Confirming its status as one of South Africa's leading media placement companies, Mercury has been awarded three new accounts: City of Johannesburg; Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC); and the television placement for DROS.

Says Tamoledi Selane, CEO of Mercury: "We have had the good fortune of being appointed by a number of interesting and challenging clients, ranging from government and telecommunications to event management; industrial production; retail sales; financial services; and retail production.

"With clients like Brand Leadership; Cresta Shopping Centre; Prominent Paints; London Pie; and Buccaneer, Mercury is positioned not just as GCIS media placement agency, but a strategic placement agency in the corporate sector.

Over 60% of Mercury's business is derived from non-government concerns and corporates. Launched in 2003 as a media strategy and buying agency, Mercury became the first agency ever to re-win a GCIS account in 2006.

Selane says the new business indicates that the company continues to offer its clients a highly competitive service. "We understand that the traditional media landscape is changing and that there is increasing fragmentation on the horizon. To deliver audiences, Mercury looks beyond traditional media options to new media; digital; and face-to-face platforms."

Mercury was formed in November 2003 with the aim of becoming a leading Black Economic Empowerment media strategy and buying agency in South Africa. Over the past four years the South African marketing and advertising industry has evaluated Mercury very positively, with its average industry rating increasing from a score of 5 (2004), to 7 (2007) and 7.5 (2008 FinWeek AdReview).