Brand Leadership
Client   Capitalworks
Brand   Minet
Year   2018 & 2021
Country   Mauritius
Coverage   Africa
    www.minet.com

Context

Capitalworks, a leading private equity firm and Aon Africa group management, acquired the assets of Aon Africa, the leading provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance. Aon Africa has an extensive African footprint, including 10 Aon exclusive and more than 15 correspondent offices across the continent, servicing clients in more than 44 of the 54 countries in Africa, excluding South Africa.

Task

Capitalworks needed to re-brand Aon Africa to a new pan-African provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance: A new value proposition that encapsulates Aon’s global experience and African heritage; a new name and identity; and launch in key markets in Africa.

Our Approach

Brand Leadership utilized multiple user-oriented methodologies to gather insights across key internal (staff, investors and Aon global) and external (customers, partners, influencers and investors) stakeholders to understand key issues, drivers of Aon’s equity and opportunities, to inspire the development of a unique value proposition, identity and framework for re-establishing the new brand in a way that resonates with existing clients and attracts new clients.

Results

  • Between 2018 and 2021, Brand Leadership developed a new vision, values (“HEART: Honest.Expertise.Agility.Respect.Teamwork”), value proposition (“Trusted, Agile Advisor”) (“Minet is a trusted pan-African advisor that meets the uncertainties of tomorrow by delivering risk and human capital solutions today”), and tagline (“Secure Tomorrow”);
  • Reverted to the “Minet” name that existed in Africa in 1949 prior to acquisition by Aon in 1979, creatively reframed the name for Anglophone (“Minet”), Lusophone (“Minseguro”) and Francophone Africa (“Minsec”) markets; designed a new identity;
  • Secured key digital and social media assets (website, Twitter and LinkedIN) and protected Trademarks across Africa.
  • Delivered a multi-media launch campaign and stakeholder (staff and key B2B customers) launches in 10 different countries;
  • Trained staff on the new brand, and
  • Launched extensive public relations across Africa and 10 different countries.
Client   Convergence Partners
Brand   inq
Year   2020
Country   South Africa
Coverage   Africa
    www.inq.inc

Context

Convergence Partners acquired a 100% stake in Vodacom/Vodafone Business Africa’s operations in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa and Malawi, to create a new global African cutting-edge solutions provider of innovative, business-relevant services in Edge AI and IoT, Fabric, SDN/NFV for Edge Cloud, Secure Access Services Edge and Elastic Edge.

Task

Convergence Partners needed to create a new global African cutting-edge solutions provider of intelligent connectivity through seamless delivery of cloud and digital services and technologies.

Our Approach

Brand Leadership conducted a comprehensive internal (investors, staff and management) and external (existing customers) research; assessed global trends and benchmarked competitors to understand the differentiated opportunities for the new brand.

Results

  • Brand Leadership helped to create a new vision (“Re-imagining a better future through digital solutions”); values (“Learn. Lead. Legacy”); and name (“inq”) that captured the essence of the new value proposition (“Simpler. Seamless. Solutions”) of the new brand o define and distinguish it competitively; bring clarity to stakeholders internally and externally, and establish “inq” as a formidable new provider of intelligent connectivity through seamless delivery of cloud and digital services and technologies.
  • Designed the new identity and applied it across key digital touchpoints (website, app and social media).
  • Secured digital assets (website and social media).
  • Trained internal stakeholders on the new brand guidelines and behaviors to deliver a clear, consistent and competitive brand.
  • Launched the new brand virtually to external (customers) and external (staff and directors) stakeholders during Covid (2020).
Client   Kakuzi
Brand   Kakuzi
Year   2023
Country   Kenya
Coverage   Global
    www.kakuzi.com

Context

Kakuzi PLC is the leading Kenyan agricultural cultivation and manufacturing company established in 1927 dually listed in the Nairobi and London Stock Exchange. Kakuzi responsibly, sustainably and ethically grows avocadoes, blueberries, macadamia, tea, livestock and commercial forestry. Kakuzi is Kenya’s largest exporter of avocadoes, Kakuzi supplies its goods globally to leading grocers to over 14 EU markets.

Task

Kakuzi needed to revitalize its corporate image and brand to reflect a modern, fresh global African brand with a Unique Selling Proposition that underscores its contribution to Kenya’s economy; resonates with and brings alive its value to communities of staff, small holder farmers and Kenyans broadly, and create a consistent and aligned brand across its associated brands.

Our Approach

Brand Leadership engaged with staff, shareholders in UK (Camelia) and Kenya, communities, small holder farmers and customers to gain insights on key drivers and opportunities to enhance the Kakuzi brand through workshops, key indepth interviews (IDI) and benchmarking Kakuzi against other key corporate contributors to Kenya.

