Chicken Licken is the top Africa and Middle East brand and top sub-Saharan Africa brand, with its Brand CMO / marketing director, Chantal Sombonos van Tonder, ranked top CMO / marketing director.

Joe Public retains the top ranking from 2024 in 2025 for Agency Africa and Middle East, Agency South Africa, Agency sub-Saharan Africa and Large Agency. The agency also took the top spot for independent agency.

The agency’s Pepe Marais and Xolisa Dyeshana are both top-ranked chief creative officer for 2025, retaining this position from 2024, while Martin Schlumpf moved up from second in 2024 to the top-ranked executive creative director. Joe Public’s Mpume Ngobese is also ranked the top managing director.

Big Time Creative shop is the top medium agency and Bananas the top small agency. Red & Yellow is the top educational institution. Overall production company is Giant Films.

City Lodge Hotels and its marketing team were ranked as follows:

• City Lodge Hotels - 10th in Brand: Africa & Middle East and 7th in Brand: Sub-Saharan Africa
• Zuki Jantjies - 7th in Brand: CMO / Marketing Director
• Colleen Goodman - 2nd in Brand: Marketing Manager
• Tammy Taylor - 1st in Brand: Assistant Brand Manager

For the full article and list of all category rankings, including for City Lodge Hotels' long-time creative agency, TBWA\ Hunt Lascaris, click here.