Chris Moerdyk

Chris Moerdyk   Chris Moerdyk began his career as a reporter for Pretoria News after graduating from the Argus Journalism College in Cape Town. He then joined United Press International and became deputy bureau chief before being promoted to Manager for Southern Africa.

From 1970 to 1986, Chris worked as a Marketing and PR Consultant to companies like McCann and Lindsay Smithers FCB and was subsequently appointed to Regional Director in Natal for Lindsay Smithers FCB.

From 1991 to 1996 Chris was head of Public Affairs & Strategic Planning for BMW South Africa (Pty) Ltd. and a member of the BMW International public policy strategy group.

In 1996, Chris was contracted to The Star on the invitation of the Editor-in-Chief to develop editorial coverage of sanctions and disinvestment. During that time he was a recipient of the Checkers Award for Consumer Journalism and SA Consumer Council Journalism Awards

Then from 1996 to 1999, Chris was contracted to further develop the Media & Marketing section for Business Report at Independent Newspapers Ltd. and was, for many years, the weekly marketing columnist for Sunday Times. He was also the communications columnist for the Journal of Marketing, the IMC Magazine, AdVantage magazine, Retail Edition, Enterprise magazine and SABC 3 TV’s Media Focus.

In 2001 he launched the MarketingWeb website with Alec Hogg and John Farquar then initiated the debate of racism in the media and advertising industries which resulted in parliamentary hearings in November 2001/2002.

He was inaugural Chairman of the Oversight Committee of the Marketing Association of South Africa. He chaired the Afgri Ltd Marketing Forum for many years and was co-chairman of the Sony South Africa Corporate Communications Council. He remains a marketing advisor to both these companies and to other Blue Chip companies.

He is a founder member of the Government/Private Sector National Communications Partnership for the 2010 World Cup and heads up the 2010 NCP Media & Communications Cluster. In 2003 he was appointed a Brand Ambassador by the International Marketing Council and is also a member of the Superbrands Council of South Africa.

He was awarded a Fellowship of The Institute of Marketing Management in 2001, and was presented with the SA Communicator of the year award in 2009 by Technikon Pretoria.

In September 2002, he was appointed by President Thabo Mbeki to the inaugural board of the Media Development and Diversity Agency. He is currently Chairman of the MDDA Finance & Operations Committee.

Chris was listed in a 2006 Markinor corporate survey as one of South Africa’s top marketing thought leaders and, in an earlier Financial Mail poll was voted one of the 20 most influential people in the SA advertising industry

via wkg.co.za