With almost three decades of experience behind him — and a career spanning Grey Worldwide, TBWA\Hunt Lascaris, Joe Public, Ogilvy Johannesburg and The Odd Number — McKenna joins Lobengula at a moment when the agency is building serious momentum, says the agency.

It is a move that brings together two very different forms of creative capital: the institutional experience of one of South Africa's seasoned advertising creatives, and the energy of an agency determined to build its own creative legacy.

McKenna has worked across some of the country's brands, including KFC, Cadbury, Castle Lager, DStv, SuperSport, Standard Bank, Steers, Nike, Mercedes-Benz and Samsung.

His work has earned recognition at Cannes, D&AD, The One Show, Loeries, Pendorings, Creative Circle, Assegais, Apex and the Bookmarks. Among his highlights are a Cannes Silver Lion, D&AD Graphite and Wood Pencils, and Loeries Grand Prix wins for Budget Insurance and BBC Earth, adds the agency.

He brings this winning streak to Lobengula, having built strong creative teams and pushed for work that earns attention.

This isn't simply a case of an established creative joining a growing agency, it is the coming together of Terry McKenna and Brenda Khumalo — two creative leaders with a shared appetite for building something that can compete on the strength of its ideas, adds the agency.

"Lobengula has a very clear sense of who they are and where they want to go," says McKenna. "What attracted me was the talent, the ambition and the opportunity to build great work with people who aren't interested in waiting for permission."

Khumalo says the appointment is equally deliberate. "We weren't looking for a name," she says. "We were looking for someone who could help us sharpen our creative ambition, develop our people and build work that demands attention. Terry has done that throughout his career."

McKenna's arrival further strengthens Lobengula's creative leadership, bringing decades of experience to a multidisciplinary team with its sights firmly set on bigger, bolder work, says the agency.

For an industry that often talks about the next big agency, Lobengula appears less interested in talking about the next big thing than in making it.

McKenna concludes, "I've spent my career chasing good ideas. I don't see any reason to stop now."

For more information, visit www.lobengula.co.za. You can also follow Lobengula Advertising on LinekdIn, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor