Zibusiso Mkhwanazi

Last updated

Zibusiso Mkhwanazi
ZibusisoMkhwanazi.jpg
Zibusiso Mkhwanazi
Born (1983-06-10) 10 June 1983 (age 41)
South Africa
Education University of Johannesburg
OccupationEntrepreneur
TitleGroup CEO of M&N Brands, founder of Avatar
Awards World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders (2010), Top Young ICT Entrepreneur in Africa Award (2008)

Zibusiso Mkhwanazi (born 10 June 1983, Soweto, South Africa) is Group CEO of M&N Brands and co-founder of Avatar, [1] Avatar won Financial Mail's AdFocus medium-sized agency of the year 2016 and were a finalist in 2017. [2] A World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, Mkhwanazi is now building an African owned agency network through his investment company, M&N Brands. [3] [4]

Contents

Mkhwanazi is a Trustee of the National Economic and Education Trust (NEET), [5] which has provided over 4,200 scholarships to underprivileged ICT students. [6] Born in 1983, he is the founder of David's League, [7] a Christianity-based mentorship program to support young entrepreneurs.

Career

Mkhwanazi started his first business, Csonke, a web design company, at the age of 17 (in 2000). Csonke then merged with Krazyboyz in 2007 and Mkhwanazi served as Executive Chairman until July 2010, developing and overseeing growth, strategy and marketing for both the Cape Town and Johannesburg offices. [8] He then took on the role of CEO from July 2010 – December 2011. [9] [10]

In January 2012, Mkhwanazi went into partnership with Veli Ngubane [11] [12] to found Avatar, which has won numerous awards (AdFocus) including most digitally integrated agency (MarkLives) [13] and also the agency that has done the most to drive transformation in the SA industry (MarkLives). [14] Avatar opened their Cape Town office [15] in 2016 and have won numerous accounts such as H&M [16] and Chevron. [17]

He also served as Chairman of ARM advertising and design in 2009, as well as Chairman of The Red quarter Brand Design August 2010 – November 2013. [18]

Mkhwanazi is the majority shareholder in M&N Brands, with partner Veli Ngubane, [19] an investment company building an African owned agency network. [19] In 2017 they acquired Mela Events, a gold-Loerie award-winning events company with clients such as Standard Bank and Nando's. [20] In 2017, the 33-year-old Financial Mail ADFocus awards created the industry's first transformation award at Mkhwanazi's urging, which was sponsored by M&N Brands. [21] [22]

Education

"Mkhwanazi’s story from the humble streets of Soweto" [23] is as follows:

Bramley primary school, Bedfordview High School, NDip Information Technology (2005) and Dip Corporate Law (2006) at the University of Johannesburg, Foundations for Leadership in the 21st Century (2012) Yale and Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century (2013) at Harvard. [24]

Awards and distinctions

Related Research Articles

WPP plc is a British multinational communications, advertising, public relations, technology, and commerce holding company headquartered in London, England. It is the world's largest advertising company, as of 2023. WPP plc owns many companies, which include advertising, public relations, media, and market research networks such as AKQA, BCW, CMI Media Group, Essence Global, Finsbury, Grey, Hill & Knowlton, Mindshare, Ogilvy, Wavemaker, and VML. It is one of the "Big Four" agency companies, alongside Publicis, The Interpublic Group of Companies, and Omnicom Group. WPP has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N3 Eastern Bypass (Johannesburg)</span> Road in South Africa

The N3 Eastern Bypass is a section of the Johannesburg Ring Road that forms a beltway around the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of the N3. The first section of the freeway opened in 1971, from Buccleuch to the interchange with Main Reef Road in Germiston. This is one reason why Germiston is listed as the southbound destination of this route, from the Buccleuch to Geldenhuys Interchanges, rather than to the Elands Interchange south of Germiston. The remaining section from Main Reed Road to Black Reef Road, which included the construction of the Geldenhuys Interchange, was opened in 1977, linking the Eastern Bypass with the N3 freeway to Heidelberg. The interchange at Main Reef Road was removed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N12 Southern Bypass (Johannesburg)</span> Road in South Africa

The N12 Southern Bypass is a section of the Johannesburg Ring Road that forms a beltway around the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of the N12. The freeway was the last section of the Ring Road to be built, with the final section opening in 1986. As part of the old South African Freeways, It was initially called the N13. The entire Southern Bypass freeway was an e-toll highway from 3 December 2013 to 11 April 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Havas Creative</span>

Havas Creative, formerly known as Havas Worldwide and Euro RSCG, is a French advertising agency. It is one of the largest integrated marketing communications agencies in the world, made up of 316 offices located in 75 countries. The firm provides advertising, marketing, and corporate communications services.

