Pepe Marais, the Founding Partner and Group Chief Creative Officer of Joe Public United, has been inducted into the 2022 Loeries Hall of Fame Award.
The Loeries Hall of Fame Award was first introduced in 2008 to recognise select creative individuals for their notable and continuous contributions to the growth of the industry. Each year, a shortlist is compiled based on the individuals’ success and impact in the industry. From this shortlist, the Loeries Committee chooses the recipient for that year.
Past inductees have included included: Alistair King, the Chief Creative Officer of the King James Group; Boniswa Peziza, the past Group Chief Executive Officer of Net#Work BBDO; and most recently, the first-ever dual inductees, Lorraine Smit and Melina McDonald, the Executive Producers of Darling Films.
As a founding partner of one of South Africa’s largest independent creative agencies, Marais has been instrumental in the growth of the company, nurturing young talent, as well as the creation of over 250 jobs, and delivering excellent work every step of the way. As such, Joe Public United was ranked the number one agency at the Loeries from 2018 to 2021.
Marais has also worked tirelessly to help grow the industry at large, while distilling a love for creativity in all these efforts. He was named number one Chief Creative Officer on a number of occasions, most recently in 2021, at The Loeries, ranked the most admired agency professional in South Africa in 2017 by The SCOPEN Report, and voted by his industry peers in the MarkLives polls as the Most Admired Agency Creative Leader in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
‘As much as I am honoured to be the recipient of this award, I cannot help but ask myself how this is possible for someone who is only at the start of his career,’ said Marais on receiving this accolade. ‘For as much as I am immensely honoured, it simply would not have been possible to get to this point of my career without our incredible team of Joe Publicans, those clients in our fold who are committed to creativity, our suppliers, my business partners, and the support of my wife, Heidi,’ he added.
Even outside of working hours, Marais has been driven to give as much as he can to the industry, and to creatives everywhere. He has authored two books, serves as a mentor to several entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, while participating in various institutions, panels and workshops.
‘Marais is an exceptional creative leader and we are so honoured to be able to induct him into the 2022 Loeries Hall of Fame Award. I trust that his example of creative excellence will serve as inspiration for the industry across the entire region,’ said Preetesh Sewraj, CEO of the Loeries.
2022 Marketing Leadership and Innovation Award
The Loeries has awarded Bernice Samuels, the Chief Marketing Officer of MTN, the highly coveted 2022 Loeries Marketing Leadership and Innovation Award.
The Loeries Marketing Leadership and Innovation award was introduced in 2007 and is designed to recognise an individual for their marketing achievements over an extended period of time. Each year, a shortlist is compiled – based on the success of individuals and their brands over previous years at the Loeries. From this shortlist, the Loeries Committee chooses the recipient for that year.
Over the years, Samuels has been a trailblazer in the world of marketing, and is celebrated by the industry and peers for her uncompromising commitment to excellence. Often described as a disruptor and challenger of the status quo, she has helped drive the marketing industry forward with courageous conviction and innovative vision. Under her direction, MTN has gone on to achieve stellar recognition for its marketing efforts. Among the many accolades she has brought home for MTN, the company was most recently named the most valuable brand in Africa in 2022.
‘This is the stuff of dreams,’ said Samuel’s about winning the 2022 Loeries Marketing Leadership and Innovation Award. ‘Thank you so much for making my dream come true. I am honoured and grateful to you and everyone who has guided, mentored and challenged me. I stand on the shoulders of so many giants who have lifted me every day. Thank you!’
Apart from these recent successes, Samuel’s career has been defined by remarkable work. She has worked in leadership positions at some of the largest organisations in the country, including M-Net, FNB, the South African Breweries and aYo Holdings.
‘Samuels is an exceptional marketer who understands and uses creativity to build not just her current brand but all those that she has guided over her career. I have no doubt that her example of excellence is one that will inspire many marketers on their journey to creatively connect with consumers,’ said Sewraj.
Previous winners have included Andrea Quaye, the former Vice President of Marketing at Anheuser-Busch InBev; Doug Place, the Chief Marketing Officer at Nando’s; Claudia Waters, the Marketing Communications Manager at Mercedes Benz; and Yegs Ramiah, the former Chief Executive of Brand at Sanlam.
2022 Loeries Young Creatives Award
Raphael Janan Kuppasamy has been awarded the 2022 Loeries Young Creatives Award post an intensive judging process led by Jury President, Vanessa Pearson from Brave Group.
The Loeries Young Creative Award recognises a talented young mind in the industry who is on a trajectory of sustained creative excellence. The Young Creatives Award is free to enter and entrants need to turn 27 during the award year or be younger.
The jury panel analysed the work of multiple entrants with a limit set on a maximum of five pieces that was created over a three year period. Kuppusamy, who is an Integrated Art Director at Joe Public United, won over the judges with work that was seen as innovative and displaying creative excellence.
‘Kuppasamy is a great example of a young creative who is doing work that excites established creatives in our industry,’ said Sewraj. ‘I look forward to watching his journey as he creates work that inspires greater creative excellence in our industry.’
He received his award, a Gold Loerie, during the second night of the prestigious Loerie Awards ceremony, held at The Lookout on Friday 7 October, in the presence of the entire industry and the leadership team from his agency.
Joe Public United’s Integrated Chief Creative Director, Xolisa Dyeshana commented, ‘As an agency, we are extremely proud of Kuppasamy’s incredible achievement. He is an extremely talented and hard-working creative who strives to push the boundaries in everything he does. We look forward to seeing him grow and contribute even more to our industry.’
Kuppasamy’s Loeries Young Creatives Award truly reflects his view that, ‘I don’t talk much, but when I do, everyone listens – and when I have something to say, I usually say it through art.’
Modern Marketing is a proud media partner of The Loeries.
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