GLOBAL- NAIROBI, MAY 28, 2012: BBDO Worldwide announced today the opening of a new agency in Nairobi, Kenya in East Africa. The move follows the launch of BBDO’s agency in Lagos, Nigeria last year and fulfills the network’s goal of establishing a presence across the sub-Saharan region. The East Africa hub will be managed by Monty Dhariwal, appointed as executive director.
Chris Thomas, chairman and CEO, BBDO Asia, Middle East and Africa, commented: “The rise of Africa cannot be ignored. We understand that if you can’t win in Africa, then fundamentally, you can’t win. Africa is the second most populous continent in the world and a recent IMF forecast predicted that sub-Saharan growth is expected to exceed 5% in 2012, despite challenging global economic conditions. Our latest opening in East Africa underpins the importance BBDO, as well as our multinational clients, place in the region.”
The expansion into East and West Africa builds on BBDO’s strong presence in both the North and South areas of the continent. One of the most awarded networks in the region, BBDO South Africa dominated the recent Creative Circle Awards and was named the Number One Agency Group in the latest Loeries Annual. And Net#work BBDO in Cape Town has been a consistent winner at the Cannes International Advertising Festival. Impact/BBDO has also experienced success in Egypt and Algeria, performing particularly well at this year’s Dubai Lynx and MENA awards.
The move will allow the East African hub to leverage the capabilities of the worldwide network, sharing the philosophy and tools to create best in class work that has become synonymous with BBDO, for both current and potential clients. It’s also an approach that differs significantly from the way other leading global advertising networks are developing their presence in Africa. Whereas most networks run their operations from European markets, BBDO is aligning its Africa operations more closely with Asia and the Middle East, based on the belief that there are lessons learned in the vast cultural diversity, retail environment, emerging middle classes, urbanization and rise of mobile from these emerging markets that can be applied to Africa.
In choosing Monty Dhariwal to oversee BBDO’s operation in East Africa, BBDO has selected someone with over 15 years advertising experience, with a strong background in building marketing strategy and developing integrated campaigns. In his previous role as the founder and director of Express DDB Kenya, Monty established the agency in 2000, developed its network affiliation and worked with a number of prestigious brands across a wide spectrum of categories, including Wrigley’s PK, Crown Berger and the Kenya Tourist Board, among others.
Monty said of his appointment, “I am excited to bring BBDO to East Africa, begin building an office of world class talent and for our clients to start experiencing the high standard of work that BBDO is known for around the world.”
