Experience

Aprio Group

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

• Chief Executive

  • Nov 2019 - Present

  Esme Arendse is the Chief Executive of Aprio Credence, a leading reputation management firm which provides strategic counsel, skills development and world-class implementation of reputation risk management and communication solutions for the management and mitigation of enterprise reputation risk. Esme is a seasoned reputation and communication strategist, with over 25 years’ experience in corporate communications, the management of reputation risk and stakeholder engagement in large and complex multinational enterprises. Over the last few years Esme has specialised in advising executive teams on reputation risk and has led expert professional teams on major, confidential reputation risk issues. She has acted as lead crisis and reputation advisor for several large cyber breaches, a global food services firm facing allegations of poisoning and fatalities, several corporate litigations and one of South Africa’s biggest corporate governance rehabilitation programmes in the technology sector. Aprio Credence works alongside client executive teams, leading law firms, cyber and forensic specialists, finance and audit advisors. Our client list includes JSE Top 40 companies, Fortune 500 global giants, and professional advisory firms. Show less



ONE REPUTATION

• www.onereputation.co.za

• Founder

  • Jun 2017 - Nov 2019

  ONE REPUTATION COMMUNICATION STRATEGISTS is owned by seasoned reputation and communication strategist, Esme Arendse. She has more than 20 years’ experience in corporate communications, the management of reputation risk and stakeholder engagement in large, multi-national companies. Esme specialises in advising executive teams on reputation risk and has led expert professional teams on major, confidential reputation risk issues. She works with companies to build capability and resilience for the management and mitigation of enterprise reputation risk through effective crisis communication. Esme provides a bespoke coaching and mentoring service to communication professionals. At ONE REPUTATION COMMUNICATION STRATEGISTS, we produce specialist communication that breaks the mould and connects. During her corporate career, Esme occupied senior positions at Nedbank, Old Mutual, Sasol and Sanlam. The client portfolio for ONE REPUTATION COMMUNICATION STRATEGISTS includes government, financial sector, retail and consumer goods companies. Show less



Nedbank

• South Africa
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Executive Head: Group Communications

  • Jul 2014 - Jun 2017



Old Mutual Limited

• South Africa
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Chief Communications Officer

  • Aug 2009 - Jul 2014



Sasol

• South Africa
• Chemical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Corporate Affairs Manager

  • Aug 2007 - Aug 2009



Sanlam

• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Head: Corporate Social Investment

  • 2005 - 2007



Sanlam Investment Management

• Cape Town

• Communications Manager

  • May 2003 - Mar 2005