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Work Background
DANONE SOUTHERN AFRICAHead of Communication Sub-Saharan Africa BCorp Lead
Oct. 2024Sub-Saharan AfricaStrategically led integrated communication and public affairs initiatives across multiple Sub Saharan African markets, ensuring alignment between business priorities, ESG commitments, and regional socio-economic contexts.
• Positioned Danone as a trusted partner to government, media, and civil society, advancing the company’s reputation and policy interests across sustainability, health, and nutrition domains.
• Developed and executed country-specific public affairs and communication strategies, balancing global corporate objectives with local stakeholder expectations and regulatory landscapes.
• Championed Danone’s ESG and BCorp agenda, steering cross-functional teams to deliver measurable progress towards certification, compliance, and transparent sustainability reporting.
• Served as lead spokesperson for the Sub-Saharan Africa region on sustainability and impact topics, representing Danone at high-profile forums such as the BCorp Impact Trade Event and Impact Summit.
• Directed crisis and reputation management, mitigating risks through proactive communication and coordinated stakeholder engagement. Acted as Deputy Crisis Manager during incident reporting for the business
• Strengthened multi-stakeholder engagement with media, NGOs, and policy influencers to amplify Danone’s sustainability and social impact narrative.
• Oversaw internal and external communications, ensuring consistent messaging and meaningful employee engagement around Danone’s purpose and societal commitments, including rewards initiatives and talent reviews.
• Led sustainability reporting processes, collaborating across functions to produce verified data and disclosures for audits, external assessments, and ESG benchmarking to present to third party auditors.
• Delivered business impact through disciplined planning, budget management, and team leadership, embedding a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
DANONE SOUTHERN AFRICACommunications Manager
Jan. 2020BryanstonDrove the integration of business impact and sustainability objectives through a comprehensive 360° communication ecosystem, aligning performance with purpose across the organisation.
• Acted as a strategic liaison between EXCO and employees, fostering transparency, trust, and alignment on key priorities to enable sustainable and profitable growth.
• Developed and executed high-impact communication and stakeholder strategies in partnership with senior leaders, consistently exceeding engagement and visibility targets.
• Led the Crisis Communication Committee, ensuring preparedness, alignment, and resilience across teams through structured response protocols and internal training.
• Strengthened stakeholder relations across internal and external networks : spanning government, media, and community partners through targeted mapping and proactive engagement.
• Enhanced brand visibility and reputation by crafting and deploying integrated communication and public relations campaigns across digital and traditional platforms.
• Tailored messaging for diverse audiences, embedding inclusivity and accessibility into all communication touchpoints.
• Leveraged data-driven insights and digital analytics to monitor engagement, refine strategies, and optimise communication impact across channels.
DanoneNTERNAL COMMUNICATION MANAGER
Jan. 2019 - Dec. 2019South AfricaCorporate Affairs & Employee Engagement
• Led strategic internal and external communication initiatives to align employees and stakeholders with the company’s vision, values, and strategic priorities.
• Oversaw all internal communication platforms, ensuring consistent, engaging, and transparent messaging across departments and geographies.
• Developed and executed communication programmes that enhanced organisational alignment, strengthened culture, and supported leadership visibility.
• Authored press releases, project reports, and event communications, ensuring clarity, credibility, and alignment with corporate reputation goals.
• Fostered cross-departmental collaboration, creating synergy and connection between teams to reinforce a unified organisational narrative.
• Supported executive communication efforts, translating strategic priorities into accessible messaging that inspired engagement and performance.
• Monitored communication effectiveness and evolved content strategies to reflect current trends and employee feedback, driving continuous improvement in engagement and culture.
MAGMAFYPRINCIPAL CONSULTANT & OWNER | STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Jan. 2012 - Dec. 2019South Africa• Founded and led a strategic communications consultancy, advising SMMEs across South Africa in sectors including Technology, Pharmaceuticals, and FMCG on brand positioning, stakeholder engagement, and public visibility.
• Developed and executed integrated communication strategies tailored to each client’s business objectives, ensuring message consistency across digital, media, and internal platforms.
• Directed external and internal communication flows, including newsletters, website content, and corporate materials, to strengthen brand identity and engagement.
- Worked with leading pharmaceutical companies to translate complex strategy documents into press releases and external communication collatoral • Planned and managed high-impact events, media briefings, and stakeholder forums, positioning clients as credible voices within their industries.
• Built and nurtured long-term relationships with key media, influencers, and industry stakeholders to amplify reach and credibility.
• Oversaw social media strategy and content creation, driving measurable engagement and reputation growth through targeted campaigns.
• Provided executive counsel to management teams on communication governance, messaging, and stakeholder response strategies.
• Managed financial planning and budgeting to ensure commercial sustainability and client value delivery.
• Led a small team of communication professionals, fostering collaboration, creative excellence, and accountability.
Craving NovityAccount Director
Jan. 2006 - Dec. 2012Gauteng, South Africa• Led strategic communication and public relations programmes for multiple multinational clients, including Sony, TomTom, Acer, and Logitech, delivering measurable impact across consumer and corporate markets.
• Developed and executed integrated communication strategies encompassing public relations, media engagement, marketing activation, and budget management to enhance client reputation and visibility.
• Directed media relations and stakeholder engagement efforts, securing high-value coverage across print, broadcast, and digital platforms through proactive relationship management and thought leadership positioning.
• Managed international events and trade fair representation, ensuring brand alignment, message consistency, and strategic exposure in global forums.
• Provided executive counsel to clients, offering insight-driven recommendations on communication trends, partnership opportunities, and sponsorship strategies.
• Led a team of four communication professionals, fostering capability growth through coaching, mentoring, and performance development.
• Oversaw social media engagement and content strategy, integrating traditional and digital media efforts to reach targeted audiences effectively.
• Produced high-quality content including press releases, keynote presentations, and bylined articles, reinforcing brand credibility and thought leadership.
• Monitored, analysed, and reported global PR performance, delivering quarterly insights and actionable recommendations to client headquarters.
• Maintained strong industry intelligence, ensuring communication strategies remained agile and aligned with market trends and emerging technologies.
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