Company: Aegis Media, South Africa
Company Description: We help clients build relationships with consumers by communicating their products and brands effectively.Our services include communications strategy through digital creative execution, media planning and buying, brand tracking and marketing analytics.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Maverick of the Year

Nomination Title: Dawn Rowlands, CEO, Aegis Media Sub Saharan Africa

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated woman since the beginning of July last year (up to 500 words):

Dawn Rowlands has unsurpassed experience and expertise in the marketing, advertising and media industries Sub Saharan Africa. She has been responsible for the growth of over 200% in a mere 2 years between 2009 and 2011 from both revenue and staffing perspectives.

In 24 months, Dawn has taken Aegis Media from complete obscurity in Sub Saharan Africa to having 5 Network brand agencies; Carat; Vizeum; Trigger Isobar; IProspect and Posterscope.

50% of Aegis' income now comes from its digital interests in Sub Saharan Africa and over 50% of the staff are invested in a "digital environment' - this space continues to grow even faster throughout Sub Saharan Africa.

Dawn has continued to lead the market with innovation - the biggest one in the past year has been the launch of the Aegis Media’s Thought Leadership Programme, hosting monthly Thought Leadership Digibates, lead and chaired by Dawn. Media-marketing industry related debates are streamed live online and conducted by a panel of experts in the industry. Topics of discussion focus on the media-marketing sector in Africa. The objective is to share knowledge and insights within the media-marketing sector and raise awareness around trends and issues for the benefit of the industry.

In the driving seat of Posterscope back in 2009, Dawn drove the Out of Home Consumer study (OCS) and Consumer Connection Study (CCS) which was the first ever media and consumer insight survey conducted by an agency in Africa. The success of this study meant that a second version was launched in 2011 and Aegis Media believes in having a true level of consumer insight to ensure that they can deliver relevant communications strategies.

In the last 2 years Aegis has doubled its staff and profits whilst driving its start ups for Carat; launching Posterscope and Isobar in Africa. In most West African markets Carat is now the market leader and is working with many Aegis global clients like P&G, Coke & Nokia. In East Africa, Carat now manages Coke and Nokia.
She has spearheaded and drives the following within the company to assist in reaching business and staff goals:

1% Awards - There are 10 things that make individuals 1 Percenters in an organization. She encouraged staff to aspire to these attributes daily. Aegis Media launched the 1% staff motivation campaign internally with a 95% response rate.

Aegis Academy – Aegis Media has quadrupled their training and development budget since 2009. They brought in the best people from aboard to share with the local and regional teams. They launched an Academy within their biggest business to run their Africa wide training.

Aegis Internship Programme - To make the business sustainable, talent is always needed. End of 2011 the Aegis internship programme was launched. The programme moves interns between all their businesses over 12 months. They want younger, more digitally aware strategists in the business and by having the interns move around, in a well structured fashion, they will be able to achieve this. 2013 will see 8 new interns employed.

Provide a brief biography of the nominated woman (up to 100 words):

Mother of 2 and founder of both NotaBene (one of SA’s most successful strategy agencies), and Posterscope SA – currently leaders in the Out of Home arena, Dawn has very clear goals for the company and keeps linking these to their overall vision and values. She has however accentuated one value, Ambition, to ensure that everyone knows and buys into where Aegis Media is heading. She has been named ADREVIEW 2012 Advertising Achiever of the year, 2012 Business Woman of the Year –Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa, 2012 Business Woman of the Year - African Access National Business.