Results

  • Brand Leadership developed a brand blueprint for Kakuzi that consolidates its value proposition (“Growing Together”) for customers, validates its brand credibility, drives its culture and defines the capabilities required to deliver on its promise to all stakeholders;
  • Refined and simplified the values to a memorable acronym –“MINDFUL” – Moral, Inclusive, Nimble, Diligent, Fair, Utu and Lively;
  • Evolved and enhanced the Kakuzi identity; segmented into corporate and consumer (product) brands, and streamlined the brand architecture to define the alignment between the corporate and sub-brands.
  • Developed concept for a “Kakuzi Farmer’s Market” to bring alive the Kakuzi brand to customers.
  • Developed new packaging concept and direction for Kakuzi packaging, website and all re-looked all key touchpoints.
  • Trained all 3,000 Kakuzi staff on the revitalized brand and their responsibility as brand champions.
Client   Brand South Africa
Brand   South Africa
Year   2023
Country   Davos, Switzerland
Coverage   Global
    www.brandsouthafrica.com

Context

South Africa has participated at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting for 30 years. In the recent WEF that took place from 16 – 20 January 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, under the theme “co-operating in a fragmented world,” South Africa was invited to be the host country for the 2023 WEF opening.

Task

South Africa needed to use the 2023 WEF opportunity to highlight its positioning as Africa’s most competitive nation and one of the world’s most exciting and diverse countries with immense opportunities for trade, investment and tourism.

Our Approach

Brand Leadership developed an activation concept that showcased and leveraged South Africa’s diverse culture, through music, food and art, as a platform to demonstrate the country’s positioning as a competitive country with diverse opportunities. To facilitate conversations and networking, Brand Leadership complemented the event with a stand-alone ‘South Africa House’ to host and facilitate meetings between government leaders, media, SA business delegates and other WEF delegates throughout the WEF week.

Results

SA WEF night highlighted as one of the most exciting WEF nights that brought Africa alive at DAVOS. The programme was supported with an integrated communications campaign and media partnerships building on an invitation to investors to “Grow with South Africa.”

Client   Airports Company
Brand   Airports Company
Year   2020
Country   South Africa
Coverage   Global
    www.airports.co.za

Context

The spread of Covid-19 resulted in the national aiports operator having to close all airports to alleviate the spread of the virus and in compliance with the national government’s decision.

Task

As understanding of the COVID- 19 disease was developing and regulations put in place to mitigate the spread were being relaxed, air travel was again possible. However, research showed that global travel remained depressed as passengers were still concerned about contracting the virus. The Airports Company needed to communicate the measures that were in place for safe travel and the measures being taken to return the airports to operations and re-start travelers safely.

Our Approach

Brand Leadership developed the overarching messaging platform, #ProtectUProtectUs, to anchor all communications, built on the overall Airports Company positioning to “Connect to People, Places, Dreams and Opportunity.” A multiphase integrated media strategy was developed to create awareness, understanding and engage with travellers, staff and concessionaires.

  • Phase 1 – Focused on educating and informing stakeholders on Airports Company Covid-19 protocols and their role in making the airport a safe place for everyone.
  • Phase 2 - Focused on informing stakeholders on the closure of airports.
  • Phase 3 – Focused on inviting travellers to travel again, observe Covid-19 safety measures in place and remind them of the joys of travel through Airports Company airports.

Results

Engaged all relevant stakeholders internally (staff) and externally (traveller, retailers and contractors) through integrated media (digital campaign, social media, traditional and ambient media, promoters and TV) that created awareness and understanding of how to travel safe, mininus infection and travel again. No mass infection cases were reported at the airport or among staff, and the aiport re-opened again successfully after 12 months.

Client   FNB
Brand   FNB
Year   2019
Country   South Africa
Coverage   Regional
    www.fnb.co.za

Challenge

FNB, one of the Top 4 leading banks in sub-sahara Africa is involved in diverse sponsorships spanning across arts & culture, sports and entrepreneurship, which are a vehicle to enage emotionally with their diverse customers and to build their brand.

Task

FNB needed a strategic approach and objective methodology to accurately account for the effectiveness of their sponsorships, return on investment and identify how to select sponsorships that are aligned with their positioning, build the brand and drive the business.

Our Approach

Brand leadership undertook a comprehensive approach to understand the FNB and competitor sponsorship portfolio, segment and align properties with the FNB brand proposition which are anchored on “demonstrating how FNB helps people to improve their lives,” and build the FNB brand as an innovative Fintech thought leader bank, and .quantify how the properties drive business.

Results

Brand Leadership created a framework for selecting properties aligned with its value proposition, measuring return on investment for brand and business, and recommendations on consolidating, on-boarding ideal sponsorships and exiting properties not aligned with the FNB brand.

