M+C Saatchi Abel's Lwazi Nene steps up to lead the Loeries Youth Committee

Lwazi Nene

The announcement was made on 19 October by the organisers of Loeries Creative Week 2026 which took place from 4-9 October in Cape Town.

The Loeries Youth Committee is an initiative comprised of dynamic young professionals under the age of 30 across Africa and the Middle East, and acts as a structured platform for networking, skill-sharing, and leadership development, under the mentorship of the primary Loeries Board.

Being selected to lead this vitally important platform is a remarkable accomplishment, and in his new role Nene will lead programmes that champion the next generation of creative talent while contributing to industry conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion, across the African and Middle Eastern creative landscape.

“This is definitely the highlight of my career so far,” says Nene. “I count it as an honour to lead the committee that acts as an essential ‘think tank’ that elevates youth voices to ensure top creative talent is nurtured and retained to shape the future of the industry in our country and on the continent.”

M+C Saatchi Abel chief creative officer Jake Bester says: “Our integrated creative agency is part of The Up&Up Group, whose unrelenting orientation is that creativity elevates everything. Lwazi is a dynamic force for creativity at M+C Saatchi Abel, and leads a new generation that will drive our industry forward, continuing to deliver impactful work for our clients. His experience will no doubt enrich both the industry and his peers.”

Nene, who started his industry career in 2021 at a small agency in Durban before moving to Johannesburg to join the M+C Saatchi Abel team, has worked across big brands like Standard Bank, Nando’s, GALXBOY, MTN, Lay’s and Simba, delivering work in his signature creative style that is deeply rooted in South African culture and reflects everyday human behaviour.

His work has been recognised by leading industry bodies, among which the Loeries, Creative Circle, iPendorings, Promax Africa Awards and #IDIDTHAT.

Loeries board chairman Carl Willoughby (chief creative officer at TBWA\Hunt Lascaris), welcomed Lwazi to his role, saying: "Lwazi’s got his head screwed on properly, seems driven and hungry to do great work, he's done some great stuff already that showcases his talent and has already shown up at key award shows. I’m excited for him and extremely happy that he, together the rest of the youth committee, are setting the right example for our industry. He's the role model the young guys need."