Comments CEO Marcus Brewster, “The growth of the firm necessitates top tier management expertise which Peter has in spades but his appointment is as much strategic as it is operational. To say that he is connected in South African media and sport circles would be an understatement. In the run-up to 2010, MBP is positioning itself to leverage commercial value to clients looking for alliances with top sporting bodies and stars whether they be on the field, track, pitch or pool. Clearly Milne is the go-to man in this sector.”
Says Milne, “It was a no-brainer to join South Africa's top PR firm and to be benchmarked against the consultancy's rigorous standards for ‘best staff, best clients, best brands'.”
Milne joins Brewster after nearly 12 years at Touchline Media, where he rose to agency manager of Touchline Photo and ultimately a director at Gallo Images when the two photo syndication agencies merged in 2006 to become Touchline's biggest and most profitable division.
Milne was personally responsible for tying up every newspaper group in the country as a subscription client to the Gallo/Touchline service, scooping exclusive contracts with Dr Ali Bacher for Cricket World Cup and Sam Ramsammy at NOCSA. Similarly, he has done deals with SA Rugby and the United Cricket Board, securing official partner status for Gallo Images.
Under Milne's leadership, the business changed from a predominantly stock sports photo agency to a wire service representing new libraries including Getty for news, showbiz and celebrity imagery. His wealth of experience in the licensing business saw him head up the Digital Asset Management division at Gallo Images.
Milne received the MD's Excellence Award in 2002 for Outstanding Achiever of the Year and Manager of the Year for 2004 and his business unit, Touchline Photo, twice received Division of the Year honours.
MBP earlier this year won eight awards at the 2008 PRISM ceremony for PR Excellence.
