Is your relationship with your client or agency a match made in heaven? Or do you find yourselves at opposite ends of the table, fretting about how you’ll ever align? The cornerstone of successful marketing undoubtedly lies in the healthy connection between these cardinal points. But secretly, many of us struggle to find that perfect balance. The good news is that we’re not alone and help is at hand! Four powerhouse marketing specialists will join  in a panel discussion at the Nedbank IMC 2023, to unpack just how we can optimise these relationships.

In the panel entitled, Up close and personal or miles apart? Optimising the client/agency relationship, Ann Nurock, Senior Partner at Relationship Audits and Management will facilitate a robust discussion with Zayd Abrahams, Chief Marketing & Strategy Office at Tiger Brands; Nkgabiseng Motau, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at Think Creative Africa; and Mpume Ngobese, Co-Managing Director at Joe Public.

Ann Nurock is strongly positioned to guide the conversation by providing a balanced, holistic view of what makes those relationships work (or not!). Relationship Audits and Management is a global consultancy that seeks to quantify, measure and optimise key strategic  relationships between clients and agencies via their proprietary Radar tool. Over the last 11 years she has been contracted by 30 client companies and as a result has interacted with over 80 agencies of all disciplines. Ann has been on both sides of the client/agency coin, having spent more than two decades in the advertising industry.

Tiger Brands is home to some of South Africa’s much-loved brands, such as Albany, Koo, Tastic, All Gold and Ace, and Zayd Abrahams (pictured) will elucidate both the glory and agony of client/agency partnerships. Zayd has been a marketing leader for 25 years in global, regional, local and multinational roles based in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Turkey, working across FMCG, Telecommunications and Financial Services.

Think Creative Africa’s Nkgabiseng Motau will provide a perspective of navigating relationships from the creative side of advertising. Having worked on local and global campaigns for multinationals, Nkgabiseng has the inside track on how agencies can successfully nurture multi-stakeholder relationships.

Mpume Ngobese from Joe Public will layer into the conversation the perspectives of a maverick advertising agency, where sustaining extraordinary client partnerships is personal. After two decades in account and client management, Mpume has a deep understanding of clients within global, regional and local contexts. Not only responsible for driving strategy that authentically brings brands to life, Mpume’s experience on the judging panels of South Africa’s leading advertising and marketing awards gives her deep insight into what connects brands to people.

Dale Hefer, Nedbank IMC CEO says, “We love panel discussions and now that the Nedbank IMC is able to deliver an in-person experience once again – after three years of Covid-driven virtual events – we’re thrilled. Panel discussions allow for vibrant discussions and it’s often at these moments that the golden nuggets of insight emerge.” 

To marketers, creatives, and entrepreneurs: get ready for awesome up close and personal interactions at the Nedbank IMC 2023. Register today. The one-day event will take place in person at Urban Brew Studios in Johannesburg, on 15 September 2023. There is also an ONLINE option.

In-person tickets (conference only) priced at R3 500 (excl VAT) until 31 May 2023.

In-person tickets (conference and Effie Awards South Africa) priced at R4 500 (excl VAT) until 31 May 2023.

Limited seats available.

Virtual tickets priced at R1 499.

For more information, visit www.imcconference.com

The annual Nedbank IMC Conference is Africa’s foremost integrated marketing conference. The Integrated Marketing Council (IMC) believes that Marketing is Business© and that marketing deserves its place at the boardroom table. This conference has more CMOs, senior marketers and agency leaders attending than any other in Africa and is relevant to anyone in the business of communication.

One day of 15-minute presentations (with some exceptions), the conference is known for its hard-hitting global agenda with no sales pitches.

Now in proud partnership with The Effie Awards South Africa – the world’s preeminent marketing effectiveness award – the Nedbank IMC Conference will be in person or online on the 15 September 2023.   The Nedbank IMC is presented in association with MASA, in collaboration with the ACA, in partnership with the DMASA and is endorsed by the IAB. The 2023 theme is ‘Marketing. UpClose&Personal’ and is relevant to anyone in the business of communication.