EPIC Outdoor plans to explore new markets, drive business growth, and ramp up expansion plans. The out of home (OOH) media owner is thrilled to announce the appointment of Darren Mckinon as a shareholder and their new Commercial Director.
Mckinon, a seasoned industry heavyweight, joined the company in August, bringing with him a wealth of experience, expertise and a strategic mindset. Mckinon’s credentials in the industry are impressive, having held key positions at renowned companies and successfully driving growth and sales strategies for global agency EssenceMediacom and JCDecaux, South Africs’s largest OOH media owner.
As Neil Vlaming, Director at EPIC Outdoor, explained, ‘EPIC co-founder Rene Hedley initiated discussions with Mckinon, seeking his insights on running a successful sales team in a consulting capacity. During the consulting process, it became evident that his expertise and strategic approach aligned perfectly with EPIC Outdoor’s aspirations and values,’ he said.
‘After considering Mckinon’s input, the company made the decision to change focus and to invest significantly more into the people within the business,’ said Hedley. ‘We continued consulting Mckinon on various strategic aspects and this collaboration eventually culminated in Vlaming and Hedley inviting him to join the team as a part of the business.’
One of the key reasons for Mckinon’s agreement was the belief in the experienced team that EPIC had built. He recognised that he could leverage his corporate experience to tap into the expertise of the team of senior OOH experts and which should unlock the potential for the company to reach new heights. ‘The difference in any business really comes down to two things: its people, and its product offering. EPIC Outdoor has both, and they have used this advantage to build a culture of excellence and pride in what they put out to market,’ said Mckinon.
‘As for the product side, innovation is at the heart of what EPIC Outdoor does, having proudly delivered the largest solar-powered digital screen in Africa to date,’ he added. ‘This is only achieved through understanding the market, listening to our clients, and working as a team to deliver standout achievements.’
As Commercial Director, Mckinon will be responsible for overseeing the revenue of the business, an aspect that is crucial to EPIC Outdoor’s growth. By implementing proven strategies gained from his tenure with multinational companies, Mckinon aims to maximise the value of the business and strengthen relationships with landlords and clients.
Mckinon has over seven years of Head of Sales experience at JCDecaux, combined with experience as the Business Development Director and Head of New Business for WPP, GroupM and EssenceMediacom. This experience in running large corporate sales teams has provided Mckinon with well-rounded experience working across all channels, and across various agency disciplines. ‘Moving back into OOH, my first love for over 15 years, I now have a completely fresh perspective on arguably one of the most innovative media channels, and I’m excited to work with a team who has embraced this change and continues to disrupt,’ said Mckinon.
‘Mckinon’s skill set complements Vlaming’s and mine as he has experience running a large corporate sales team, as well as creating and understanding what is required by clients due to the exposure his agency work has afforded him,’ said Hedley.
With Mckinon’s expertise in revenue generation and sales strategies, the team can concentrate on their ambitious goals with confidence. ‘Having Mckinon on board will allow a more focused approach to client engagement and, over the longer term, I believe that his influence will unlock key areas and allow us to drive the business forward with a shared vision,’ said Vlaming.
EPIC OUTDOOR
https://epic-outdoor.co.za
