The second bout of contenders will be tackling the changes digital has brought to marketing during the past decade. Stepping up to address the topic are heavy-weight champs Gavin Rooke of Isobar, Brent Shahim of AquaOnline, Pete Case of Gloo, Rob Stokes of Quirk and Jason Xenopoulos from hosting company, Native.
Heading up the largest, fully-integrated independent digital agency in the country, Native, Jason has in his own right risen through the ranks. In 1994, Jason founded VWV Interactive and from 1998 to 2000 held the position of CEO at Metropolis. In 2001, Jason directed his first feature film, Promised Land, which went on to win several international awards, before he moved onto Y&R South Africa as ECD in 2004. He then co-founded 2.0 Media in 2008 and was ranked in the Top 5 Most Highly Awarded directors at the 2010 Loerie Awards Festival. Jason says he is looking forward to stepping into the ring with such a high-calibre of talented individuals. "The four contenders I will be up against have all been active in the digital field for many years and have played their part in shaping South Africa's digital arena into what it is today. It will without a doubt be an interesting round," he says.
Stepping up to take on Jason at Digital Edge Live is Gavin Rooke, currently the Group Managing Director of Trigger/Isobar. Gavin brings a wealth of experience to the debate having founded Trigger in 1999 and having grown the agency into an award-winning, multidisciplinary digital agency that now comprises seven integrated specialist units. Trigger/Isobar has numerous awards under its belt including being named Digital Agency of the Year by Adfocus 2011.
The third contender is Brent Shahim, Managing Director of Aqua Online, one of South Africa's leading digital agencies. "I built up Aqua Online over the past 12 odd years. Aqua Online was sold to WPP and now is the official digital arm of Y&R in South Africa. Our clients include Avis, Southern Sun, Nokia, Standard Bank, Pick 'n Pay and MTN," he says.
Pete Case, founder and creative leader of Gloo, is sure to bring his unique brand of British flavour to the line-up. He moved from the UK to South Africa in 2000, and founded Gloo in 2005. Since then Gloo has consecutively won Agency of the Year in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Pete's personal creative credits include an impressive 32 Loeries and two Grand Prix awards in the last four years. Pete is sure to hold his own amongst the strong five competitors.
Last but not least of the five heavyweights is Quirk creator, Rob Stokes.
While studying a Business Science Degree at UCT in the 90s, Rob's love for both technology and marketing merged in his Marketing Honours Thesis which focused on the topic of Email Marketing. "My vision for taking online marketing to the world was the beginning of Quirk eMarketing as we know it today," says Rob. Energetic, inspired and dedicated to motivating people and empowering them - especially whilst wearing the famous (or is it infamous) tight white cricket shorts - Rob manages to bring these qualities to both clients and staff. Rob will be bringing his energy (and hopefully his white shorts) to the ring on 14 October so don't miss out.
Tickets to the event cost R1550 excluding VAT. The event will extend over four hours and includes free secure parking, coffee, tea, snacks and bar and entertainment. The event's main sponsor is Native with Pmailer having stepped up as ringside sponsor.
For more information and to book tickets visit
http://www.thedigitaledge.co.za/live.
