Experience

The Friday Street Club

• South Africa
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder, Owner and Managing Director

  • Apr 2014 - Present

  Named Best Small PR Consultancy in South Africa three years in a row, at the PRISM Awards 2020, 2021 and 2022. Services offered include: - Marketing, brand and communications strategy and consulting; - PR and media relations; - Influencer management; - Digital and social media; - Design and branding; - Video and content creation; - Crisis and issues management. Development and execution of campaigns in South Africa, as well as in markets throughout the EMEA region, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India and the UAE. Clients include: SAB Foundation, Wonga, V&A Waterfront, Zeitz MOCAA, Remy Martin Cognac, Cointreau, The Botanist Gin, Bruichladdich, British American Tobacco, PURA Soda, Mami Wata, UCT (University of Cape Town), Oxford University, Cheapflights (now KAYAK) and Food & Connect. Show less



The Underdog Project

• Netherlands
• Professional Training and Coaching

• Chairman of the Board | Board Member and Secretary

  • Jun 2016 - Present

  Oversight, governance and management of the NGO, as well as support of the management and operations team, in a voluntary capacity, including: - Business planning and management: financials, budgeting, operations and project management; - Fundraising: creation of a sustainable plan to raise funds via donations, revenue driving activities, giving and other income; - Marketing and communications: including digital and social media, newsletters, PR, graphic design and creation of supporting collateral. Show less



MarkLives.com

• South Africa
• Internet News

• Columnist

  • Dec 2012 - Aug 2020

  Regular columnist, commenting on the marketing, PR and communications industry. Regular columnist, commenting on the marketing, PR and communications industry.



Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa

• South Africa
• Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Acting Head of Marketing and Communications

  • Jun 2018 - Jan 2020

  Management and head of department position, supporting new Exco team on a contract basis. Role included: - Marketing and communications strategy: development of new marketing and communications strategy to support the institution and its various exhibitions, events and partnerships; - Execution: roll out of marketing and communications plan, including management of external creative and digital agencies; - Stakeholder engagement: including tourism partners, international and local media, and government agencies; - Brand management: development and roll out of new visual and brand identity; - Publishing: exhibition and institution collateral, including the editing, publishing and securing of international distribution of two major books: Why Should I Hesitate - a retrospective of 40 years of work by William Kentridge; and Five Bhobh: Painting at the End of an Era - a review of contemporary art from Zimbabwe; - Team leadership and skills development of marketing and communications team. Show less



The Lionheart Brand Holding Company

• South Africa

• Head Of Communications - consultant

  • Jan 2012 - Dec 2017

  Communications and PR consultant to the Chairman and management team. Communications and PR consultant to the Chairman and management team.



V&A Waterfront

• South Africa
• Real Estate
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Acting PR and Communications Manager

  • Feb 2017 - Jun 2017

  Contract position to cover the role while permanent candidate was recruited. Contract position to cover the role while permanent candidate was recruited.

• Acting PR and Communications Manager

  • Nov 2014 - Apr 2015

  Contract position covering maternity leave of permanent employee. Included overseeing the PR and communications team, and being the media spokesperson for the property and all of its initiatives. Contract position covering maternity leave of permanent employee. Included overseeing the PR and communications team, and being the media spokesperson for the property and all of its initiatives.



The Jupiter Drawing Room Cape Town

• South Africa
• Marketing and Advertising
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Head of PR

  • Jan 2012 - Feb 2014

  Set up and managed a new PR and Communications Business Unit within this through-the-line agency, creating a profitable business unit within two years. This business unit oversaw PR and media relations, social media and content creation for the existing and new clients. Clients included: Windhoek Lager, NOMU, Samlam, Soft Lips, Haute Cabriere. Set up and managed a new PR and Communications Business Unit within this through-the-line agency, creating a profitable business unit within two years. This business unit oversaw PR and media relations, social media and content creation for the existing and new clients. Clients included: Windhoek Lager, NOMU, Samlam, Soft Lips, Haute Cabriere.



