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Marketing News South Africa

MFSA sets out its way forward for 2005

As Bizcommunity.com broke the news yesterday, Marketing Federation of Southern Africa (MFSA), CEO, Mpho Makwana, will be leaving the organization at the end of January 2005, opening the way up for the MFSA to recommit itself to equitable representation of the industry it purports to serve, and add new impetus to its transformation imperative.

As Chief Executive, Makwana's key responsibility was to lead the strategy development, positioning and structural alignment of the MFSA after the merger of ASOM, IMM and the DMA. This complex phase of the MFSA's development cycle was "successfully" completed in November 2004, according to a MFSA statement.

There are many in the industry that would disagree - saying the negative publicity over retrenchments at the MFSA, bitter infighting and behind the scenes wrangling over the Loerie Awards, and a lack of transformation in the industry - are not the hallmark of a successful year.

Jabu Mabuza, Chairman of the MFSA Board, thanked Makwana for his contribution over the past 18 months and wished him well for his future. "We look forward to a vibrant, united marketing industry, enabling brand South Africa to thrive," said Mabuza.

As of 1 February 2005, Makwana will be moving to Limpopo Province where he will take up a new corporate position, as well as manage his family business.

The MFSA Board announced that board member, Michelle Perrow, and strategic marketing consultant at MTN, Dee Blackie, have been appointed to steer the renewed marketing drive at the MFSA for the next six months - commencing January 2005.

And in what seems a direct response to concerns within the industry, the MFSA, seems to, finally, be consulting with the industry it serves, in trying to establish itself as a truly representative industry body - directed by the members it purports to serve.

In its statement released today, the MFSA has set out its key marketing focus areas for 2005:

  • The establishment of a Marketing Directors' Circle.
  • A Summer and Winter School of Marketing to be launched for the total South African market (as in a bi-annual marketing Lekgotla for the industry).
  • Greater impetus to be given to the Chartered Marketer Programme in the Market.
  • A re-launched world class Marketing Journal.
  • The successful launch of the MFSA Marketing Awards for the industry.
  • Strengthen the link of the MFSA with the services SETA, SAQA and other regulatory education bodies as key academic and higher education institutions.

    Finally, the MFSA board will be reconstituted in January 2005 to ensure that it is more representative of the total marketing community in South Africa, according to the MFSA statement.

  • About Louise Marsland

    Louise Burgers (previously Marsland) is Founder/Content Director: SOURCE Content Marketing Agency. Louise is a Writer, Publisher, Editor, Content Strategist, Content/Media Trainer. She has written about consumer trends, brands, branding, media, marketing and the advertising communications industry in SA and across Africa, for over 20 years, notably, as previous Africa Editor: Bizcommunity.com; Editor: Bizcommunity Media/Marketing SA; Editor-in-Chief: AdVantage magazine; Editor: Marketing Mix magazine; Editor: Progressive Retailing magazine; Editor: BusinessBrief magazine; Editor: FMCG Files newsletter. Web: www.sourceagency.co.za.
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