This year's Nedbank IMC closing speaker is the award-winning CEO of Joburg agency, DNA Brand Architects, Sylvester Chauke. He is a passionate advocate for creativity and author of the book, Stand Against Bland. Sylvester is of the opinion that: “In the boardrooms, we are being politically correct in many ways and as a result, there is not enough honesty coming from agencies to clients.” His thoughts echo much industry sentiment. In a recent survey, UK based marketing platform, Creativebrief, stated that there is a real fear amongst agencies of long-term client relationships being at risk of ‘extinction’. Creativebrief canvassed 50 brand Chief Marketing Officers and...

South African born Avatar Cape Town, a subsidiary of the Avatar Agency Group (www.AvatarAgency.co.za), triumphed in a hotly contested TECNO global pitch by demonstrating its mantra of ideas that move people against international network agencies in the Europe and APAC. TECNO is one of the top 10 largest smartphone brands in the world and one of the largest and most admired on the African continent. As lead brand agency, Avatar will be spearheading TECNO’s global brand campaign in several countries in South America, Africa, central-Europe, and Asia. The scope of their appointment includes Creative, Digital, Social, Public Relations and Media. Zibusiso Mkhwanazi, Group CEO of Avatar Agency Group:  “World-class people and...

Leo Manne, managing director at Net#work BBDO has been elected to serve on the Association of Communication and Advertising board of directors. The announcement was made on Wednesday, 14 July 2021. ...

The IAB Bookmark Awards will be celebrating 13 years of this digital excellence, giving recognition to pioneering agencies, brands and publishers, and Selae Thobakgale will lead the announcement of South African digital marketing's industry benchmarks alongside the 2021 Bookmarks Round Table of industry executives come 29 July. We find out from the media and advertising titan what we can expect at the 2021 IAB Bookmark Awards. Congratulations on being announced as host of the upcoming IAB Bookmark Awards. How do you feel about this? It is such an honour to be selected as the host. The unique proposition is my love and involvement...

Ster-Kinekor, the official Cannes Lions representative in South Africa, along with Bizcommunity, online media partner to Ster-Kinekor and Creative Circle, invite you to Cannes Trend Talks 2021 presented by Ann Nurock. Save the date and book now:22 July 2021 | 2pm | R150 per ticketSecure your ticket at moc.rokenikrets@sklatdnertsennac Presented by Ann Nurock in association with: Film Lions juror: Brett MorrisMedia Lions juror: Tanya SchreuderEntertainment Lions for Sport juror: Bryan HabanaPrint and Publishing Lions juror: Nkgabiseng MotauRadio and Audio Lions juror: Lufuno MavhunguIndustry Craft Lions: Steph van Niekerk ...

Avatar Agency Group has announced that it worked alongside Corruption Watch in the launch of South Africa's first interactive open data tool, Veza. The tool aims to safeguard transparency in policing in the country. The tool also aims to place the power to hold the South African Police Service (SAPS) accountable in the hands of the public.  Veza is a colloquial term for 'reveal' or 'expose'. The tool aims to equip a wide range of people — from researchers, journalists, activists and communities to the public at large — with the knowledge and insight to demand better and more accountable policing. Kavisha...

Nkgabiseng Motau, CCO and founding partner at Think Creative Africa, was once again selected to be part of the jury for Cannes Lions 2021 A giant in the industry, she holds creativity from the South African perspective close to her heart. Motau has been a recurring judge for Loeries, Pendorings, Creative Circle and Cannes Young Lions. She was a Jury Member for the 2020 D&AD Awards and is a member of the ABInbev Braintrust. Here, we find out more about her day-to-day work and what her life looks like behind the scenes...

Hackneyed as it may sound, ‘to be young, gifted and black’ fits snugly by way of defining Tebogo Ditshego, a phenomenal young achiever whose rise can only be described with another cliché – meteoric. He is chief executive officer of Ditshego Media, which he founded in 2011. Three years later, he was listed as one of Forbes Magazine's top 30 African Entrepreneurs under the age of 30. The accolades have never stopped coming. Last year he was appointed by Gauteng Premier David Makhura to be the Chairperson of the Gauteng Premier's Service Excellence Awards. The latest feather in his cap is his appointment...

SAVE THE DATE 14-24 October 2021 – Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival announces theme, dates and new curator for 2021’s hybrid event: #BuildCozYouHaveTo The annual celebration of tech-powered African creativity is hitting reset with a phygital format and social sculptor dillion s. phiri is in the curator’s seat. Tshimologong Innovation Precinct and Wits School of Arts are proud to announce the 8th annual Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival 2021 by the newly appointed curator dillion s. phiri. Fak’ugesi Festival 2021 will continue to bring industry, researchers and creators together to celebrate how technology enables creativity while zooming in on the ways this relationship shapes our lives. From...

Mediology has appointed industry heavyweight, Boniswa Pezisa as executive director. This appointment coincides with the agency's celebration of 15 years in business and continued commitment to creative media thinking. One of Mediology’s key differentiators is its diverse team, which hold a combination of experience and broad perspectives across various markets, industries, and disciplines. Pezisa strengthens the team, with her enviable career, which includes, holding positions as the Group CEO for Net#work BBDO, chairperson for both the Loeries and ACA (Association for Communication & Advertising), and more recently, being inducted into the Loeries Hall of Fame. Congrats on being appointed as executive director...