Ask Afrika becomes sole owner of TGI SA

SOUTH AFRICA-- Ask Afrika has become the sole owner of TGI South Africa, buying out minority shareholders Tim Bester and Barbara Cooke.

TGI SA Ltd was established last year with Ask Afrika as 70% shareholder, but the agency took full control earlier this month. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Following the completion of the deal, Bester and Cooke have retired. They first launched the TGI survey of media, brand and product usage in South Africa in 2002 through their agency, The Brand Survey Company.

Fieldwork was initially carried out by Millward Brown but passed to Ask Afrika in July 2008, after which the joint venture company was set up.

Commenting on her retirement, Cooke said: “I would like to thank all the many colleagues and friends that made the journey such an exhilarating one – I wouldn't have changed a single thing. Passing the TGI baton to Ask Afrika leaves me with a good feeling – TGI is in safe hands and will prosper with the resources that will now be available to grow the business.”

TGI (Target Group Index) surveys are carried out by suppliers in more than 50 countries. The Global TGI network is run by WPP-owned Kantar Media.

Author: Brian Tarran