Combined AdFocus and The Annual Awards take place in November

Thirteen awards will be presented:

• Digital Agency of the Year, sponsored by Vodacom;
• Student of the Year, sponsored by Nedbank;
• Partnership of the Year, sponsored by Independent Agency Search & Selection (IAS);
• Media Agency of the Year;
• Branding & Design Agency of the Year;
• Specialist Agency of the Year;
• African Agency Network of the Year;
• Agency Leader of the Year;
• New Broom Award for young talent;
• Envy Award;
• Agencies' Agency of the Year;
• Advertising Agency of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement Award

The event, to be co-hosted by Maggs and AdFocus editor, David Furlonger, is the first step in a partnership that will eventually lead also to a comprehensive, consolidated brand communications publication.

Successful merger

The integrated event has been welcomed by the advertising industry, which has been critical of the proliferation of awards in recent years. Furlonger says, "Jeremy and I both realise that too many awards can cause confusion, particularly when they bestow the same title on different agencies. We hope our merger will help solve that."

Financial Mail editor Tim Cohen observes, "We have always believed in the desirability of a single, credible and comprehensive set of advertising awards. This merger takes us a step closer to that goal."

Maggs adds, "I edited AdFocus for six years before starting The Annual with the Future Group and I'm thrilled the circle has closed."

This event is by invitation with a limited number of tickets available for sale. To book, email Marcia Minnaar at az.oc.erutufeht@aicram.