The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), the leading global trade association for the mobile industry, has announced the addition of 13 new industry leaders to its MMA South Africa board of directors, serving for a one-year term from 1 August 2014. They join an active board drawn from the marketer, agency, media owner, tech enabler, research and Telco communities representing mobile interests within SA.
“The growing number of marketers and agencies on the South African Board aligns directly with the MMA’s recently announced marketer first and innovation-focused mission,” says Chris Babayode, MD MMA EMEA.
“Mobile is the cornerstone of every successful marketing strategy in Africa. Last year we saw outstanding growth in MMA South Africa and marketers embracing the importance of mobile in their communication strategy.
“As the incoming chair, I look forward to raising the bar further with the support of the local MMA board and membership base to build on this success. I am extremely pleased with the wealth of knowledge and diversity of the advisory board this term and look forward to working with them to exploit the value of mobile marketing in the year ahead,” says Nicolle Harding of the MMA SA and CEO of MaxAxion.
The new and re-elected board members are:
* AAT – Alan Haarhoff;
* AdClick Africa – Velly Bosega;
* Advine – Gavin Emes;
* BulkSMS – Samantha van Putten;
* Buzz City – Nicholas Hodge;
* Coca Cola – Muhammed Jassat;
* DSG – Yaron Assabi;
* GfK – Ryan Smit;
* Mobiclicks – John Butler;
* Nokia – Allana Barber;
* SABC – Philip van Tonder;
* Silverstonecis – Raymond Buckle (honorary guest);
* Standard Bank – Sagren Pather;
* Telkom Mobile – Helga Bates;
* Unilever – Nazeer Suliman;
* Vine – Neil Hutchinson; and
* WiGroup – Howard Moodycliffe.
Current members whose terms will continue:
* Allana Barber – Microsoft;
* Candice Goodman – Mobitainment (chair emeritus);
* Neil Hutchinson – Grapevine Interactive;
* Nicolle Harding – MaxAxion (incoming chair);
* Philip van Tonder – SABC;
* Rick Joubert – Yonder Media; and
* Raymond Buckle – CEO – Silverstone Solutions (honorary guest).
“Mobile is as close as you can get to your consumers. South Africa is playing a leading role in the development of mobile as a mainstream medium with innovative and international award winning practices and campaigns.
“Having blue chip brands on our SA and EMEA boards, allows the MMA to effectively influence global, pan-African and local marketing strategies and drive growth in the mobile industry,” says Raymond Buckle, CEO Silverstone and MMA EMEA board director.
