Hill & Knowlton, the global strategic communications leader for transformation, has announced that Lerato Songelwa, managing director of Hill & Knowlton in South Africa, has been selected to serve as a juror for the PR Lions category at the 2024 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
The Cannes Lions aims to bring together the most innovative companies and creative minds from around the globe to showcase groundbreaking work and set new standards for creativity and effectiveness in the industry.
According to the awards, Songelwa brings a fresh perspective to the PR Lions jury panel. With extensive knowledge and experience in sub-Saharan Africa, she has spearheaded numerous successful campaigns for globally recognised brands including:
- Netflix
- Motorola
- Head & Shoulders
- Dove
- Unilever
- McDonald's
- Lenovo
- Honor, and
- MSC Cruises.
Her ability to craft pioneering strategies and forge meaningful connections with stakeholders has consistently delivered outstanding results for clients operating in this region, the awards add.
"I am deeply honoured to serve as a juror for the Cannes PR Lions and to represent Hill & Knowlton and Africa at this year's festival," says Songelwa. "As someone who believes in the power of creativity to connect with audiences in meaningful ways, I am excited to see firsthand how brands are pushing the boundaries of communication excellence. Collaborating with fellow jurors to recognise the most innovative and impactful campaigns is a privilege, and I can't wait to see what this year's entries have in store."
Joining the esteemed ranks of jurors at the Cannes Lions, Songelwa's commitment to integrity and trust in business relationships underscores her belief in the fundamental importance of ethical practices in the industry. She persists in advancing the standards of excellence in public relations and communications, Hill & Knowlton says.
On Thursday, 25 January, WPP announced it would merge its two largest communications agencies, BCW and Hill & Knowlton, to form Burson, a powerhouse delivering modern communications leadership at scale to clients across the world. The merged company will become an industry-leading, full-service communications agency focused on building and protecting reputation. Burson will be operational as of Monday, 1 July.
For more information, visit www.canneslions.com. You can also follow Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of contributor