28 November 2008 Print This ArticleEmail this article to a friend

PROFILES

MCCANN WORLDGROUP

Type of agency - Holding company
Ownership - 51% IPG; 49% Zwelakhe Sisulu
Key person - Martin Hummel
Revenue - Not disclosed
Accounts gained - 11
Accounts lost - 2
Total clients - 17
Number of staff - 93
Equity - 49%
Biggest client - Telkom

Worldgroup is the local communications holding company for wholly owned subsidiaries McCann Erickson (advertising), Universal McCann (media services) and Momentum McCann (activation services). It's part of a local group restructuring undertaken since early in 2007 under Hummel, a communications veteran from New York and London.

It was needed. The former HerdBuoys McCann-Erickson had been effectively written off. Account defections, poor creative work, resignations, financial difficulties and zero profile had taken their toll. Hummel quotes an industry recruiter telling the agency: "I can't find anyone who wants to join your agency."

It's still early days but the signs are promising. Creative levels are rising, there's more cross-referral work within the group, clients are staying, revenue is up and the company is making money again.



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