SAA makes high-level marketing decision

SOUTH African Airways has awarded HerdBuoys McCann-Erickson the two-year contract as its new advertising partners. The advertising agency beat out heavyweight contenders Saatchi & Saatchi, The Agency and FCB. Victor Nosi, executive vice-president of marketing and communications at SAA comments: " While each of the four short listed agencies made excellent presentations, HerdBuoys McCann-Erickson was the clear winner. The decision was unanimous and the SAA Board has ratified both our choice of agency partner and our methods and process for arriving at this decision." He added that the members of the selection panel were "extremely impressed” with the level of professionalism shown by each of the competing agencies. "We are very pleased to have successfully completed the process and we are very excited to be working with the new team at HerdBuoys McCann-Erickson. What is critically important now is for SAA to be in full flight with a fully integrated advertising and marketing campaign as fast as possible." (Adéle Mackenzie)