Scangroup inks ads partnership with Google

Mr Charles Murito, Google Kenya Country manager. FILE PHOTO | NMG 

By JAMES NGUNJIRI

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Summary

• The deal dubbed “Doubleclick suite” will enable the Kenyan firm to sell advertisement space in real time.
• WPP Scangroup chief executive Bharat Thakrar said they are confident that the partnership will cement the agency’s top position in the region.
• Google Kenya’s country manager Charles Murito said the partnership will re-define how media is planned and bought in the region.

Marketing communications firm WPP Scangroup has partnered with Google Africa to roll out a digital advertising solution that will serve its clients across the continent.

In a joint statement, the two firms on Thursday said the solution dubbed “Doubleclick suite”, will enable the agency purchase and sell advertisement space in real time, and simplify advertising campaign management from media planning to reporting.

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) - listed firm chief executive Bharat Thakrar said they are confident that the partnership will cement the agency’s top position in the region.

“With more than 80 per cent digital media in the US and 60 per cent in the UK sold programmatically in 2017, and a renewed focus by advertisers on media efficiency, brand safety and ‘viewability’, we are confident that this partnership will cement WPP Scangroup’s position as a leading digital media house in the region,” said Mr Thakrar.

READ: Scangroup bids for major stake in rival Kantar TNS

Google Kenya’s country manager Charles Murito said the partnership will re-define how media is planned and bought in the region.

Kenya is still the agency’s primary market, even as the group continues to expand and strengthen its operations outside the country.

Early this year, the firm launched an advertising joint venture in Nigeria after settling a five-year court case that had blocked its entry into Africa’s largest economy.