Company: Magna Carta Public Relations, Johannesburg, South Africa
Company Description: Magna Carta is South Africa's largest full service PR agency, providing corporate, brand communication, investor relations to blue-chip clients, locally, on the African continent and globally. The agency is based in Johannesburg, with a second office in Cape Town. Resources are drawn from global partners: TBWA group, Ketchum, Omnicom Group and Gavin Anderson & Company.
Nomination Category: Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, & Public Relations Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Public Relations Agency

Nomination Title: Magna Carta Public Relations South Africa

   1. Tell the story about what this nominated agency achieved in the past year (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

          WHY 2006 WAS MAGNA CARTA’S BEST YEAR IN HISTORY…

          2006 has proven to be an exceptional year for Magna Carta, placing the agency
          far ahead of any competition (in SA) in terms of growth; size; awards won and
          client base.  

          Growth: 
          Magna Carta grew by 36% in 2006 –  after twelve years in operation, whilst
          maintaining and improving our margins.  

          New business: 
          The agency competed in over 31 new business pitches, resulting in 26 new
          client wins – a hit rate of 84%.  Over-and-above its illustrious, existing
          client base which includes Standard Bank, Vodacom, Barloworld and Medscheme,
          it is privileged to add some of South Africa’s and the world’s leading brands
          and organisations to its stable:  Motorola, Microsoft SA, The Oprah Winfrey
          Leadership Academy for Girls, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Pepsi, Pfizer,
          MediClinic, Polka.com and Clicks.

          Government-related work is important to Magna Carta and it  proud of its
          nation building campaigns, including the ANC Election Campaign, the Reserve
          Bank; the National Treasury; the Independent Electoral Commission and SA
          Tourism. 2006 saw the agency re-appointed to the GCIS preferred supplier list.
          It was awarded the National Prosecuting Authority and Expanded Public Works
          Programme accounts and launched the Origins Centre at WITS, the first of its
          kind in SA.

          Global and African reach: 
          Key to the agency’s success is its partnership with its clients, suppliers,
          the media and affiliate agencies. In particular, 2006 has seen the
          relationship with global PR agency network, Ketchum, deliver results.   Magna
          Carta jointly pitched with Ketchum and won two global accounts – Mo Ibrahim
          Foundation and Oprah.

          2006 witnessed a demand from international and South African organisations for
          public relations in Africa. Working with its clients; Motorola, Stanbic Bank
          and the Mo Inbrahim Foundation, Magna Carta has developed a working PR network
          in Sub-Saharan Africa.

          Awards: 
          Magna Carta has garnered 6 local and international awards during 2006.
          • FinWeek AdReview PR Consultancy of The Year.
          • PRISA (Public Relations Institute of SA) PRISM Awards:
            - Standard Bank Pro20 Cricket – winner in sponsorship category,
            (- Vodacom Blue Bulls – finalist in sponsorship category)
          - Makoya Moola (SA Reserve Bank issue of upgraded bank notes) – winner
          stakeholder category
            - Makoya Moola – overall bronze award (winner of IPRA award 2005)
          • IPRA (International Public Relations Association) Golden World
          Awards:
            - IEC ‘Power of X’ – received a special mention from the United
          Nations
          • The Global Marketer’s Diamond Awards for excellence in marketing:
            - Tsotsi anti-piracy campaign – winner of best viral marketing campaign
            - IEC ‘Power of X’ – best PR marketing campaign

          People: 
          Magna Carta’s foundation rests on its people. The senior management have been
          with the company for over ten years and this year it added 11 more staff to
          service its new client wins, bringing the total staff count to 47 at the end
          of 2006.

          Empowerment: 
          A truly South African company, Magna Carta’s is 26% black-owned, which
          includes a 5.5% PDI staff share trust. Its employment equity increased by 10%
          over 2006 to 38%. It also actively supports the Starfish Foundation and Boys
          and Girls Town.

   2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

          Website under construction

   3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated agency:

          Under the leadership of Michele Anderson, PR agency Magna Carta, went from a
          loss operator to the most successful agency in the country.  
          Michele completed her studies in 1988, and embarked on a career in PR.  Today
          she consults to South Africa’s top CEO’s from a strategic communications
          perspective.  In her 18 years of experience in PR, she has worked across most
          sectors including Financial Services; Tourism; Healthcare; IT and Telecoms;
          Property; Aviation and Government.  She has been responsible for pioneering
          the philosophy of integration in marketing and in changing the preconceived ideas pertaining to PR and its role.