Issued by: HKLM


HKLM took the strategic decision to expand its capabilities in response to market demands and in line with international trends, says MD, Sean McCoy. “As our client relationships developed, we were being asked to manage an increasingly broad spectrum of brand communications. It made sense to leverage our existing capabilities. Having the resources in-house enables us to develop a better set of needs-based solutions for our clients, within a holistic framework,” he said.

McCoy said the group was well down this path already, with a number of specialised business units up and running. These include HKLM Connect (communications and eventing), HKLM Digital (the full spectrum of digital applications, including 3D rendering and animation, interactive presentations, motion graphics, short movies and videos), HKLM Exchange (annual reports and investor relations), HKLM Ignite (behavioural branding) and HKLM Confluence (research).

But expansion won’t come at the expense of focus or commitment, says McCoy. “We’ve been successful in the past because we’ve challenged norms,” he said. “This next phase will be no different, but we are acutely aware of the need to find and retain the appropriate talent, experience and passion to support our growth and meet our clients’ needs.“

A number of HKLM clients have already embraced HKLM’s multidisciplinary branding proposition. For example, flagship empowerment organisation, Exxaro, which initially tasked HKLM with developing a name and brand for the new entity, expanded the scope of work to include signage and behavioural branding.

Exxaro was one of several major clients acquired by HKLM over the past year. Others included Standard Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, Pick ‘n Pay’s Go Banking, Singita, Alexander Forbes and Steinhoff.

The group has also considerably strengthened its pan African and international footprint. Its Nigerian joint venture enjoyed an active year primarily in the banking sector, while the group completed projects in a number of African countries, including Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Botswana, Zambia and Mauritius. Its most recent international signing has been Tanzanian telecommunications company, Zantel.

HKLM’s Middle East presence was fully formalised with the opening of offices in Dubai Media City and counts Global Food Industries and Dubai Festival City among its first clients. The group also took a tactical decision to enter the Russian market as a springboard to penetrate other nearby emerging economies. Its Berlin representative office continued to perform well.


“HKLM has remained true to its founding principle of ‘New Brand Thinking’,” said McCoy. “We are the preferred brand partner for a number of industries in Africa, including banking, financial services and telecommunications and we are making solid inroads into all other areas.

“Going forward, we will continue to focus on growth whilst ensuring we deliver value-based solutions that satisfy our clients. New internal systems will bolster internal operating efficiencies and we will continue to invest in the best talent and skills available.”

Visit our PRESS OFFICE: HKLM is an entrepreneurial and dynamic leader in the branding arena, with unrivalled expertise in the field of brand strategy, design and implementation. The company has led many blue-chip rebranding projects and innovative brand development initiatives around the world, earning HKLM the title of South Africa's foremost brand consultancy in the Financial Mail Adfocus 2004 awards. Through independent business units HKLM Connect, HKLM Exchange, HKLM Ignite and HKLM Digital, the team is able to bring the brand alive, both internally and externally through integrated communications, investor relations and the production of Annual Reports, brand behaviour and an array of digital mediums. HKLM's expanding footprint includes offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and internationally in Berlin, Dubai and Lagos. HKLM's four founding members have combined their diverse experience with a hand picked team of highly talented people. This is a group that does it differently and without bureaucracy, with a pace that is urgent and with the client's business at heart - for real and for the long term. In other words ... New Brand Thinking! - more....

[13 Mar 2007 17:22]

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