EXP SA scoops Sports Agency of the Year Award for the second year in a row
Johannesburg, 27 February 2011 - Specialist marketing agency, EXP South Africa, added three new awards to its trophy cabinet when it was announced as the Sport Agency of the Year for the second year in a row at the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards at Emperor’s Place on Thursday night (23 February).
In addition to Sport Agency of the Year, EXP SA also scooped the award for Best Use of PR in a Sport Campaign for the second time running, this time for its work on Sasol’s sponsorship of Banyana Banyana, as well as the Best Sponsorship of a Sport Event or Competition award, for their work on the Absa Premiership. The company’s work was also recognised through the nomination of MTN8 Wafa Wafa and NBA, both for Best Use of PR in a Sport campaign, while MTN8 got a further nomination in the Best Sponsorship Event or Competition category.
“We are delighted to be recognised by the sports industry for the dedication and passion we showcase for the work we do for our various clients,” says Sandile Ndzekeli, Chief Executive Officer of EXP SA. “We are a people-centric company driven by results and dedicate this award to the formidable team that takes care of the EXP clientele. It’s the 24/7 commitment and non-stop creativity they continue to deliver by raising the bar, that affords us this recognition by the sports marketing industry.”
The Virgin Atlantic Sport Industry Awards celebrate the best in the South African sports market, from sponsorship, PR, marketing and new media, to publishing, advertising and design.
”Winning the Best PR Award for a second consecutive year is testament to our approach to sports PR,” says Yolanda Arendse, PR Director of EXP SA. “The PR efforts behind Sasol’s sponsorship of the national women’s football team Banyana Banyana, is at the back of an intensive campaign to stimulate the same support for women’s football as the men’s game receives which resulted in increased ticket sales, match attendance and television ratings in the team’s road to qualify for the London Olympics.”
EXP SA’s work on the Absa Premiership together with client Absa, saw a seamless transition to a new market. Amongst other notable achievements through the Absa Premiership sponsorship, Absa bank increased the number of unique visitors to its absapremiership.com website by 193% and saw a tangible increase in business worth millions of rands via Cash Send transactions over the period of the sponsorship.
“We would like to congratulate our clients SASOL and Absa for the awards as well, and thank them for entrusting us with the work on their brands,” adds Ndzekeli. “The sports industry should view the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards as inspiration to produce quality work that will elevate our country’s sporting fraternity and brands that support sport across all codes.”
To view the event, visit http://www.sportindustry.co.za/awards/
ENDS
Captions:
Sports Agency of the Year – EXP SA CEO, Sandile Ndzekeli (centre) is presented with the award by Elana Meyer and Neil McKenzie
Best Use of PR Award – EXP SA’s Clint Paterson (centre left) and Sandile Ndzekeli (centre right) are presented the award by John Ackerman and John Laffnie de Jager.
Best Sponsorship of a Sports Event or Competition – Juan de Jonge (left) and Roxy Louw (right) present the award to EXP SA’s Sandile Ndzekeli and Absa’s Happy Ntshingila (centre).
EXP SA team celebrating the three awards on the night.
For further information contact:
Yolanda Arendse
EXP PR Director
Email: yolanda.arendse@expagency.biz / +27 83 440 2031
Or Lucky Mokabane
EXP PR Account Manager
Email: lucky.mokabane@expagency.biz /
VIRGIN ACTIVE SPORT INDUSTRY AWARDS 2011 – THE WINNERS
During a night of non-stop excitement in the City of Erkuhuleni on 17th February, the inaugural winners of the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards 2011 were unveiled in front of close to 1,000 high-profile South African sport industry executives and sporting celebrities.
Hosted by Emperor’s Palace, the sell-out ceremony marked the first-ever opportunity for the rapidly evolving South African sports market to celebrate its business achievements.
Presented in front of a star-studded audience of all the key stakeholders in South African sport, the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards recognised and rewarded the best the South African sport business had to offer over the past 12 months in categories covering marketing, PR, sponsorship, media, advertising and design.
Ross Faragher-Thomas, Managing Director of Awards title sponsor Virgin Active SA, commented:
“As South Africans, sport is part of our heritage and we have shown our strength and unity through sports. This is why Virgin Active South Africa is proud to be here tonight as the headline sponsor of the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards 2011.
“There is a natural link between exercise and sports, and therefore we aim to use both our business and sport as a force for good in the country. Supporting organisations and awards such as these that invest in sport as part of our future will ultimately be beneficial in our communities to building a nation through sport and exercise.”
Nike was the night’s biggest winner, picking up 3 Awards including Sport Brand of the Year, while The Bulls were rewarded for their substantial impact on the nation’s sporting community with the SuperSport Outstanding Contribution to South African Sport.
The full list of Awards winners is listed overleaf…
VIRGIN ACTIVE SPORT INDUSTRY AWARDS 2011 - WINNERS LIST
Best Sponsorship of a Sport Event or Competition
Sponsored by Twenty Six Degrees South
MTN – MTN Sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
The Virgin Unite Corporate Social Responsibility in Sport Award
SuperSport – Let’s Play
The Technological Innovation in Sport Award
Sponsored by EA Sports
Nike – Nike Innovation
Best Use of PR in a Sport Campaign
MTN – Last Fan Standing
Best Grassroots Development Programme
Sponsored by Khoja Group
Nike – Nike’s Elite Training Grassroots Programme
Best Use of Digital Communications in Sport
HI-TEC – Liquid Mountaineering
Best TV Sport Commercial
Vodacom – Join the Voice Behind Bafana Bafana
Best Sponsorship of a Sport Team or Individual
Sponsored by Neo Africa
Chevrolet – Chevrolet Warriors
Best Integrated Sport Marketing Campaign
Sponsored by Pro Sport
South African Rugby Union - Bokkie
Virgin Atlantic Sport Team of the Year
Western Province and Stormers Rugby
Sport Brand of the Year
Sponsored by IFM Sports Marketing Surveys
Nike
Sport Agency of the Year
Sponsored by Gallo Images
Exp South Africa
SuperSport Outstanding Contribution to South African Sport
The Bulls
EXP PREVIOUS AWARDS
2009
AdReview Marketing Services Company of the Year
2008
AdFocus Sponsorship Agency of the Year
Marketing Excellence Awards Gold – Nestle Milo Champions Tournament: Medium Budget, Sport
Marketing Excellence Awards Gold – Absa KKNK, Large Budget, Arts & Culture
Marketing Excellence Awards Silver – Absa Design Indaba: Small Budget, Arts & Culture
2007
Marketing Excellence Awards 2007, Gold - Absa Cape Epic
Marketing Excellence Awards 2007, Gold - Absa KKNK
Marketing Excellence Awards 2007, Silver - Absa Cup
Mail & Guardian, Investing in the Future Award, Absa KKNK
BASA Business in Art – Absa KKNK
Absa Prestige Award – Absa KKNK
2006
Marketing Excellence Awards – Grand Prix (Absa Cup 2006)
Marketing Excellence Awards – Gold (Absa Cup 2006)
Marketing Excellence Awards – Gold (Absa Cape Epic)
Marketing Excellence Awards – Silver (Absa KKNK)
*The Grand Prix is awarded for exceptional and outstanding work recognizing the highest standards in the sponsorship marketing
industry. These awards are far and few between and highly sought after. Exp Sponsorship is proud to be the recipient of the (only)
Grand Prix at the 2006 Marketing Excellence Awards.