Diederik De Vynck

Dirk De Vynck Location: Ireland • Mobile: - • Email:-• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dirk-de-vynck-b- PROFESSIONAL PROFILE - Communications Professional | Senior PR Manager A qualified and proven Communications/PR Professional with 20+ years of experience working in the media production industry as a financial journalist and business editor and more recently as a PR/Communications Manager for small to large South African companies ensuring accurate and engaging brand messaging in line with corporate objectives. His solid understanding of the integrated media landscape and a passion for research has led to successful communications campaigns across multiple media platforms through providing clients with a valuable resource of engaging content. He is well-positioned for any organisation seeking a seasoned Communications/PR Professional to oversee the development of PR strategies, tailored content generation initiatives and innovative brand messaging to grow and strengthen market share. COMPETENCIES & SOFT SKILLS ● ● ● ● ● ● PR Management Business Journalism Team Leadership Writing/Editing Social Media Marketing Sales & Marketing ● ● ● ● ● ● Attention to detail Commercial Acumen Analytics Accuracy Headlines & Captions Fact-checking/Research ● ● ● ● ● Interpersonal Skills Content Strategy Brand Development Collaboration Print/Digital Platforms AREAS OF STRENGTH ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Commercial Awareness - Providing value-added/accurate information for the business/financial sectors. People Management - Investing in relations for greater engagement, productivity and efficiency. Quality Assurance - Ensuring quality, accuracy and consistency across media types and web platforms. Journalism/Content Development - Reporting and generating content for increasing engagement. Digital Marketing/Analytics - Analysing statistics and reader habits for aligning content to interest. Communication - Reporting, writing, presenting at all levels with clarity, confidence and influence. Editing/Sub-editing - Editing content, checking grammar and facts; writing attention-grabbing headlines, blurbs and captions; and revising subbed articles. CAREER SUMMARY ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Communication / PR / Digital Media (Freelancer) - Creation Media - South Africa - Dec 2020 to Present Senior PR & Communications Manager - STRATEGY et al - South Africa - May 2019 to Nov 2020 PR / Communication / Digital Manager - Creation Media - Jul 2018 to Apr 2019 PR / Communication Manager / Director - MEDIA et al - South Africa - May 2016 to Jun 2018 Franchise Manager - Brochure Management Overberg - South Africa - Jun 2012 to Apr 2016 Manager/Publisher - Overberg Media (Boland Newspapers, Media24) - Mar 2007 to Nov 2010 Business Editor - Die Burger newspaper - South Africa - Sept 2005 to Feb 2007 Senior Reporter - Business Report, Independent Newspapers, Newspaper House - May 2004 to Aug 2005 Research Editor & Publications Manager - Rode & Associates Property Consultants - May 2001 to Apr 2004 Reporter & Assistant Business Editor - Die Burger newspaper - Jun 1996 to Apr 2001 Financial Advisor - Old Mutual - Mar 1996 to May 1996 Various Agency Roles - London, United Kingdom - Dec 1993 to Feb 1996 EDUCATION & QUALIFICATION ● Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Business Management (Postgraduate Degree) University of Stellenbosch - 1993 ● Bachelor of Commerce (Degree) University of Stellenbosch, South Africa - 1989 to 1992 SOFTWARE SKILLS ● ● ● ● Microsoft Office Suite Various media monitoring tools for the placement of articles and broadcasts (Gate 5, which is part of Newsclip), Google Analytics, and the Media Manager media management tool. Canva - Basic Graphic/Layout tool Google Suite Strictly Confidential - Curriculum Vitae Dirk De Vynck Location: Ireland • Mobile: - • Email:-• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dirk-de-vynck-b- WORK EXPERIENCE Communication / PR / Digital Media Creation Media - South Africa - Dec 2020 to Present Assisting the previous employer with existing clients. Duties: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Researching and writing news articles sent out as press releases Researching and writing blog articles Writing advertorials (paid articles) Interacting with journalists Compiling PR strategies and release calendars Meeting regularly with clients for planning and feedback Translating articles (from English to Afrikaans and vice versa) Monitoring placement of articles and compiling monthly reports Compiling content for websites Achievements & Highlights: ● Successfully launched a campaign for the introduction of saffron cultivation in South Africa for a local company, Saffricon. ● Up to date, the campaign has not only secured massive publicity for saffron as a new commodity for the South African agricultural industry but has also led to huge demand from local farmers interested in growing saffron. ● The campaign is ongoing and is aimed at establishing Saffricon as a thought leader on all aspects relating to saffron. Senior PR & Communications Manager STRATEGY et al - South Africa - May 2019 to Nov 2020 Duties: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Researching and writing news articles sent out as press releases Researching and writing blog articles Writing advertorials (paid articles) Interacting with journalists Compiling PR strategies and release calendars Meeting regularly with clients for planning and feedback Monitoring placement of articles and compiling monthly reports Achievements & Highlights: ● Part of a broad marketing team that established a successful, annual poetry competition (AVBOB Poetry Competition – www.avbobpoetry.co.za) in South Africa, open to all 11 official languages, making it the largest competition of its kind in the world. ● The competition has grown year-on-year since its inception four years ago with the latest competition seeing more than 41 000 entries. PR / Communication / Digital Manager Creation Media - July 2018 to Apr 2019 Duties: ● ● ● ● Creating content for online and print media Writing media releases and news stories Translating English to Afrikaans and vice versa Digital and social media marketing Strictly Confidential - Curriculum Vitae Dirk De Vynck Location: Ireland • Mobile: - • Email:-• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dirk-de-vynck-b- PR / Communication Manager / Director MEDIA et al - South Africa - May 2016 to Jun 2018 Duties: ● ● ● ● Researched and co-wrote a centenary book Writing press releases for print, radio and online Writing PR content creation for all platforms; advertorials and media relations and networking Translating of annual reports and other company material. Achievements & Highlights: ● Researched and co-wrote a centenary book for the AVBOB Group (Africa’s largest Mutual Assurance Society). ● This project involved more than 100 interviews with past and present employees and other parties affiliated to the group as well as working through the minutes of directors’ and management meetings, annual reports, newsletters, etc. One of the objectives of the project was to establish a single source of record. Franchise Manager Brochure Management Overberg - South Africa - June 2012 to April 2016 Manager of Brochure Management’s Overberg franchise. The national company is Africa’s largest tourism information distribution network. Visit www.goseedo.co.za to find out more. Manager/Publisher Overberg Media (Boland Newspapers, Media24) - Mar 2007 to Nov 2010 Duties: ● Overall management responsibility for editorial and business divisions of a range of community newspapers ● Increase company profitability and newspaper circulation ● Budgeting and strategic planning ● Representing the group at functions and events in the Overberg area ● Human Resources Business Editor Die Burger newspaper - South Africa - Sept 2005 to Feb 2007 Duties: ● Daily editorial management of “SakeBurger”, the Afrikaans business section of Die Burger (Citizen) daily newspaper ● Strategising and planning (compiling news list) of newspaper’s proposed, daily content ● Editing of articles ● Writing editorial comment pieces on all business and economic matters ● Administrative organisation and management of the business desk, including personnel, the budget and strategic planning Senior Reporter Business Report, Independent Newspapers, Newspaper House - May 2004 to Aug 2005 Duties: ● Writing news articles on all matters relating to retail, property (mostly listed shares on the Johannesburg Stock exchange), food, agriculture and financial services ● Conducting interviews with company CEO’s, heads of industry, etc. ● Attending company results presentations, AGM’s, other press conferences *References are available upon request. Strictly Confidential - Curriculum Vitae