# FM Adfocus 2024 Awards finalists Announced The finalists for the AdFocus Awards 2024 have been announced. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 27 November, Wednesday. Unique in the creative industry awards space, the AdFocus Awards reward agencies and how they are run, from their people to their systems and clients. Winning an AdFocus Award literally means your agency is the best within the period of the Awards. AdFocus Awards chair, Luca Gallarelli, the group CEO, TBWA, says, “The finalists represent the best of our industry, not only in evolving the industry, but in placing the creative product first with an understanding that it is only through our work that we will have a meaningful impact on our clients’ brands as they engage with their consumers.” He adds that it was brilliant to see the number of entries given the tough year the industry has faced. “The finalist agencies and their clients represent the ones who despite all the challenges and complexities confronting the industry currently have navigated their way around it to deliver some of their very best work and year ever.” In addition, he says the finalists should feel proud as the competition was so tough but that the shortlist does represent the very best of who we are as an industry in South Africa. “As we look forward to a future where South Africa reclaims its place as a preeminent creative country within the broader adverting and marketing landscape, it is these agencies who have really proven themselves to be outstanding proponents of that and are leading us there.” **Small** * Halo * Retroviral **Medium** * Grid Worldwide Branding & Design Pty Ltd * Ogilvy Cape Town * The Odd Number **Large** * Joe Public * M&C Saatchi Abel * TBWA\Hunt Lascaris - Johannesburg **PR** * Magna Carta * Tribeca **Specialised** * Levergy * Playmakers * Social Lab * TBWA Coastal **Media** * Juno Media * Publicis * The Media Shop **Partnership of the Year (Sponsored by IAS)** * Magna Carta & MTN * Ogilvy SA & KFC * Ogilvy SA & VW * TBWA Coastal & Spar **Transformation** * Joe Public * Ogilvy SA **Group of the year** * M&C Saatchi Abel * Ogilvy SA * TBWA South Africa There are no finalists and no winners in the African impact of the Year and Adaptability Award categories. Agency of the Year as well as the Shapeshifter of the Year, Industry Leader of the year and Lifetime Achiever will be announced at the event. The student finalists will be announced in due course. **2024 Jury** **This year’s jury comprised:** * Luca Gallarelli - Group CEO, TBWA * Vicki Buys - MD, Ogilvy * Sadika Fakir - Group Executive: Digital Marketing & Media, Absa * Pepe Marais - Co-Founder & Group Chief Creative Officer * Dean Oelschig - Managing Partner & Founder, Halo * Katherine Madley - VP of Marketing Massmart (Walmart) * Sharleen James - MD Accenture Song * Dustin Chick, Partner & Managing Director, Razor PR * Sbu Sithole - Founder & CCO, The Odd Number * Nkgabiseng Motau - Founding Partner and CCO, Think Creative * Chris Botha - Group MD, Park Advertising * Yatish Narsi - Chief Marketing Officer, MultiChoice Group The AdFocus 2024 Shortlist (in Alphabetical order) Gallarelli remarks that this year saw an excellent jury who covered all the significant disciplines across the entire industry. “It was some of the best and most senior representatives of our industry who pour over these entries, dissecting them and looking beneath the hood of every entry that came through. “Not stone was left unturned to identify the agencies who are having a meaningful impact on our industries and pushing our industry forward through their work.”