Faheem Chaudhry, partner and MD of M&C Saatchi Abel and 2022's AdFocus Awards chairperson, says, "The final round of judging was a day of robust debate, discussion and analysis."

"Despite global macro challenges, local economic challenges and a fair number of industry challenges, the top agencies demonstrated how they were able to imagine, innovate and ultimately grow their businesses and those of their clients dramatically," adds Chaudhry.

The finalists for the 2022 FM AdFocus Awards are as follows:

Small Agency of the Year
  • Duke
  • Rapt Creative, and
  • Think Creative.

Medium Agency of the Year
No finalists are announced for this category as there was a clear winner significantly ahead that will be announced on the night.

Large Agency of the Year
  • Grey
  • Joe Public United
  • M&C Saatchi Abel
  • TBWA Hunt Lascaris, and
  • VMLY&R.

Public Relations Agency of the Year
  • Eclipse Communications
  • Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants, and
  • Razor PR an M&C Saatchi Company.

Specialist Agency of the Year
  • Levergy — M&C Saatchi Sports and Entertainment
  • MscSports

Group of the Year
  • M&C Saatchi Abel Group
  • TBWA Group

Partnership of the Year
  • Joe Public United and Nedbank
  • TBWA South Africa and MTN, and
  • TBWA South Africa and Spar.

African Impact Award
  • Grey
  • TBWA South Africa

Adaptability
  • Grey
  • Happy Friday

Transformation Award
  • Nahana Communications Group
  • Yellowwood

Network Media Agency of the Year
The awards say that there were no finalists announced for this category as there was a clear winner significantly ahead that will be announced on the night.

Digital Agency and Independent Media Agency
There were no category finalists in the Digital Agency of the Year or Independent Media Agency of the Year as the jury felt that no entrants met the minimum threshold. As a result, no awards will be given in these categories for 2022.

According to Chaudhry, "The rate of growth some agencies enjoyed was exceptional, as was the level of the product being produced by them while their efforts to drive transformation, diversity and inclusion through their organisations was admirable."

Chaudhry concludes, "What was also very encouraging was the massive increase in entries this year, further proving just how good a year some agencies had, despite challenging conditions."

2022's AdFocus jury was made up of industry leaders from across through-the-line, digital, tech, media and PR agencies as well as marketing directors and industry consultants.

They are as follows:
  • Faheem Chaudhry, partner and MD, M&C Saatchi Abel
  • Gillian Rightford, founder of AdTherapy
  • Lebo Madiba, founder of Powerhouse PR
  • Luca Gallarelli, group CEO of TBAW / The Disruption Company
  • Warren Moss, founder and CEO of Demographica
  • Zanele Osman, MD of Duke
  • Firdous Osman, MD of, Saatchi & Saatchi
  • Nimay Parekh, chief digital officer of King James, part of Accenture Song
  • Merissa Himraj, CEO of Wavemaker
  • Wandile Collins, founder and chief strategic officer of Black Swan
  • Sharon Keith, marketing director, Heineken, and
  • Ana Carrapichano, founder and owner, Mediology.

 For more information, visit www.adfocus.co.za. You can also follow the FM AdFocus Awards on Twitter.