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Two years into its partnership with Dentsu, FoxP2’s clients are reaping the rewards of the agency’s data-fluent, ideas-led, tech-enabled approach. CEO Charl Thom says: “Our strong showing at the Apex Awards this year with four Apex wins across three different clients speaks volumes to the business results this approach can yield.”
Founding partner and executive creative director of Mutant (currently Fox Design) Andrew Whitehouse says: “The Dentsu partnership has infused FoxP2 with the ability to take the latest technology and data opportunities and merge them with the agency’s creative offering. The data environment evolves and develops so quickly that there are always new opportunities for creative work.
Dentsu, being at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and data developments, has made this part of the offering that FoxP2 can make available to our clients, giving them what I think of as an unfair competitive advantage.”
What FoxP2 brings to the market is a unique lens through which it views its clients and their business problems. “It’s a marriage of data, technology and creative and allows our clients access to tools they would not otherwise be exposed to,” says Grant Jacobsen, executive creative director. “It allows us to solve the right problems and not automatically default to a linear, one-size-fits-all approach. Clients are becoming increasingly frustrated with agencies that default to a house style where a big TV ad is invariably hauled out in a first client presentation.
We bring a super-charged offering that benefits both our clients and our people, with staff benefiting from exposure to training and global learnings in terms of data and technology.” This forms part of FoxP2’s philosophy, which speaks to the ability of strategic creative to offer clients a disproportionate advantage on their investment.
One of the year’s biggest highlights was the acquisition of the Wimpy account, which has become the agency’s second-largest client. “To see Wimpy record one of its most successful quarters ever off the back of our first campaign has been extremely rewarding,” says Jacobsen, adding that clients who look to disrupt in these challenging economic times will always reap the rewards. These results translated into two Apex effectiveness awards for the Wimpy and FoxP2 partnership before it was a year old.
As to whether the economy is set to improve or continue to stagnate, Thom concedes it’s a hard call to make. “Economies are by their very nature uncertain,” he says. “The best way to navigate these conditions is to adapt to new challenges. We had just opened our doors when the crash of 2008 took place, and we came through that with flying colours, just as we are doing now.” The key to running a good business in the current climate, Thom says, is being nimble and flexible and open to adapting to a changing environment quickly.
Creatively, FoxP2 has had another successful year, building on its consistent Top 10 Creative Circle finish. Highlights include finishing fifth in the Cannes Global Creativity report, three Loerie golds, a Creative Circle Award Of The Year, and a Gold Epica award. Executive creative director Justin Gomes says: “The Dentsu network has high creative ambitions, with FoxP2 identified as a centre of creative excellence. So to see our campaigns for Ster-Kinekor and IndieFin recognised with top honours at the Dentsu International Innovation Awards has been very rewarding for us.”
Work on the African continent as well as other international opportunities looks set to increase as a result of the Dentsu partnership. “We’ve recently completed a high-profile campaign for Pilsner in Tanzania, building on the successful work we’ve created for Bell Lager in Uganda, King Lager and Camelthorn in Namibia and FNB in Mozambique, Botswana and Zambia.
FoxP2’s track record in Africa is one of the reasons Dentsu chose to partner with us. They saw FoxP2 as centre of regional excellence in SA that had the potential to expand into other markets,” Gomes, says. “We’re extremely excited about where this can go.”
FoxP2
2019 Financial Mail AdFocus profile
Two years into its partnership with Dentsu, FoxP2’s clients are reaping the rewards of the agency’s data-fluent, ideas-led, tech-enabled approach. CEO Charl Thom says: “Our strong showing at the Apex Awards this year with four Apex wins across three different clients speaks volumes to the business results this approach can yield.”
Founding partner and executive creative director of Mutant (currently Fox Design) Andrew Whitehouse says: “The Dentsu partnership has infused FoxP2 with the ability to take the latest technology and data opportunities and merge them with the agency’s creative offering. The data environment evolves and develops so quickly that there are always new opportunities for creative work.
Dentsu, being at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and data developments, has made this part of the offering that FoxP2 can make available to our clients, giving them what I think of as an unfair competitive advantage.”
What FoxP2 brings to the market is a unique lens through which it views its clients and their business problems. “It’s a marriage of data, technology and creative and allows our clients access to tools they would not otherwise be exposed to,” says Grant Jacobsen, executive creative director. “It allows us to solve the right problems and not automatically default to a linear, one-size-fits-all approach. Clients are becoming increasingly frustrated with agencies that default to a house style where a big TV ad is invariably hauled out in a first client presentation.
We bring a super-charged offering that benefits both our clients and our people, with staff benefiting from exposure to training and global learnings in terms of data and technology.” This forms part of FoxP2’s philosophy, which speaks to the ability of strategic creative to offer clients a disproportionate advantage on their investment.
One of the year’s biggest highlights was the acquisition of the Wimpy account, which has become the agency’s second-largest client. “To see Wimpy record one of its most successful quarters ever off the back of our first campaign has been extremely rewarding,” says Jacobsen, adding that clients who look to disrupt in these challenging economic times will always reap the rewards. These results translated into two Apex effectiveness awards for the Wimpy and FoxP2 partnership before it was a year old.
As to whether the economy is set to improve or continue to stagnate, Thom concedes it’s a hard call to make. “Economies are by their very nature uncertain,” he says. “The best way to navigate these conditions is to adapt to new challenges. We had just opened our doors when the crash of 2008 took place, and we came through that with flying colours, just as we are doing now.” The key to running a good business in the current climate, Thom says, is being nimble and flexible and open to adapting to a changing environment quickly.
Creatively, FoxP2 has had another successful year, building on its consistent Top 10 Creative Circle finish. Highlights include finishing fifth in the Cannes Global Creativity report, three Loerie golds, a Creative Circle Award Of The Year, and a Gold Epica award. Executive creative director Justin Gomes says: “The Dentsu network has high creative ambitions, with FoxP2 identified as a centre of creative excellence. So to see our campaigns for Ster-Kinekor and IndieFin recognised with top honours at the Dentsu International Innovation Awards has been very rewarding for us.”
Work on the African continent as well as other international opportunities looks set to increase as a result of the Dentsu partnership. “We’ve recently completed a high-profile campaign for Pilsner in Tanzania, building on the successful work we’ve created for Bell Lager in Uganda, King Lager and Camelthorn in Namibia and FNB in Mozambique, Botswana and Zambia.
FoxP2’s track record in Africa is one of the reasons Dentsu chose to partner with us. They saw FoxP2 as centre of regional excellence in SA that had the potential to expand into other markets,” Gomes, says. “We’re extremely excited about where this can go.”