XLR8 CEO Humbled By MTN Pitch Success

Frontline Communication Consultancy, XLR8 has begun the year on a flying note after it recently snapped up a major MTN business, shrugging off competitions from top agencies drawn from advertising, digital marketing and public relations sectors in the process.

Smarting from the impressive outing, which saw his agency pitched against top players like DDB, Anakle and eMagination Limited, CEO of XLR8 Calisthus Okoruwa, said he felt humbled by the outcome of the contest.

“We are humbled to have been chosen from a very distinguished and formidable list of agencies. The organizations that lost in the exercise must have equally put forward compelling presentations,” Okoruwa told MARKETING EDGE in an email response.

MARKETING EDGE gathered that the agency got the nod ahead of others due to its impressive presentations, which won over the hearts of the GSM Company’s executives.

XLR8 success at the pitch have been buoyed by its inside knowledge of the inside workings of the GSM brand. The agency until last year was a key part of the telco company’s PR roster. Along with Marketing Mix Limited, they formed a formidable PR duo that protected and nurtured MTN’s reputation for about seven years.

According to XLR8, the new business puts the agency in charge of handling MTN’s content development and management briefs. However it was silent on the duration of the business as well as its financial worth.

The MTN business represents another major milestone for XLR8, which last year snapped up the multi-million naira Guinness account. Other major brands on the agency’s portfolio are Samsung West Africa, Nigerian Bottling Company, Stanbic IBTC, Ericsson, Multichoice, Supersports and Mnet.