Nico Panagiotopoulos
CEO

After completion of his business studies, Nico worked in the corporate industry for 5 years before deciding to follow his dream of becoming an actor. He studied drama at the Method Actors Training Centre in Pretoria and went on to perform in various local productions including Egoli, Generations, 7de Laan, Zone 14, the MNET film series’ Ella Blue and KykNet’s Vallei van Sluiers, as well as various local films including Susanna Van Biljon' and Semi-Soet.

Nico is an accomplished theatre actor and has starred in numerous productions in various theatres from the Pretoria State Theatre, to the Artscape in Cape Town, as well as many arts festivals around the country.

Nico is currently the host of MNET’s popular TV series Survivor SA, the latest season having recently been filmed on location in the Maldives. He is also well known for his work as presenter and host of the magazine show Top Billing, where he not only presented but also produced, directed and wrote his own scripts. Apart from exotic travel and meeting extraordinary individuals, the flexible work schedule at Top Billing and Survivor allowed him the freedom to pursue his acting career as well as explore his other passion: the corporate industry.

His love for business (and perhaps his Greek blood) led him to explore various entrepreneurial ventures. He cut his teeth in the import/export business as director and co-owner of Red Thread International and also started a corporate media production company, Hush Friday where he now serves as director, producer and script writer.

Together with his wife Christi, they share a love for children and in 2008 he joined Missing Children South Africa MCSA - a non-profit organisation that assists the authorities when a child goes missing. At first he served as an ambassador, though today and a year later, Nico holds the position as chairman of the board.

After 7 fruitful years in the Big Smoke, he and wife Christi decided to follow their hearts and move from Jozi to the Mother City. They now live in a humble home on a mountain in the Cape, overlooking the ocean - for them both, an African dream come true! When not on a film set or at the airport, you'll find him on his mountain bike exploring the mountains and valleys of the Cape, trailed by his two Weimerraners and hopefully soon his children!

Nico belongs to Jesus, writes songs and plays the guitar and didgeridoo (for wife and good friends only!). He also once helped deliver a baby and has a deep respect and appreciation for chocolate, Irish whiskey and fine Red wine.

Thomas Houghton-Dixon
Managing Director

Thomas originally studied to be a computer programmer though after 4 years of programming realised that he was most certainly in the wrong field. After a watershed moment, he handed in his resignation and went back to the books - this time round in Advertising, Sales and Marketing and with it, a brand new lease on life.

During his 1st year, Thomas saw a gap in the market and started his very first business called Mango Clothing. This soon evolved into a highly successful clothing and promotional company, doing business throughout South Africa and even beyond its borders. After 7 years in the ‘rag’ trade, Mango Clothing was incorporated into his new business endeavour, and true passion: Tomcat Advertising Agency. It wasn’t long before Tomcat gained many accounts, both locally and abroad. This led to account gains from diverse industries and extensive worldwide travels - yet another milestone reached and a dream realised: his love for travelling.

Today he is the CEO of The Black & Orange Group of Companies (BandO), located in Tygervalley Waterfront. His core business is still Tomcat Advertising Agency (a through-the-line advertising agency; producing many TV and radio ads as well as national print and media campaigns). On top of this, he has his own brand of Still and Sparkling water called Jet Fuel. Thomas also manages many other businesses in the Importing & Exporting, Interior Design, Events Co-Ordinating and Corporate Branding fields, all under the BandO umbrella. His passion to give back has resulted in many hours dedicated to the agency’s Pro-Bona accounts - Epilepsy SA, SNAP Autism and Missing Children SA.

Thomas is a family man and lives in Durbanville with his adored wife, Teresa, and their four children. As a family, they love travelling and dining at newly discovered places just about every day as “my wife doesn’t really cook”. Holidays are spent at their holiday house in Hermanus or at some of his favourite destinations which include Hong Kong, London and New York. He is often heard saying, “I’m truly blessed to have a career that allows me to travel”. Mountain biking has become his sport of choice and he also makes an effort to go jogging a couple of times a week.

He’s hard-working and passionate about life and people. “I’m living my dream,” he says with a smile. His favourite drink is Pinotage and of course the agency’s own bottled mineral water, Jet Fuel. Thomas' favourite quote is “Work like you pay the bills” and he truly “does what he loves and loves what he does”.