LEADERSHIP
AGENCY LEADER OF THE YEAR (2025)
Garreth van Vuuren - RAPT Creative
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Merit Certificate
| Title: | Garreth van Vuuren |
|---|---|
| Brand: | RAPT Creative |
| Agency Name or Internal: | RAPT Creative |
| Brand Representative/Marketing Director: | Garreth van Vuuren |
| Agency: | RAPT Creative |
| ECD: | Garreth van Vuuren |
| Copywriter: | Garreth van Vuuren |
| Creative Director: | Garreth van Vuuren |
| Art Director: | Garreth van Vuuren |
| Strategist: | Garreth van Vuuren |
| Executive Summary: | From surviving crisis to spearheading a reinvention, Garreth van Vuuren, CEO and Founder of RAPT Creative, and now RAPT Group, has demonstrated unwavering leadership. In 2022, RAPT was crowned the Financial Mail’s Adfocus Small Agency of the Year. But 2023-2024 tested its very foundations: losing R35M in business from Pernod Ricard, R48M in paused revenue from the Heineken-Distell merger, and a R3M write-off from Glo Telco. Against this financial storm, Garreth made a radical decision: no retrenchments, no salary cuts. Instead, he protected the agency’s people first. Through resilience, 46 intense pitches were mounted with a 63% success rate, securing major wins like SOL Beer Global Lead Creative Agency. When investors prematurely withdrew, Garreth self-funded a R6.5M monthly salary bill for four months, carrying RAPT through turbulent waters until new values-aligned investors were secured. By year-end, RAPT broke even, hitting the same revenue as the prior year — a remarkable achievement given the challenges. Garreth’s leadership catalysed more than financial stability; it sparked transformation. RAPT evolved from survival to strategic redefinition, pioneering a re-coupled agency model. No longer just creative services, RAPT laid the groundwork for deeper integration. In March 2024, RAPT launched The Real Network (previously Cliff Central) - now a fully fledged production house and broadcast platform; In October 2024, RAPT Commerce launched—a main market retail media solution designed to unlock growth in South Africa's mass-market retail sector. In early 2025, Add.Intelligence was established, a JV bringing advanced market research and intelligence to clients. Beyond services, RAPT’s vision matured: by mid-2024, the group committed to becoming the most integrated, intentional, medium-sized agency group by design. This new model fosters a thriving community of independent agencies, united by shared services—including media—collective insights, and enriched knowledge exchange—breaking barriers once controlled by multinational giants. RAPT Group stands purposefully lean, adaptive, and sustainably designed for the future. Its purpose: to create real, lasting value for its people, clients, and customers. By remaining medium by design, RAPT rejects industry fragmentation and conglomerate inefficiencies, championing agility, collaboration, and meaningful impact. |
