Ringier One, which has operated as one of Africa’s top classifieds and integrated media entity and One Africa Media (OAM) have agreed to merge their services to become Ringier One Africa Media (ROAM). This new development makes them the leading classifieds group in Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa.
At the same time, ROAM will have an upper hand as a platform that offers critical services and ecosystem for its customers.
ROAM runs its operations in Kenya, as well as Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia. A plan is underway to enter Zimbabwe and Mauritius market in the near future as Classifieds.co.zw /Property.co.zw and Mediatiz from respective countries are ready to join the platform.
The motivation behind the merger is to, according to ROAM’s Group Head, Carolyne Mwaura, bolster knowledge sharing and boost the offerings of individual businesses using the platform’s technology.
“We are privileged to contribute to the positive disruption that digital solutions bring to our African markets. Many markets are still highly non-transparent, informal and fragmented. Buyers are typically overcharged due to asymmetrical information, and jobseekers defrauded by fake companies. Our goal is to empower Africans through transparency, and transform markets through technology. We celebrate this merger as a major milestone, from which not only ROAM but also our users and Small-Medium-sized-entities (SMEs) will profit significantly, for example by extended reach or accessing a new range of products,” said Clemens Weitz, ROAM CEO.
ROAM’s deals with a broad portfolio of vertical classifieds that include cars, jobs and real estate, not to mention general classifieds that encompass various products that can either be sold or bought by ordinary people and professionals.
The merger will combine One Africa Media’s vertical classifieds ventures such as BrighterMonday, Jobberman, BuyRentKenya, Cheki and Private Property Nigeria and Ringier Africa’s general classifieds Expat-Dakar, ZoomTanzania, PigiaMe, Qefira as well as property portal MaMansion.
“Together with our partners, and main shareholders of One Africa Media respectively, Tiger Global Management and SEEK, the leading global employment marketplace Group, we strive to make ROAM the most innovative, encompassing and successful classifieds company in Sub-Saharan Africa. With our strong local brands, we enjoy the trust of our users and develop solutions which are a perfect fit for African users,” said Mr. Robin Lingg, the CEO of Ringier Africa.
ROAM wants to capitalize on smartphone penetration in Africa, which is expected to increase fivefold by 2025, to encourage access to its services.
Clemens Weitz, who served as the COO of Ringier Africa Classifieds will be serving ROAM’s CEO.
