Ireland/Davenport creates VIRUS, new digital division

by Herman Manson. Ireland/Davenport is expanding its digital capabilities with the launch of VIRUS, its new digital specialist agency. VIRUS combines existing in-house talent with the yet-to-be announced acquisition of a digital agency.

The mobile agency that became a R65m digital-content play

by Herman Manson. How does a small mobile marketing agency morph into a R65m digital and mobile publishing and ad-sales business you've probably never heard of? For starters, you get ahead in the game - in this instance, the mobile game.

R/GA in Cape Town by late 2015/early 2016

by Herman Manson. A new R/GA office in Cape Town is definitely on the international ad agency's roadmap but it is probably a late 2015/early 2016 endeavour. This is according to Barry Wacksman, global chief growth officer at R/GA.

Y&R Labstore launched in South Africa

by Herman Manson. Y&R South Africa (part of WWP) has launched a new retail and shopper marketing specialist - Y&R Labstore - into the South African market. Labstore is Y&R Advertising's new global retail and shopper marketing network that already operates in 20 markets.

Creation: Why I don't do group brainstorming

by Artwell Nwaila. The creative world lives for group brainstorming; once a big brief comes in, the whole team is called in to one room to bounce ideas around. This is probably true as the practice was created by an ad executive in the 1940s. For me, this is the wrong way to harvest fresh ideas.

Regular reads:

• Ad of the Week with Oresti Patricios: Not playing 'litely' in the beer market

• Shelf Life with Louise Marsland: Tashas takes Dubai

• MagLove with MediaSlut: Showcasing the variety of women's power

• #Top40TVratings with SAARF & MarkLives: Skeem Saam replaces Generations at the top

Appointments and resignations

• New MD for MetropolitanRepublic

• Media24's news chief Fergus Sampson resigns

• Laurel Mader new MD at FoxP2 Cape Town

• Starcom MediaVest South Africa appoints new MD

On the radar:

• This month's Bright Talks go social

• AdFocus, The Annual combine awards shows

• Andrea Quaye to deliver Redzone Marketing Lecture

• IAB launches Digital Summit, opens entries for Bookmarks 2015

Covering the advertising and marketing industry without fear or favour - MarkLives.com for breaking news, exclusive industry opinion, company news and jobs! Sign up here for an email round-up every Monday and Thursday and follow MarkLives on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest and YouTube.