27 November 2009
	PROFILE NET#WORK BBDO CAPE TOWN

Type of agency Advertising Telephone (021) 480-0400 Website www.networkbbdo.co.za Key person Eric D'Oliveira, MD Ownership BBDO (Int) 60%; local 40% Black equity 31% Accounts gained 3 Accounts lost 1 Clients 31 Staff 47 Biggest clients - Distell, Ackermanns, Capitec Bank, Masterfoods, Parmalat This time last year the agency was simply BBDO. Then, D'Oliveira expressed concern that many people still confused it with the old Berry Bush agency from which it sprang. The loss of the Checkers advertising account to new agency Ninety9Cents, run by former Berry Bush executives, was not the kind of confirmation he sought. D'Oliveira says the loss forced the agency to redefine itself and launch a strategic "revolution". That included a drastic staff cutback - from 90 to 47. On the plus side, there were three new accounts, Johnson & Johnson's Stayfree and two more products from the Distell liquor group. The first year of the revolution has been spent "getting fit". How fit, isn't clear. With no figures available, D'Oliveira offers only: "We're pleased with our performance to date."