LEADERSHIP
RISING STAR - AGENCY (2025)
Pippa Misplon - Retroviral
JPG
Silver
| Title: | Pippa Misplon |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Retroviral |
| Product: | Retroviral |
| Agency Name or Internal: | Retroviral: Pippa Misplon |
| Brand Representative/Marketing Director: | Pippa Misplon |
| Agency: | Retroviral |
| ECD: | Mike Sharman |
| Executive Summary: | Retroviral is an independent South African agency, founded in 2010, that has made more brands go globally viral than any other agency on the continent. The past year has been a defining chapter — marked by breakthrough creative, bold innovation, and purposeful leadership, with Managing Director Pippa Misplon at the heart of this transformation. In FY24, Retroviral achieved record-breaking revenue, with 25% year-on-year growth and a 7.95% increase in gross profit and is set to surpass R50 million for the first time in its 15-year history in FY25. This success was driven by a strategic focus on earned media-led, high-impact campaigns — securing new retainers with Lil-Lets USA, Showmax, SAB, and STECO, while winning notable projects with BIC, Wimpy, MultiChoice and OneCart. Pippa’s leadership has been pivotal. She drove the rollout of a first-of-its-kind Challenger Retainer Model, encouraging always-on ideation and deepened client partnerships. She also helped launch one of South Africa’s first agency-owned AI Labs, integrating technology to drive smarter, faster, and more scalable storytelling and faster concept approvals for clients. Internally, she’s fostered a culture of inclusion, growth, and creativity. Under her guidance, Retroviral has grown to 82% female staff, with a senior management team that is 88% women — the majority of whom are Black. She introduced the Retroviral Wellness Programme, providing coaching and mental health support to all employees, alongside mentorship and graduate initiatives that consistently grow and retain talent. Pippa’s influence extends beyond agency walls. As Chair of the IAB Bookmarks Committee and a member of the IAB Agency Council, she’s helped shape industry best practice — most notably through the creation of the Learner Judges Programme, which opens doors for the next generation of talent. Creatively, the agency delivered award-winning, culturally resonant work — from GranBoks and AutoTrader “Do It Big” to the BIC “Change Starts with One” campaign. Each campaign reflects Retroviral’s bold earned-first blueprint — work that gets people talking and delivers tangible results. Retroviral has thus been recognised as the Ad Focus Small Agency of the Year (2023); the MarkLives PR Agency of the Year (22, 23 & 24); Provoke Media: Global Creative Consultancy of the Year (Finalist) https://bit.ly/3ElEnHO and won the Provoke Media alternative measure of agency creativity - world's most creative agency https://bit.ly/4cA7UKz. As a business, a brand partner, and a workplace, Retroviral continues to redefine what’s possible for a small, independent agency. And as MD, Pippa Misplon is leading that charge with vision, empathy, and a commitment to building something extraordinary — from the inside out. |
