27 November 2009
	PROFILE INTERBRAND SAMPSON GROUP

Type of agency Branding Telephone (011) 783-9595 Website www.interbrand.com Key person Doug de VIlliers, CEO Ownership Local 100% Black equity 51% Accounts gained 27 Accounts lost 0 Clients 60 Staff 35 Biggest clients - Telkom, BGL, Access Bank, Cresta, Temsa Quite a year for this stalwart branding agency. A heap of new accounts, income up R30m, an 85% increase in staff, and the setting-up in March this year of SA's first majority black-owned international branding consultancy. There was even academic recognition for De Villiers and founder Jeremy Sampson, appointed visiting MBA professors of branding in Nairobi and Cape Town respectively. New accounts included Access, Cresta, Africon, BGL, Sappi and TWP. The group won business from 27 of 32 pitches. The link with the international Interbrand group is proving a big boon for the SA agency, as is its relationship with the rest of the sector. According to De VIlliers: "Over the past 12 months we have included 14 of the 34 Interbrand global offices and 12 of our peer/competitive/complementary agencies in projects delivered."