CANNES LIONS

SA marketer named as a Jury President for 2026 Cannes Lions gathering

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2026

Gugu Mthembu joins a lineup of 27 jury presidents, all regarded as leaders in the international advertising and marketing industry.

Gugu Mthembu, Consumer Chief Marketing Officer for South African telecommunications operator Telcom, has been named as Jury President for the Creative Business Transformation category at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

This year’s festival takes place in Cannes, France from 22–26 June and is widely regarded as the creative marketing communications industry’s premier annual gathering.

Gugu Mthembu. Photo: LinkedIn

Mthembu joins a lineup of 27 jury presidents, all regarded as leaders in the international advertising and marketing industry. Last year she was part of the jury council, so this year marks a step forward for her.

In a LinkedIn post, she says just being part of the jury council in 2025, was an incredible honour.

“This year, carrying the responsibility of presidency feels even more purposeful. What I look forward to most is championing work that doesn’t just win awards but creates real impact. Work that reimagines business models, centres human experience and amplifies creativity as a catalyst for impact.”

Mtembu adds: “I’m especially excited to bring my lived experience in driving impactful transformation, and a diverse perspective into every discussion in the jury room.”

Celebrating the creativity that drives businesses forward

The Creative Business Transformation Lions celebrate the creativity that drives businesses forward – creative transformation that changes thinking, buying and behaviour.

The work being judged should demonstrate how creative change has been achieved across core business functions and has delivered a positive impact and growth for business, staff or stakeholders.

This could include, but should not be limited to, the reinvention of operations and stakeholder experiences, the innovative use of technology and business design, and the creation of new products and services in order to generate transformative change.

In a congratulatory post on social media, Telkom says of Mtembu: “This recognition speaks to her strong creative leadership, global outlook and consistent track record in driving business transformation that delivers real impact.

“As she joins an esteemed group of industry leaders, her appointment highlights the rising influence of African leadership on one of the world’s most respected creative platforms.”

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