Alistair Duff joins Draftfcb Cape Town

Draftfcb Cape Town has appointed lateral-thinking, paradigm-shifting, communication-catalyst Alistair Duff as  its strategic planning director

Duff, who has been both music critic and journalist in South Africa, joined the Mother City agency after being asked by managing director, Draftfcb Cape Town, if Duff believed he had what it takes to build its strategy department into the best in Cape Town.

“Those who know me, know I have the credentials to do so; those who know me well, know I never back away from a challenge” he said. “So, when Godfrey threw down the gauntlet, I picked it up immediately. I’m looking forward to investing in strategic competence to deliver precise and innovative strategies that give our creative teams the chance to really strut their stuff.”

Duff began his career in the South African advertising industry at Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg on the media side before moving to The Jupiter Drawing Room Johannesburg where he handled numerous portfolios – from strategic planning to human resources to business unit management. He then joined McCann, where he was responsible for conceptualising and delivering the breakthrough ‘Township Stories’ project, and spent time with that agency group in the United States in San Francisco with an appetite for learning more about digital from the best. Upon returning to SA he spent some time at Ogilvy, and finally Draftfcb Cape Town.

Having worked on many blue chip brands including Standard Bank, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, General Motors, Nike, Cell C, Jet Stores and the ANC, Duff who began his career as a copywriter, also has creative work and a string of awards in his portfolio.

“While impressed by Alistair’s traditional research and strategic skills set, I was intrigued by the huge impact he’d made at the business level for many of the brands he’d worked with,” said Morley.

“Having spent time with him and having viewed his portfolio – which includes an Apex Gold for helping take Jet Stores from a failing business to the best-selling clothing chain in South Africa in the space of four years and being on the team which won the first ever Finweek ‘Big Idea Award’ for Smart Car – I was convinced his unique blend of numerous competencies would do Draftfcb Cape Town proud.