Johannesburg, 28 November 2018: Members of the South African marketing and communications industry came together last night at The Venue in Melrose Arch, to celebrate advertising effectiveness at the annual Financial Mail AdFocus Awards. Since their inception in 1990, the AdFocus Awards have provided a platform for individuals and agencies to be recognised not only for their creative marketing skills, but for their overall business acumen as well.
Media personality and editor of the Financial Mail AdFocus Magazine, Jeremy Maggs, convened the panel of jurors, headed up by Phumi Mashigo in her first year as Jury Chair. Mashigo is the founding Managing Director of Ignitive, a pre-eminent stakeholder management and communications company.
All the winners at the 2018 Financial Mail AdFocus Awards
Mashigo, together with other industry experts, adjudicated entries against four effectiveness measures: New Business and Growth; Business Retention and Relationships; Training and Industry Recognition; and Empowerment/Social Responsibility. Panel members applied their scores in secret, with finalist agencies participating in Q&A sessions with the jurors in order to determine the overall category winners. The judging and scoring were audited by Deloitte.
“In advertising we are used to competing and have become very good at entering awards or putting our best foot forward for judges. In this exceptionally tight economy the level of creativity displayed by the entrants when displaying their wares made for very robust judging sessions and once again I believe that the winners are a real testament that where creativity leads profits follow,” says Mashigo.
This year also includes some changes with the addition of a new category, the Financial Mail Creative Challenge. The Creative Challenge is a print-advertising contest that gives art directors and copy-writers an opportunity to deliver high impact, tactical print ads for their clients and a chance to win free placement in the weekly Financial Mail magazine.
The Shapeshifter Award replaces the New Broom award from previous years.
The 2018 Financial Mail AdFocus Award winners are:
Lifetime Achiever Award: Prof. Ludi Koekemoer
Shapeshifter Award: Karabo Poppy Moletsane
Industry Leader of the Year: Mariana O’Kelly
Agency of the Year: Ogilvy Johannesburg
Small Advertising Agency of the Year: Collective ID
Medium Advertising Agency of the Year: King James Group
Large Advertising Agency of the Year: Ogilvy Johannesburg
Specialist Agency of the Year: Grid Worldwide
Partnership of the Year (sponsored by IAS/Scopen): FCB Joburg / Toyota
Transformation Award: Collective ID
Independent Media Agency of the Year: TMI Media
Network Media Agency of the Year: Vizeum
African Impact Award: Dentsu Aegis Network
Student of the Year: Felicity Davies
Financial Mail Creative Challenge: M&C Saatchi Abel
The Financial Mail AdFocus Magazine is SA’s largest brand communication review, and will be distributed with the Financial Mail on 29 November 2018.
The MediaShop once again sponsored the WiFi at the AdFocus Awards event.
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About Tiso Blackstar Group
Tiso Blackstar Group is a global company with its roots in Africa, operating market-leading media, broadcast and retail marketing properties. The group has strong exposure to the rapidly growing digital, broadcast and mobile markets, with a leading position in South Africa and a broad footprint across Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria. The company is South Africa’s largest national English publishing group, the second largest digital publisher, owns the largest music and independent film catalogues on the African continent and operates unique TV channels. The Hirt & Carter group is the biggest marketing solutions company for the retail sector in Africa. We are also the proud custodians of iconic brands that include the Sunday Times, Sowetan, Financial Mail, The Herald, Gallo Music and Uniprint. The Tiso Blackstar Group business model is underpinned by a unique network of assets, dedication to excellence and a strong entrepreneurial focus. We are committed to providing quality content and services to our varied audiences and customers and value to our investors. Tiso Blackstar prides itself as a level 1 B-BBEE contributor. www.tisoblackstar.com
Issued by: Samantha Pugh, Pugh Public Relations & Corporate Communications
e: sam@pughpr.co.za c: 071 874 5460
On behalf of: Taryn Westoby, Head of Events, Tiso Blackstar Group