* The inaugural list of Most Influential African Chief Marketing Officers derived from assessments of marketing industry leaders in six African economic regions
* And the diaspora covering definitive sectors of mobile money, telecoms, fintech, agribusiness, brewery, aviation and fast-moving consumer goods
By Duncan Mlanjira
Two of the country’s seasoned marketers, Sobhuza Ngwenya and Levie Nkunika, have broken into Africa’s top 100 rank of elite brand architects and reputation custodians, following research by Brand Africa and African Business Magazine.
Advertisement
Ngwenya, marketing director at mobile telco TNM Plc, and Nkunika, head of marketing & sales at FDH Bank Plc — both companies listed on the Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE), made the cut in the inaugural list of Most Influential African Chief Marketing Officers (ACMO 100).
According to a statement, the list derived from assessments of marketing industry leaders in six African economic regions and the diaspora covering definitive sectors of mobile money, telecoms, fintech, agribusiness, brewery, aviation and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).
In reaction to his latest recognition, having being honoured in various local awards initiatives, Nkunika said: “This honour reinforces the importance of influencing strategy and driving growth at the highest level.
“It is both deeply humbling and motivating,” Nkunika said, while for his part Ngwenya — whose experience spans FMCG at Unilever, telecoms, experiential marketing agency and finance — credited his latest accolade to the support from the TNM leadership and brand operatives.
“As one of only two leading brands recognised in Malawi, this honour is testimony that the TNM brand connects and serves its customers with unmatched excellence and dedication,” he said.
Chairman for Brand Africa, Thebe Ikalafeng, explained that the inaugural ACMO 100 “unravelled the talents behind some successful brands and reflected a shift from rankings hitherto, predominated by Nike and established African companies such as the MTN and Dangote Groups”.
“This is the continent’s first definitive ranking of marketing leadership. All the 100 honourees hold equal standing,” he said in the statement. “Given the stature and breadth of the brands under their custodianship — and the lag in African brands — what is abundantly clear is that Africa does not have a marketing talent problem.”
He added that the ACMO 100 selection criteria goes beyond job ranking to assess a battery of requirements key being strategic ownership of brand, consumer insight, revenue growth and market positioning.
Both Ngwenya and Nkunika are serial Marketer of the Year Award winners under Institute of Marketing Malawi (IMM), which has since congratulated the duo for its latest continental achievement.
Advertisement