Subsidiary of WPP, Scangroup extend services to Ghana
Africa’s leading marketing services group, Scangroup, an associate of WPP, in partnership with Ogilvy, also part of WPP, have announced the launch of two advertising firms in Ghana.
The move is aimed at expanding Scangroup and Ogilvy operations in the fast-growing continent and serving existing demands for marketing and communication services.
WPP is the world’s largest communications service group with 2,400 offices in 107 countries.
Scanad Ghana Limited and Ogilvy Ghana Limited have been established to take over the existing advertising and promotional business of Media Majique & Research Systems Limited which has traditionally traded as MMRS Ogilvy and Ogilvy Africa Media Ghana Limited (OAM) respectively.
A statement in Accra copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said Mr Reginald Laryea, immediate past President of the Advertising Association of Ghana and a marketing communications specialist, had been appointed Chairman of Scanad Ghana and would retain a minority stake in both businesses.
The statement quoted Mr Bharat Thakrar, Chief Executive Officer of Scangroup as saying the new partnership was in line with Scangroup’s strategy that aimed to create a leading Pan-African communications network and expand its foothold in the West African market.
“The entry into Ghana increases our footprint and marks another milestone towards our vision of becoming a leading marketing services company in Sub Saharan Africa. This will also enable us to service our pan-African clients better with in-market infrastructure”.
According to the statement, the strategy of pan-African expansion would help Scangroup to achieve its long-held ambition to diversify its regional presence and bring the much needed skills and products which are not currently available in this market on board.
Commenting on the partnership, Mr Laryea said business prospects in Ghana were bright and would be supported by a strategic partner who would contribute to raising the standard of marketing communication onto the next level.
“This partnership with Scangroup and Ogilvy will be beneficial to the industry and our clients,” he said.
The launch of Scanad Ghana Limited and Ogilvy Ghana Limited is the latest in a series of joint ventures by Scangroup, which is embracing world-class marketing services in the markets in which it operates in sub-Saharan Africa.
Scangroup has in the past four years completed multi-million-shilling acquisition deals across African markets as it sought to boost its presence and earnings.
Last year, Scangroup Limited and Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide agreed to create a Pan-African joint venture to strengthen a common expansion and growth strategy for Sub Saharan Africa.
Source: GNA