South Africa,’ says James Hilton, Global CEO of M&C Saatchi Mobile. “As a company we pride ourselves in being a true full service mobile and tablet marketing agency. We can assist with both the strategic and tactical approach to making mobile and tablet an integral part of the marketing strategy.’ said Hilton
Tracy Kruger, M&C Saatchi Mobile South Africa comments: “With smartphones on the increase in South Africa, it provides marketers with an expanding array of ways to utilise the capabilities of the devices such as rich media, location based services and social media. Mobile provides an opportunity for brands to engage in continual two-way conversations with customers. When used as part of an integrated campaign, mobile provides brands with a highly engaging, interactive medium. Mobile technology has driven change and will continue to do so in South Africa at an ever-increasing rate as technology evolves and as we harness its potential.’
“It is our overarching objective to provide clients with simple, easily understood products and services that fully utilise the mobile and tablet marketing opportunity,’ adds Hilton.
“We will leverage the credentials of and lessons learnt by other global M&C Saatchi Mobile offices. At the same time we will access the creative and strategic communication resources of M&C Saatchi Abel, recently judged by Finweek as South Africa’s Breakthrough Agency of 2012,’ concludes Kruger.
