The former Managing Director of Business Connexion, an ICT services company, Mr. John Sviridov, at the weekend, completed the one month handing over exercise that paved way for Mr. Ayo Adegboye to step into his shoes as the new Managing Director of the company.
Speaking at a send-forth party organised for Sviridov by the company in Lagos weekend, the former managing director said he would be going back to the company’s headquarters in South Africa from where he will exit the company in another two years, after attaining the retirement age of 60 years.
Sviridov has put in several years in the company, and has managed several divisions of the company before his appointment as managing director of the company in January 2015.
Sviridov said the most challenging period for him as managing director, was when the Lagos office of the company, housing 85 staff members, was razed by fire, two days after he resumed as managing director. “It was really challenging to resettle 85 staff members and still kept them working to meet customers’ satisfaction, but through collaborative efforts, we were able to overcome the challenge. Businesses have grown slowly in the last two years because of the harsh business environment of the country, but I believe that new managing director will use his expertise to further boost the company’s revenue.
Adegboye, who thanked Sviridov for his passion and efforts in stabilising the business of the company in the last two years, promised to build on what he was able to achieve in the last two years. He called for collaborative efforts to move the company forward. “The high quality of staff I met on ground, gives me great confidence that together we will make the difference and raise the profile of the company as a world-class technology business company,” Adegboye said.
He promised to drive new line of businesses, using Internet of Things (IoT) and the cloud technologies to raise revenue and customer confidence and satisfaction.
Business partners, who spoke at the send-forth party, commended Sviridov for his passion on the job, saying they will surely missed him. The Managing Director of Rack Centre, one of the partners of Business Connexion, Mr. Tunde Coker, who spoke of the business relationship between both companies, described Sviridov as a passionate leader and businessman who understands doing business in a more profitable way. Other business partners like Huawei Technologies also spoke well of the outgoing managing director of Business Connexion.
The members of staff of Business Connexion also poured out encomiums on their boss, whom they described as a wonderful and energetic man that they loved working with, because he was a team player and builder as well as targeted goal getter.
Sixth Edition of ADVAN Awards Holds in October
In line with its tradition of strengthening the marketing industry through innovative platforms, the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), the umbrella body for all advertisers in Nigeria is set to bring together industry stakeholders and supporters to celebrate marketing teams that have made outstanding contributions to the industry. The event, which is the sixth edition of the awards, is billed to take place in Lagos in October.
According to a statement issued by the association, this year’s award is structured for the express purpose of highlighting the fundamental position marketing occupies in business and public sectors, besides celebrating outstanding marketing achievements across a range of industries.
ADVAN President, David Okeme, was quoted as saying the award is part of ADVAN’s greater design to establish the marketing profession on a sustainable path to greatness. Okeme also feels this achievement could really be consolidated this year with the ADVAN Awards for Marketing Excellence now endorsed by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA).
The President of ADVAN also revealed that two new categories have been introduced this year, as part of the goal to develop and set standards for all areas of the industry. The two categories are Public Sector Marketing and Marketing on a Shoestring budget. The public sector marketing Awards category is to recognize the effective use of marketing elements, and delivery of the marketing strategy and communications programmes executed for/by public sector institutions. For Marketing on a shoestring budget award, the goal is to recognise the maximisation of “limited budgets” in achieving impact and measurable results.
The ADVAN President also revealed that the Awards Committee tasked with mandate of organising a world class event is populated by seasoned marketing professionals led by the Marketing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Franco Maria Maggi, who would also serve as Chairman of the 2016 ADVAN Awards.
He also spoke on the judging process and stated that it remains one of the most valuable assets of the awards. Okeme later named Ikechi Odigbo, Managing Director DDB Lagos and Vice President Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) as the Chairman of the Panel of Judges for the 2016 Awards.
According to him, all entries are put through a thorough and transparent judging process, adding that the judges must be leaders of industry, from the various stakeholder groups within the marketing communications value chain.
He said: “Akin to previous years, ADVAN would be preparing for this year’s event with the passion to highlight the fundamental position marketing occupies in our business and public sectors. As the umbrella body for marketing professionals, we strive to maintain, develop and set standards for the marketing industry. Despite the seemingly chaotic economic space, we promise to make the Awards a night of glamour and excitement. Plans are in full gear to ensure a very memorable event. Given that the Award planning team is a combination of the nation’s most creative and articulate minds, it is assured that the ADVAN Awards Ceremony will be one of the most celebrated events of 2016.”
