PR & Communications News South Africa

RedCube Porter Novelli scoops Samsung Electronics

Independent brand public relations agency RedCube Porter Novelli has been selected to handle the Samsung Electronics account nationally, it was announced yesterday, Thursday, 6 November 2008. Responsibilities will include managing all strategic brand PR activity for the corporate, mobile and electronics giant in southern Africa going forward.

“We have been involved in Samsung's publicity business since the onset of this year through the Samsung Mobile Icône Modèle competition and then we took on their CSI campaign along with our other African counterparts, Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya, in the form of the Samsung NextHero campaign,” explained group client service director Alexia Grigoratos.

“It is a great way to get to know a client's business by taking on project work before launching the entire CEM business from a publicity perspective which we are currently and excitedly rolling out in earnest.”

Samsung Electronics employs approximately 123 000 people in 93 offices across 48 countries. The company is the world's third largest producer of mobile phones which comprise 70% of its business. Since 1997, Samsung has been the Olympic partner in the wireless communications equipment category and continues its contribution to the Olympic Movement as the Olympic partner and a presenting partner for the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games and Torch Relay.

From a corporate social responsibility perspective, Samsung is involved throughout Africa in the Samsung NextHero campaign, which aims to develop soccer talent on a grassroots level throughout disadvantaged African communities. Internationally, Samsung supports Chelsea FC in the premier league and this year claimed leading sponsorship of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Markinor's Brand Survey also shows that Samsung now places number two in the minds and hearts of South African consumers, a full move up from number three in 2007.

RedCube, founded in 2002, claims to be currently ranked fourth amongst South African PR agencies in terms of billings and has recently announced its membership of the Porter Novelli network of agencies.

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