CEO Message

Each year seems to get out of the blocks faster than the one before: judging by the current activity levels, I am sure that 2012 is going to be another fast-paced year for the Group. I hope that everyone’s feeling revitalised and ready for another year of focus on growing our clients’ brands.

On reflection, 2011 was a challenging but very sound year for the business, both in South Africa and abroad. We were fortunate to experience organic growth in our existing operations and importantly saw growth in new clients, services and territories. It is through this expansion that we continue to decrease our dependencies and thereby strengthen the sustainability of the Group – a lesson that has always been at the top of Doug’s agenda as we’ve developed over the past 80 years.

I’d like to thank the entire team for the Herculean effort that was put in last year. The environment wasn’t easy and given the turmoil that we’re witnessing around the world, I think that we may still experience some tough trading conditions in the short to medium term. Listening to the market commentators, the views on 2012 are very mixed – proof that everyone sees the world through their own lens.

That said, I read an inspiring article on Chris Savage’s blog* in which he conveys the lesson “never blame the environment, conditions are always perfect!” Regardless of what’s going on in the external environment, we must remember that it treats everyone the same: conditions are perfect for us to do our best, think smarter, enhance our technologies, develop our people and continue delivering the operational excellence that we’re so well-known for. In fact, it’s in the challenging times that I believe we’re able to flex our competitive muscle and move further towards our goal of being a foremost global fieldmarketing company. As Warren Buffet, the great sage of Omaha likes to say, “It’s only when the tide goes out that you can see who’s been swimming naked.”

So as we get into the swing of the year, my thoughts are to stay positive, resolve to make progress, look for the wins, big or small and keep our energy focused forward. Every inch counts and into the wind the inches count even more! I have no doubt that 2012 will be another fantastic year and look forward to what we, as a Group, can achieve.

All the best,

David.

*Chris is the Chief Operating Officer of the STW Group in Australia. His blog, called Wrestling Possums is inspiring and entertaining; it’s about winning, retaining and growing clients, about delivering outstanding service, and I’d encourage you all to read it!