Christine Ince
Senior Sales Manager And Account Manager
Cape Town
Summary
Natural team player with a passion for people and the sales environment; building long-term client relationships; and spearheading process improvement to maximise sales. Adept at developing long-term client relationships which are fundamental when faced with challenging external market environments. Experience covers: brand building and development, wholesale and retail sales development and new product development. Leadership of teams throughout my career, adapting myriad skills (communication, sales and creative writing) to best fit the challenges the company faces.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Group Sales Manager
Hitch Innovation Group
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Growing the ADMS (African Digital Media Solutions) Division of the Hitch Innovation Group. Handling direct sales, ensuring customer satisfaction by seeing a successful campaign through from beginning to end. Maximising sales potential, crafting sales plans with feedback to upper management.
- Constantly liasing with clients, tweaking campaigns on an on-going basis to ensure client's needs were being met.
- Troubleshooting was a very large part of the digital campaigns.
Agency Account Manager
Primedia Broadcasting
01.2016 - 01.2022
- Specifically handling Initiative Media, Mediashop, PHD, Dentsu and direct clients including Rain, Simply Asia, Coronation and Citadel
- Developing and sustaining long-term relationships with key clients. Reaching targets while continually aiming to increase targets.
Senior Account Manager
Primedia Instore
01.2012 - 01.2015
- Company Overview: Primedia Instore provides innovative in-store media solutions to meet clients’ detailed and in-store promotional challenges, ranging from in-aisle media, fridge media, till media, trolley media, leaflets, coupons, sampling and impactful illuminated media.
- I managed Haleon, Colgate-Palmolive, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Beiersdorf and Clover.
- I implemented campaigns through all the large supermarket and pharmaceutical chains, as well as smaller independent retailers and rural vendors.
- My key responsibilities and deliverables were o manage and grow client portfolio, using in-store media to increase brand exposure and sales.
- To meet targets set by sales manager and realise maximum income from portfolio
- To consistently maintain a strong relationship with clients internally and externally. I constantly strategised with clients to use specific products to suit their brand objectives.
- Tracking KPI’s was key and campaigns were adjusted based on performance data. Post campaign reports would be consolidated, sent to and discussed with client. Post campaign reports were sent to client while learnings used for future campaigns.
- To take full accountability and responsibility by executing all specified functions within the role and adhering to processes, policies and procedures.
Freelance Writer
01.2009 - 01.2012
- With over 12 clients including News24, Travel24 and Food24, regular columnist and investigative reporter.
- Food24 – Restaurant reviewer and columnist
- Travel24 – Columnist
- Heineken Sedibeng Newsletter – Editor of the monthly newsletter
- Exclusive Books – Copywriter for Fanatics (Loyalty programme)
- AbouTime magazine – Monthly columnist
- Cosmopolitan – Columnist
- Women’s Health – Columnist
- Flick Agency – Copywriter
- Tops and Tales – tops&tales.co.za – Editor and writer
- JHBlive – jhblive.co.za – Columnist
- Setsebi Travel – Column writer
Managing Editor
Edge Magazine (Bakwena Publishing)
01.2009 - 01.2009
- Company Overview: EDGE is a teen magazine which was distributed free to high schools in the greater Johannesburg area.
- Responsible for collaborating on and overseeing all content provided
- Challenged with the task of growing the magazine and building the EDGE brand
- To maintain relationships with schools and readers, advertisers and other educational organisations
Editor
Foschini CLUB magazine (Highbury Safika Media)
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Company Overview: A monthly magazine for Foschini Group account holders
- Overall responsibility for the content of the magazine
- Design responsibility in collaboration with studio
- Draw up features synopsis with client approval
- Commission and brief writers
- Brief creative department on visual requirements and shoots for upcoming issues
- Work with creative department to maintain visual standard
- Edit contributors’ copy, check for factual accuracy and magazine style
- Monitor and mentor staff
- Cross-pollination of website and magazine
Editor
KIDS SUPERCLUB Magazine (Highbury Safika Media)
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Company Overview: A monthly children’s magazine for Foschini Group account holders
- Overall responsibility for the content of the magazine
- Design responsibility in collaboration with studio
- Commission and brief writers
- Brief creative department on visual requirements and shoots for upcoming issues
- Work with creative department to maintain visual standard
- Edit contributors’ copy, check for factual accuracy and magazine style
- Monitor and mentor staff
- Cross-pollination of website and magazine
Senior Features Writer and Online Editor
Seventeen Magazine (8 Ink Media, Media 24)
01.2003 - 01.2007
- Started working as Online Editor for the magazine six months into its launch. Soon began writing pieces for the magazine and was given the title of Features Writer and soon promoted to Senior Features Writer.
- Sourcing, researching and writing investigative pieces and real-life stories for magazine
- Brainstorming ideas for features
- Coordinating and editing entertainment section of the magazine
- Writing advertorials and liaising with clients
- Managing freelance writers and interns
- Managing online team and in charge of Seventeen website, daily updates and sub-editing
- Designing banners for advertisers
- Organising online competitions
- Formulating online campaigns
- In constant daily communication with readers and formulated various research projects for clients
- Compiled and designed various newsletters for readers and clients
- Assisted with Mobizine content, design and layout
Education
Diploma - Comprehensive Journalism
City Varsity
01.2003
Bachelor of Arts - Media Studies And Environmental Science
University of Cape Town (UCT)
Cape Town, South Africa01.2001
Skills
Target setting
Customer service
Customer engagement
Brand awareness
Team leadership
New business development
References
References on request
Extra Curricular
Lapeng Child & Family Resource Centre Drive fundraising initiatives to cover the organisation’s financial needs as an inner-city early childhood development centre that receives no formal, regular funding; assist in the creation of annual operational plans, fundraising and communication strategies.
Training
- Zulu Language Course for Beginners
- University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
- 2013
Timeline
Group Sales Manager
Hitch Innovation Group
01.2022 - 01.2024
Agency Account Manager
Primedia Broadcasting
01.2016 - 01.2022
Senior Account Manager
Primedia Instore
01.2012 - 01.2015
Freelance Writer
01.2009 - 01.2012
Managing Editor
Edge Magazine (Bakwena Publishing)
01.2009 - 01.2009
Editor
Foschini CLUB magazine (Highbury Safika Media)
01.2007 - 01.2008
Editor
KIDS SUPERCLUB Magazine (Highbury Safika Media)
01.2007 - 01.2008
Senior Features Writer and Online Editor
Seventeen Magazine (8 Ink Media, Media 24)
01.2003 - 01.2007
Diploma - Comprehensive Journalism
City Varsity
Bachelor of Arts - Media Studies And Environmental Science
University of Cape Town (UCT)