Client   AGRF
Brand   AGRF Summit
Year   2012 - 2020
Country   Kenya
Coverage   Africa
    www.agrf.org

Challenge

  • The AGRF (African Green Revolution Forum) is world’s most important and impactful public and private sector-led forum for African agriculture, that brings together together African leaders, policy makers, development specialists, scientists, and representatives of agribusinesses and farmers’ organizations to discuss feeding Africa through the potential wealth of its own agricultural land.
  • It was founded by global Oslo-based agri-business, Yara, in 2006 in response to the first Africa and former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan’s call for ‘a uniquely Africa green revolution.’
  • After three (2006-2008) installments of the AGRF in Oslo, Norway, stakeholders decided it was appropriate to relocate the forum to Africa permanently, starting in Ghana in 2010.
  • The AGRF comprises plenaries and keynotes by Heads of States, business, academia, thought leaders, researchers and the beneficiary small holder farmers; and closes with an award, the YARA Prize with a prestigious Trophy, certificate and $50,000 prize for a transformational agri-farmer leader.
  • AGRF attacts more than 2,000 diverse participants in person every September at a different core agriculture African country.

Task

  • In its next AGRF for 2012, stakeholders concluded it is necessary to elevate the status of the AGRF as a premier global African forum and a clear African agenda and identity.
  • Agrf engaged Brand Leadership to re-imagine the staging of the Agrf to an annual rather than alternate year event, revitalize its branding and re-brand the Yara Prize into an African prize unrelated to its founding company.

Our Approach

Brand Leadership developed a strategic project pan with specialist global and African team, and workplan comprising (1) Event Conlceptualization, (2) Branding, (3) Programmatic (content, speaker and audience management), (4) Travel and Hospitality, (5) Staging and Technical, ((6) Delegate Management, (6) Communication (delegates, speakers and moderators, and marketing communications to build the AGRF brand, (7) Exhitibiton, and (8) Overall Project Management.

Results

Live Events – 2012 - 2019

  • 2,800+ Delegates in attendance
  • 10 Sitting and Former Heads of State and 50+ CEO’s and Captains of Trade and Industry in attendance
  • 30 Ministers of Agriculture, Finance, Commerce and Trade
  • 300+ Speakers, Rapporteurs and Moderators
  • 75 International Journalists
  • 1,800+ Unique media mentions globally
  • 90+Countries Represented
  • 50+ Exhibitors

Virtual - 2020

  • 10,500 Delegates, 500 Speakers, 150 Countries, $4,7bn Investment Opportunities.
Client   Atlas Mara
Brand   bpr
Year   2016
Country   Rwanda
Coverage   Rwanda
    www.bpr.rw

Challenge

Atlas Mara (ATMA) is a financial services holding company merging the interests of reknowned former Barclays Bank CEO, Bob Diamond’s Atlas Capital and pan-African tech entrepreneur, Ashish Thaker’s Mara Capital to undertake the acquisition of target banks in Africa. ATMA’s vision was to become sub-Saharan Africa’s premier financial institution. ATMA, located in Totola, British Virgin Islands, has sub-diaries and investments in Germany, Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In 2016 ATMA acquired 62% of Bank Populaire du Rwanda (bpr), Rwana’s strongest retail and SME Bank with the largest branch network in the sector and a long history spanning over 45 years in Rwanda.

Task

Atlas Mara (ATMA) sought to transform the acquired Bank Populaire du Rwanda (bpr) to be the Best Bank in Rwanda and the only true universal bank trusted by retail, SME, corporate and underbanked customers; reflecting the strengths of Atlas Capital and Mara Capital, and aligned with the group’s established brand architecture and endorsement (________a part of Atlas Mara).

Our Approach

Brand Leadership and local partner, Cube (which focused on consumer research and activation), undertook a comprehensive 3-Phase approach – Discovery (Research – Indepth Interviews (IDI), Focus Groups & Customer Intercepts across the 4 regions to inform the development of a branding strategy) and Touchpoint Audit to understand the key interfaces of the bank with its key stakeholders before, during and after engagement with the bank, and Distinction (Positioning and Identity that resonates what local stakeholders and leverages BPR and ATMA’s equity), and Delivery (campaign, roll-out across key touchpoints and staff training).

Results

Brand Leadership delivered a transformed bpr brand that leverages the group brand (Atlas Mara) and local insights:

  • Value proposition, Together for a better tomorrow, and evolved existing tagline, “Banki yacu, Hafi yacu” (Your Neighbourhood Bank) to “Your Bank. Your Future. Banki Yawe. Ejo Hawe,” new personality, PEAK (Proactive, Energetic, Approachable nad Knowledgeable) and values – Credible, Caring, Commmitted, Courageous and Connected, aligned with the enhanced positioning as a platform to vision to grow the BPR bank into best bank in Rwanda and the only true universal bank locally.
  • A brand architecture to manage the brand relationship between the group (Atlas Mara), corporate (pbr) and product brands.
  • A new brand identity incorporating the (_________a part of Atlas Mara) convention that ATMA had established for all their subsidiaries, transforming the visual identity from the traditional green that was inspired by the former brand’s agricultural focus to a new blue extracted from one of Atlas Mara’s primary corporate colours.
  • The new brand was applied across all key touchpoints, including a concepts for the branches, website and events.
  • The new brand was launched by H.E. Paul Kagame and the ATMA leadership on the sdelines of the WEF in Rwanda on 11 May 2016.
Brand Leadership
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