Jupiter looms large internationally

Warsop will judge America's prestigious One Show Awards in late March 2010 in the Dominican Republic and, because of the clash of dates, has had to turn down his invitation to be jury chair, for a second time, at America's other top awards show, the Clios.

It will be Warsop's second time on the One Show jury. In 2001, he was the first SA creative director to sit on the panel. This year's jury has only three judges from outside the Americas and Europe (the other two are from Canada and China).

Warsop said, “When judging overseas, I inevitably bore people senseless telling them about our achievements as a country with such a tiny percentage of world adspend. Obviously, as I last judged nine years ago, they have forgotten that fact.”

Leading agency

The agency is reputedly Africa's largest independent agency group. Though Jupiter sold 49% of its shares to WPP, the world's largest media and communications company, its deal allowed the agency to retain its position as an independent network.

The UK trade magazine, Campaign, recognises this independence as it has invited the agency to be a part of its annual supplement The World's Leading Independent Agencies for the second year in a row.

Agencies participate by invitation only. Last year, Jupiter was the only African agency featured among 16 agencies from five different continents and will be among similarly diverse company this time around.