New exec strategy director at Jupiter

28 Aug 2009

Tholoana Qhobela has been appointed executive strategy director at The Jupiter Drawing Room (Jhb), it was announced this afternoon, Friday, 28 August 2009. Also appointed to the strategic department to boost its capacity is Johanni Jennings, who will manage Edgars Department Stores, among others.

According to Qhobela, she leapt at the opportunity to work at Jupiter (Jhb). “Jupiter is at an interesting time in its history - the company turns 21 next year and has a new and significant shareholding with WPP. But perhaps, the greatest reason is the massive growth that catapulted the agency from small to big which opens a myriad opportunities and challenges, giving me a chance to contribute to the company strategically; something I have spent all of my career doing for various client companies.”

Qhobela will be mentoring and teaching across departments and believes this is a great opportunity to influence the direction of a company. “The current social flux in society and business means that as a strategist you are perpetually inspired. But it also means that more than ever we need to get into consumer's heads and hearts as communicators - and influencers,” she says.

Great training grounds

She believes recessions are great training grounds for strategists, forcing them to be more cunning than in favourable times: “We need to bring in new ways of thinking to ensure that strategy has relevance internally and externally with clients.

“I have spent my career as a communication strategist precisely because it is a creative discipline. The output of a strategist looks different from what is normally delivered by the creative teams, but creativity in thinking, is the beginning of great ‘creative' output.”

Jennings, who also has experience on client service, comments, “I have a well-rounded approach to the business since I have fulfilled a number of positions in marketing and advertising across various industries. This melting pot of experiences has provided a robust understanding of clients' business objectives and operations and how to optimise the communication component of their marketing efforts so that it fulfils its role within the bigger picture.

"Strategy is my great passion and working in a strong strategic department, where one's efforts truly influences campaign effectiveness, is a wonderful opportunity.”

Updated 31 August 2009