Jarred Cinman appointed as MD for NATIVE

Jarred Cinman has been appointed as the Managing Director of NATIVE. This new appointment forms part of the continuing growth of NATIVE into a highly efficient and well-run organisation. Cinman will be working closely with NATIVE’S CEO, Jason Xenopoulos, to mobilise the company’s strategy.

Previously the Chief Inventor at NATIVE, in his new role Cinman will take responsibility for the business side of NATIVE alongside Operations Director, Diane Wilson.

“Jarred and I began our professional relationship 15 years ago as co-founders of VWV Interactive. During that time I watched him grow as an individual and as a leader. I am extremely confident in his ability to manage the day-to-day business of NATIVE and I have no doubt that we will go from strength to strength under his watch. Jarred’s appointment is a sign that we have taken the next step as a business,” says Xenopoulos.

One of the founders of NATIVE, Cinman is a longstanding member of the South African digital industry having founded one of the first professional web services firms in 1995.

After selling his first business to the VWV Group, Cinman was part of the founding team of VWV Interactive which went on to dominate the web development industry during the late 90′s. As creative director, he helped win several major awards for clients such as SAA and Nandos, and pioneered many of the technologies and practices commonplace today.

He was chairperson of the Digital Interactive Media Association — the first body to represent the industry — and played a key role in having digital represented in the Loerie awards.

In 2000 Cinman left VWV to co-found Cambrient, which became the leading provider of content management solutions in South Africa. Customers such as Moneyweb, DSTV, Kagiso Media and South African Tourism established Cambrient as a major force in the digital industry.

During this period Cinman also contributed extensively to blogs and publications, writing about industry trends and topics.
Then in 2010 Cinman was integral in the merge process to combine Cambrient, Stonewall and Brandsh into NATIVE, forming South Africa’s first truly full service digital agency.

Cinman currently holds the position of deputy chair for the Digital Media and Marketing Association (DMMA) – an independent, voluntary, non-profit association focused on growing and sustaining the digital industry in SA. He is also a member of the organising committee for this year’s Bookmark Awards and is representing the digital industry in the South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF).

“I am excited to take on this new role as MD, working closely with Jason as well as the rest of the key executives and managers of the business. NATIVE has entered a new phase of its growth after a period of incredible new client wins. We are a strong business and a leader in our class after less than two years in operation. We are positioned to reach our goal as South Africa’s leading digital agency faster than any of our competitors have and I hope to be able to contribute to that success,” he says.