Coca-cola appoints CMC as PR consultant

Stories by Akin Adewakun, Lagos

Mr. Ade Popoola, Group Managing Director,
Reals Pharmaceuticals Limited (second left),
presenting drugs worth N2 million to
Dr.Theophilus Motayo, Chief Medical Director,
Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta (third left),
while Dr. Kehinde Onifade, Head, Clinic
Service, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta
(left) and Mr. Kunle Adesoye, Executive
Director, Reals Pharmaceuticals (right),
watch at an event in Lagos recently.Very recently, Coca-Cola, through its Communications Manager, Mr. Clem Ugorji announced the appointment of CMC Connect (Perception Managers), an affiliate of Arkay Africa Network, as its new public relations and marketing communications consultants for both the corporate and the product brands of the beverage brand in the country.

The beverage company, Ugorji stated, arrived at CMC, from among seven of its kind that actually participated in the ‘fast-paced, multi-stage pitch process’ which began in March 2008.

But, unknown to many, prior to the latest arrangement which saw CMC clinching the ‘coveted’ PR account of the soft drinks company, there had not been any agency that was actually handling the account. Brands and Marketing investigations revealed that JSP Communications purportedly handling the account, was not on any retainership with the company, but only charged professional fees at the end of every event prosecuted for the company.

So, to JSP, the question of losing the account on the account of non-performance never arose.

And, contrary to the generally-held belief that JSP Communications actually participated in the pitch process, the PR firm was never among the nation’s PR agencies that bidded for the account. Brands and Marketing investigations revealed that the decision of JSP not to pitch was unconnected with the decision of the soft drinks company to throw the account open, ‘but it actually felt slighted because it believed Coca Cola was not following global standards by deliberately informing it of its decision to throw the pitch open very late’.

For instance, while the others had ample time to prepare for the pitch, with some of them enlisting the services of their foreign partners, JSP rightly felt that the soft drinks company had deliberately put it at a disadvantage by not inviting it for the process on time.

The source, who preferred anonymity, also argued that ‘by naming JSP as one of the agencies that pitched for the account, Coca-Cola was only trying to send the wrong message that the process was fair, while it was apparent that not all the PR firms involved were given a level-playing ground’.

While some experts in the industry who spoke with Brands and Marketing believe that if the soft drinks company was actually sincere about laundering its image in the country, it would have made the process more competitive, others believe that it is a matter of time before one can authoritatively question the choice of CMC as the soft drinks company’s preferred choice for the job.

Celtel dealers begin business tour of China

Celtel Nigeria Trade Partners have begun a tour of the Peoples Republic of China after a stopover inDubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday. The team entered China through the newly built gigantic Beijing airport and spent a night at the famous Kempenski Hotel in Beijing before jetting out to one of the commercial hubs of China , Shenzhen, a 15 minutes drive from Hong Kong.

The tour is part of Celtel’s reward programme for outstanding Dealers in the last 12 months trading cycle. In February this year, Celtel rewarded its top 20 Trade Partners with an all expense paid trip to China in addition to presenting to them other prizes including brand new Toyota Hiace Buses, one and two cabin Toyota Hilux trucks, among other prizes. Many other Dealers also received various prizes such as brand new Laptops, Laser Printers, 60 Inch Plasma Television sets, Home Theatre, and 50 inch LCD Television sets, and Motorcycles during the Celtel Trade Partners Awards ceremony in Abuja earlier in the year.

According to Lars Stork, Chief Operating Officer, Celtel and Leader of the delegation, the trip is in fullfilement of the company’s promise to the Dealers and a demonstration of its commitment to empowering Nigerians including Trade Partners who play an important role in the distribution chain of the telecom industry. According to Stork who is leading a team of Celtel’s Commercial Operation officials including Tayo Bright, Director of Commercial Operation; Imeh James, General Manager, South South Region; and Ayo Ipaye, Head of Commercial Distribution Division, told the Dealers the company selected China as the tour destination to boost their businesses by learning new business tips from Chinese mobile operators and their distributors, developing new trade links, purchasing needed items, visiting interesting tourist locations and finding the time to reflect and relax after months of hard work.