Noah’s Ark Shines at Loeries Int’l Advertising Festival
Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, a leading advertising agency, has added another feather to its creative hat by clinching one Silver and two Bronze awards at the just concluded Loeries International Advertising Festival held recently in Durban, South Africa.
The Loeries is the biggest creative gathering in Africa and Middle East that seeks to reward and inspire innovation and relevance across the different spheres of brand communication.
Noah’s Ark Communications Limited was the only decorated agency, from Nigeria andthe entire West African sub-region. Out of the 12 works entered for the awards by the agency, 8 made the shortlist, with three winning eventually.
The works that won the award for the agency are: ‘The Young Bookworms’ (Boko Halal Campaign), Muhammadu Buhari – Silver, Print category (a work done as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project of the agency in clamouring for the release of the adopted Chibok Girls); Hypo, ‘For Whites Only’ (Oscars) –Bronze, Outdoor Category; and Gala, ‘No one is bigger than hunger’ (Obama) – Bronze, Magazine Advertising.
The Managing Director, Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, Mr. LanreAdisa, described the achievement of the agency at the 2016LoeriesInternational Advertising Festival as another step in the direction towards achieving its vision – to be in the top league of successful brand builders out of Africa.
Adisa stated that the Loeries award marks another remarkable milestone, not only for the agency but also for the entire Nigerian creative advertising industry in its quest to earn its rightful place as a force to reckon within the global advertising landscape.
“It has always been our desire to put the Nigerian Advertising Industry in global limelight by winning at the highest level. This is another step towards achieving this desire and we would not rest on our oars in doing that,” he said.
Also speaking on the laudable feat achieved by the Agency, the Executive Creative Director, Abolaji Alausa, noted that the award will further fuel and inspire more audacious creative outputs from the agency.
Alausa dedicated the award to his team for their doggedness, resilience and courage. He specially dedicated ‘The Young Bookworms’ (Boko Halal Campaign) to the memory of the Agency’s late Associate Creative Director – Babatunde Ridwan Adebola who passed on about two years ago.
It would be recalled that Noah’s Ark emerged the overall best agency at the 2015 Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF) awards, winning a total of 10 awards, including 1 Grand Prix, 5 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze, and also won 2 Emerald Awards at the 2015 Crystal Awards held in Marrakesh, Morocco.
The Agency holds the record of being the first agency in Nigeria to be featured in the Luerzer’s Archive; and also the first Agency in Nigeria to be recognized by Cannes Lions Award in 2014 with two National Diploma Certificates for its work for Indomie Instant Noodles.
BA Rewards Nigerian Travel Partners
British mega carrier, British Airways recently rewarded its travel partners all over Nigeria and out prizes ranging from I-Pad Air to Business class tickets on British Airways to return tickets to London on their award winning Club World seats (Business Class).
BA said from Lagos and Abuja Ms Enitan Adekunle of target Travels, Faith Ikpobi of GEM travels and Ms Hajju Kam Salem of Millenium Travels Abuja would be cruising on BA Club World to London courtesy of the tickets won at the BA event. New I pad Air were won by Solomon Alo of HRN Travels, Mrs Funmi Odumosu of Traveltron Ltd as well as Mrs Lara Dairo of Snowball Travels all collected I- Pad Air at the event.
In his remarks at the Travel Consultant’s forum held in Abuja and Lagos, BA’s Regional Manager, West Africa, Kola Olayinka said the relationship between his airline and agents remain a very rock solid one, noting that without BA partners the airline cannot reach its highly valued customers who are located in every corner of Nigeria, adding that customers are the very essence of BA being in business
He said the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) under the leadership of the current President is a very strong ally of British Airways because both jointly focused on the dual areas of growth of the Aviation industry as well as ensuring high level of customer service delivery to customers.
The NANTA President, Mr. Bernard Bankole who was represented at the Lagos event by Vice President of NANTA, Ms Kemi Adewole while lauding the efforts of BA in the market urged other airlines to emulate British Airways efforts in the way they relate to the industry and its travel partners who are the downstream of aviation sector in Nigeria.