Corporate Image (Pty) Ltd

• South Africa
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Account Director

  • Dec 2008 - Jan 2012

  Strategic communications consultant, focusing on corporate communications, crisis and issues management, consumer brand positioning and sponsorship activation. Client work included: - Management of SAB’s corporate brand communications, including developing communications strategies addressing responsible drinking, alcohol abuse and building beer culture. Included launch of No Regret Friday campaign, leveraging social media channels, which trended organically on Twitter throughout launch day. - Managing the Nando’s account for a year’s contract, involving social media communications and brand activations. - Managing and implementing three month project for Hansa Pilsener, including event management, media liaison and artist/talent management. - Media spokesperson for the V&A Waterfront, over the the FIFA World Cup 2010 as well as for other times of crisis and issues. - Corporate communications, including management of crisis and issues and announcement of financial results, for various blue chip South African companies, including SAB Ltd, Pick n Pay and Mr Price. Clients included: SAB Ltd (South African Breweries), Pick n Pay, Nando's, La Mer, Jo Malone, Bobbi Brown. Show less



Publicis Consultants

• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Account Director

  • Sep 2003 - Nov 2008

  Communications consultant to Diageo Africa on the Guinness and Malta Guinness brands in African markets, primarily Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Cameroon, including: - Advising on leveraging Guinness’ sponsorship of the Africa Cup of Nations and the creation of Fan Parks in Ghana and Nigeria. This included consultating for the local marketing and corporate relations teams; leveraging sponsorships of Ghana player Michael Essien and the national teams; securing media partners for the Fan Park; an interactive SMS and digital campaign which saw over 20,000 responses; in-bar activation; and managing media coverage from the Fan Park by local and international broadcast channels. - Management of a tour by the Guinness Master Brewer to key markets to build on the brand’s quality and heritage credentials and engage multiple audiences: internal, trade, industry bodies, media and consumers. - Activation of Malta Guinness’s creation of a Pan-African initiative to find the continents’ best street dancers, and bring to life the brand’s key messages of goodness and vitality. Management of Cathay Pacific Airlines’ UK press office which, along with day to day promotion of the airline’s product, included developing and management of communications plans for crisis and issues specific to the airline as they occurred. Show less



Consolidated PR

• United Kingdom
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Account Manager

  • Jan 2003 - Aug 2003

  Worked on developing and managing the communications around the DVD launches of key Beauna Vista and Disney titles, including Finding Nemo, Kill Bill and Starsky and Hutch. Worked on developing and managing the communications around the DVD launches of key Beauna Vista and Disney titles, including Finding Nemo, Kill Bill and Starsky and Hutch.



Phipps

• United Kingdom
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Account Executive/ Senior Account Executive

  • Jan 2000 - Sep 2002

  Client work included: - Development of niche chocolate brand Green & Black’s transformation into a luxury mainstream brand without losing the endorsement and loyalty of the initial fans, through brand identity update, strategic sampling and produce placement. - Development of Finlandia Vodka’s style credentials through partnering with London Fashion Week, and the linking of the brand to trendy Helsinki through press trips and product placement. - Launch of Sony’s Entertainment Robot AIBO through partnering with celebrities and events, including MTV Music Awards, film premières and London Fashion Week. Show less



Green & Black's

• Food and Beverage Manufacturing

• Office Manager/Marketing Assistant

  • Apr 1999 - Dec 1999

  Responsible for coordination of operational and support of marketing activity including dealing with media enquiries, coordinating materials for shoots and dealing with customer queries. Moved to their PR company, Phipps PR, when the company was bought by private investors and worked on their PR account for a further 2+ years. Responsible for coordination of operational and support of marketing activity including dealing with media enquiries, coordinating materials for shoots and dealing with customer queries. Moved to their PR company, Phipps PR, when the company was bought by private investors and worked on their PR account for a further 2+ years.