Global sponsors are scrambling for representation in South Africa in the lead up to the 2010 World Cup, says Rick Dudley, Octagon's global president and chief executive officer based in New York.
Dudley said the "big players" in the sports marketing sector were also beefing up to best represent their interests.
He made the comments on a recent visit to South Africa to install the group's new Africa chief operating officer, John van den Aardweg. Van den Aardweg has 10 years experience in the South African sports marketing industry and was chief executive officer of the Comrades Marathon in 2003 and 2004.
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The Sports Business Journal last year ranked Octagon as the leading agency for sponsorship consulting and marketing services. The publication also added Dudley to its list of the "50 Most Influential People in Sports."
"We have a very optimistic view of the future of South Africa, and like Fifa, we have strong faith in the potential of the country. We are very bullish about sports marketing in SA, beyond the 2010 opportunity.
"We have operated in this market very successfully since 1995 and have an excellent track record and huge collaterals built up over years in our top staff and management," said Dudley.
Octagon SA is responsible for - among others - the management of the football sponsorship deal between Standard Bank and both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, as well as MTN and Mamelodi Sundowns.
The company has additionally been involved in developing a sponsorship strategy for Sony South Africa.
In preparation for 2010, Octagon sent 12 of its South African employees to Germany last year to gain an insider's view of the soccer World Cup held there.
"We are already putting additional people in place to manage the build-up to the SA World Cup including hospitality, operational and logistical aspects of the games.
"This event represents a landmark moment in the history of South Africa, and we expect our business to grow above and beyond 2010 as corporate South Africa realises and reaps the benefits of the tournament," said Dudley.
- This article was originally published on page 12 of Cape Argus on April 10, 2007
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