autonomous since 2013
Autonomous was founded in 2013 by a group of creative professionals who wanted to secede from the state of the marketing and digital industry. Since 2013, the group has established excellence, growth and impact in partnership with our client partners and professional creative teams. Autonomous was founded to provide local and global brands with quality strategic support that impacts their business objectives.
our mission
To create a Creative Movement centred on our framework of being mindful, assertive, profitable, and sustainable in everything we do. We believe that creativity, candid honesty and authenticity enable us to solve complex problems for our partners and clients. People are at the heart of our business.
our vision
We are a self-organized and autonomous group committed to making authentic decisions that are not influenced by political or profit-driven motives. We collaborate with ambitious partners and teams and strive to maintain authenticity across the group. Our goal is to create a diverse global community that remains true to its creative core.
our purpose
To leave any employee, brand, business, or industry in a better state than we found it, we should always ask ourselves, "How can we solve this sustainably for our client and make it better?"
our brand promise
We value our partners as individuals, not just businesses, and prioritize honesty and authenticity in all our interactions.
our creative collective brands
Our goal is to create a global community of creative individuals and establish an autonomous group that oversees the following sub-brands in the network. We are constantly developing new creative collective products, brands and initiatives with the aim of providing authentic creative services to our clients and promoting creative talent globally, mindfully and sustainably.
autonomous leadership team
Our leadership team leads strategy first and is distilled in the business, supporting creative strategy, digital strategy and product and business development. No matter where you are in your journey, our strategists are supporting you. Our strategic leads embed themselves in each client's strategy and history before the commencement of the brief. With years of experience, you no longer need to be concerned that your brand is not understood – we got you.
Sarel J. Delport (aka Buks)
Director & Strategic Creative Lead
Sarel Delport has over 16 years experience in marketing and communications, working for some of South Africa’s award-winning agencies to develop campaigns across Africa in radio, television, out-of-home, activations and digital across multiple industries including FMCG, Technology, OTT, Banking and Telecommunications. He leads teams and partners with clients utilising his skills in client relations, project planning, analysis and reporting, marketing and brand strategy, copywriting and design. Sarel’s creative flair is key to campaign development and brutal honesty with client partners to support client business growth and success.
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Sancia Dos Santos (aka Sans)
Director & Strategic Digital Lead
Sancia Dos Santos is a Creative Strategist leading the content, creative and digital team at autonomous, working across a variety of local and international clients in South Africa, the Middle East and Europe. She has expertise in various markets and managed teams and campaigns across Africa, MENA, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Brussels, Washington and the UK. Sancia has a robust 360-degree approach to creative strategy, design, social, brand and marketing with over 13 years’ experience. She has developed, designed and overseen integrated campaigns, strategy and through-the-line campaigns in the B2B and B2C market from activations, internal engagement initiatives, sponsorships, social media, digital and paid media (PPC, SEM and social).
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meet the team
Our network of talented international creatives specializes in digital and marketing disciplines, working collaboratively to ensure timely, budget-conscious delivery that meets expectations. We don't hire coordinators for specific clients but allocate them according to clients' needs. .
Junior Ntondini
Project Manager
Shivani Permaul
Digital Designer
Joshua Pikiti
Multimedia Designer
+5 designers
+3 animators
+6 writers
+4 strategists
+2 paid gurus
+3 developers
work we are proud of
Autonomous boasts more than 10 years of experience in offering innovative solutions to some of the world's top brands. We are experts in rebranding, online marketing, creative digital and social campaigns, full video production, board pack presentations, and annual reports. The team comprises of skilled designers, content writers, photographers, and other professionals who have successfully delivered both intricate and straightforward creative solutions.