The award builds on a particularly successful year for the agency. In January 2012, Denford Magora, founder of Jericho, struck a deal in which he became the CEO of The Jupiter Drawing Room (Zimbabwe) & Partners, a new brand holding group which the agency now falls under.
Jericho saw three digit growth in the 2012 financial year on the back of eight new accounts being added to the company. It was voted Superbrand amongst Zimbabwean advertising agencies in 2012 and won six awards at the annual advertising awards in Zimbabwe (The Ngomas). The company is now reported to be the largest and most creative agency in Zimbabwe.
Jericho boasts a blue chip client base that includes Old Mutual Zimbabwe, Zimplats, Toyota, Nando's, Schweppes, CBZ bank, Delta Beverages (SABMiller Zimbabwe), Western Union and the South African Airways.
Magora is not resting on its laurels however, he said that he is honoured to have been tasked with taking The Jupiter Drawing Room brand into neighbouring territories.
"Our focus is being a world class agency in Zimbabwe and the region. We aim to marry the creative excellence inspired by international standards with unique, deep insights into local markets to help our clients unleash potent solutions that increase sales and build brands," he explained.
"We will continue operating with a start-up mentality for the rest of our lives. Financial prudence is also key. We have grown our agency to become the largest in Zimbabwe without borrowing a single cent. Everything we make is currently being ploughed back into building a solid agency infrastructure with world-class systems," he continued.
Founder and group chairman of The Jupiter Drawing Room, Graham Warsop, credits the meteoric rise of the operation to the approach that the business has taken in expanding the brand into new African markets.
"Our African strategy is clear and simple," Warsop explains. "Our goal is to unlock the huge potential of creative talent and entrepreneurship across the African continent. Our approach is based on partnership, identifying long term local partners who have a meaningful stake in the agencies they grow and are focused on the quality of the product," he continued.
"Our first relationship outside of South Africa was with Denford and this team. Their success is inspiring and bodes very well for the future."
