DUKE Group has appointed Suhana Gordhan as the new Executive Creative Director. Gordhan is an award-winning advertising industry heavy-weight who has worked at agencies such as Ogilvy, the King James Group, Black River FC, VML, Net#work, BBDO and FCB.
Gordhan has shared her creativity with brands such as Nando’s, Coca-Cola and USAID. Last year, Gordhan’s work for Coca-Cola featured in Contagious Magazine as one of three campaigns in The World’s Best Strategies.
Wayne Naidoo, DUKE Group CEO said, ‘Gordhan brings with her deep industry insights that will inform our creative campaigns, as well as a fresh perspective. Her love for nurturing talent mirrors the values that the DUKE Group holds, and we are excited to be welcoming her to new and exciting opportunities in Cape Town.’
Gordhan will take over from Mike Beukes, who is relocating to London. Beukes has been with DUKE for nearly four years and during his tenure has seen the agency ranked within the top two most awarded small agency at The Loeries. The agency also placed as runner-up in the Medium-sized Agency category at Adfocus ’19 and was voted as runner-up for ‘One to watch in SA’ for 2020.
Gordhan, who has over 15 years’ experience in the advertising industry, will bring her love for the art of copywriting and passion for creative ideas to DUKE’s portfolio of clients, which include Coronation, Pioneer Foods, Environ, Hendricks Gin and Jive, among others.
Over the years, Gordhan has gained unparalleled insights and experience from her many terms on local and international industry award panels. She was baptised as a Cannes Juror in 2016 on the Direct Panel. In addition, she has served at One Show in the Direct Category as well as on Print and Out of Home at The Clios. Gordhan has a strong commitment to the South African industry and was nominated to join both The Loeries Board and The Creative Circle Exco.
In 2017, Gordhan was named one of Destiny Magazine’s Power of 40 candidates. In the 2019 Loeries’ Creative Rankings, she was ranked top 15th Creative Director in the country. ‘As a child, my siblings and I loved watching ads and reciting great lines from them, like Cremora’s ‘It’s not inside, it’s on top!’;‘…in the centre, Mr Venter’; and ‘Everything keeps going right…Toyota’. We grew up in a home that really encouraged creativity of all kinds. I think all of these things sparked an interesting pursuit to seek out a creative life, and a mission to make work that gets spoken about and that people can remember,’ she said.
‘I have a lot to gain from joining the DUKE Group, and I hope to learn and grow in a different direction to what I’m familiar with. I look forward to sharing my passion for ideas that really live in people’s lives, my specific and utter joy for copywriting and my ability to nurture young talent,’ Gordhan concluded.
