Campaign unveils its 40 Over 40 for 2024

By Amos Oladele

Campaign, the UK-based global business magazine which also publishes daily news and analysis on its websites: campaignlive.co.uk, campaignlive.com, campaignasia.com, campaignindia.in, campaignme.com, and campaigntr.com, has released the winners of its Campaign 40 Over 40 Awards for 2024.

Announcing the winners on its site, the publication disclosed that “The initiative, which is now in its fourth iteration in the UK, spotlights 40 professionals aged 40 and above”; adding that this year, the 40 winners emerged from a total of 116 entries.

It emphasized that those who have been recognised in the scheme occupy roles from across the advertising industry, including creative and media agencies, brands, tech companies, media owners and casting agencies.

This year’s winners include Demi Abiola, who has spent 20 years in lead investment roles at PHD and T&Pm, where he has seen success in driving market-leading pricing for clients, maximising PRFs, and building strong and lasting relationships with media owners. His creativity is said to have reflected in major award wins such as Cannes Lions, D&AD, Campaign, Media Week, and Festival of Media awards.

As a member of the Advertising Association’s All in Black talent working advisory group, Abiola is reported to have actively helped shape actions to improve diversity and inclusion in advertising. He was also part of the launch campaign for the initial Brim (Black representation in marketing) framework to the industry and currently he serves on the WPP UK inclusion council and he is the Co-Chair of the ERG group in T&Pm for people of colour.

A frequent commentator and panelist, Abiola has written for several publications and is a regular industry judge for names including Campaign, Media Week, British Media, Drum, AOP, Festival of Media, and Young Cannes Lions. He is said to be most passionate about promoting racial equality and cultural inclusiveness in the industry and believes that as a person of colour, it is vitally important to be in leadership positions to inspire the next generation.

The judges had this to say about Demi Abiola: “A career dedicated to providing others access to the path he’s successfully created. A recognised thought leader for the industry. Living life in purpose and service”.

Next on the list is Kelly Victoria Allison who started KVA on her own with £100 and turning that into a multi-million pound global agency that employs nearly 50 people.

According to Campaign, Allison built her business while battling severe health complications, surgery and raising her two daughters as a single parent. Despite these challenges, she has created a culture that allows people to thrive, to shine and to love their job. She attributes the impact this has on her employees’ wider life and family and friends as what gets her out of bed in the morning.

Her agency, KVA was the first agency globally to offer unlimited paid holiday and further benefits include the Go Greener Car Scheme for employees to drive an electric car, a £2,000 yearly kindness bonus, YAY day, someone’s dream wish granted each year and a stay for employees and their families at Port Lympne.

When the agency turned five years old and again when it reached the milestone of a decade, it shut down for a week and Allison took the entire staff to St Lucia for a week. KVA recently closed its physical offices and build an office in the Metaverse, with all employees being given a VR headset as part of their working equipment.

Little wonder that, as further disclosed by Campaign, Allison’s colleague, Kiran Cheema said: “Kelly is an out-of-this-world CEO. Since joining KVA just over a year ago, I’ve felt 100% valued by Kelly and she achieves this through recognising and rewarding all of us that work at KVA. She is such a kind and thoughtful leader who values each and every one of her employees and is a true inspiration for me”.

And to the judges, “What an inspirational journey Kelly has had – her entrepreneurial talent shines through in her entry and her leadership, cultivating culture and pioneering a happy and healthy workplace is applaudable”.

Another winner is Elizabeth Anyaegbuna, Co-founder of 16x9media who has spent 20+ years in the marketing communications, driving growth across TV, digital advertising and agencies.

Announcing this latest feat on her LinkedIn page, Anyaeguna states, “Senior black women leaders in our industry can be counted on two hands, placing a great responsibility on us which I embrace. I’m a DEIB industry voice, active on panels and judge awards – all which I love. I’ve devoted years to and am now President of Bloom, co-founded Bloom-in-Colour and Join Our Table and am Strategy Growth Advisor for Responsible Resourcing Agency improving DEIB and representation. I’m an active member of MEFA, WACL and CAN”.

Others on the long list are: Zharina Arnaldo; Nicky Badenoch; Claire Baker; Davina Barker; Victoria Brooks; Tom Byrne; Joy Dean; Abby Dixon; Katie Edwards; Paul Evans; Katie Farmer; Claire Ferreira; James Fox; Grace Francis; Linn Frost; Maira Genovese; Andrew Goldsmith; Virginie Goupilleau; Katie Grosvenor; Rebecca Hirst; Lindsay Hong; Peter Klomp; Flora Kong; David Macmillan; Wybe Magermans; John Maloney; Chris Mellish; Nick Myers; Sarah Parkes; Reda Raad; Pamela Scobbie; Oliver Shayer; Rob Stevens; Genna Trentham; Laura Wade; Karen Wilkinson; and Claire Young.

Campaign affirmed that its 40 Over 40 Awards is dedicated to giving individuals the chance to inspire and be inspired by other like-minded professionals; stressing, “We champion and recognise those for their outstanding contributions to the industry, from ground-breaking work, head-turning innovations to outside-of-the-box thinking and memorable campaigns. We celebrate those who deserve recognition for their loyalty, dedication, leadership or mentorship during their career so far. The people who’ve made a real difference on the ground to help push our industry forward.

And in the words of Chloe Davies, Founder, SimplyMsChloe LTD and It Takes a Village, a collective for black women marketers, the Chair of the Judges for this year, “The experience, energy, passion and wisdom that the 40 over 40 awards recognises in its nominees, is a much needed spotlight shone on incredibly talented people who are often not always visible. For many of us who feel fabulous and in our prime at 40+ this initiative celebrates the innovators, the changemakers and people who inspire others across industries. I couldn’t be more delighted to be this year’s chair of judges and discover the impact that this year’s nominees are making”.