M&C Saatchi Group is an international communications company, formed in May 1995 as an advertising agency. With more than 2,400 staff, the group has its headquarters in London, and offices in several other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Publicis</span> French multinational advertising and public relations company

Publicis Groupe is a French multinational advertising and public relations company. One of the oldest and largest marketing and communications companies in the world, it is headquartered in Paris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Interpublic Group of Companies</span> American advertising company

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (IPG) is an American publicly traded advertising company. The company consists of five major networks: FCB, IPG Mediabrands, McCann Worldgroup, MullenLowe Group and Marketing Specialists, as well as several independent specialty agencies in the areas of public relations, sports marketing, talent representation and healthcare. It is one of the "Big Four" agency companies, alongside WPP, Publicis, and Omnicom. Phillippe Krakowsky became the company's CEO on January 1, 2021.

Dentsu is a multinational media and digital marketing communications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese advertising and public relations firm Dentsu. Its principal services are communications strategy through digital creative execution, media planning and buying, sports marketing and content creation, brand tracking and marketing analytics. It is organised into ten main divisions: Carat, Dentsu, Dentsu media, mcgarrybowen, Merkle, Fountainhead MKTG, Posterscope, Isobar, Soap Creative, iProspect and Vizeum. Dentsu Aegis Network manages all the Dentsu inc. owned businesses outside the Japan market, which includes the former Aegis Group business that it acquired in 2013. It also includes 360i, Amplifi, Amnet, BJL, Grip Limited, The StoryLab, Data2Decisions, Mitchell Communications, Cardinal Path and psLIVE. It has 66,000 people across 143 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AKQA</span> Digital agency

AKQA is a digital design and communications agency owned by WPP. It was founded in London in 1994 and expanded internationally in 2001 through a merger with agencies based in the United States and Singapore. It operated as an independent agency until 2012, when it was acquired by WPP. Initially the firm focused on technology and digital projects, later broadening its focus on design and innovation to services including product and spatial design. In 2020, WPP announced it was merging Grey Group with AKQA to create the AKQA Group. The resulting agency has around 6,000 employees in 50 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Algoa FM</span> Radio station in Port Elizabeth

Algoa FM is the leading South African commercial radio station serving the Eastern Cape Province and Garden Route. It started broadcasting on 1 January 1986 as part of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). It was privatised in October 1996, and has grown into the Eastern Cape's leading media house. Algoa FM is licensed by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, or ICASA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soweto TV</span> South African community television channel

Soweto Community Television (Soweto TV) is a South African community television channel broadcasting in the biggest township in South Africa, Soweto. The channel is free-to-air in Gauteng Province and it also broadcasts to South African subscribers on the DStv pay TV service on channel 251 and Starsat on channel 488.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Ngubane</span> South African politician (1941–2021)

Baldwin Sipho "Ben" Ngubane was a politician from South Africa. He held multiple positions in the post-apartheid government of the country. In particular, he was Premier of KwaZulu-Natal from 1997 to 1999 and Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology from 1994 until 31 August 1996 and from February 1999 until April 2004.

VMLY&R, now part of VML, after the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson in October of 2023, was an American marketing and communications company specializing in advertising, digital and social media, sales promotion, direct marketing and brand identity consulting, formed from the merger of VML, founded in 1992, and Y&R , founded in 1923. It was a subsidiary of WPP plc multinational advertising and public relations holding company.

Yebo Yes United is a South African fourth division football club. The club currently plays in the SAB Regional League and is the Development and Feeder Club to Orlando Pirates Football Club. The relationship works in two ways Yebo Yes United develops players for Orlando Pirates and in exchange Orlando Pirates sponsors transport and on field equipment. The club is a fully competitive entity and can be classed as semi professional in nature. The club's home venue is Arthur Block Park in Mayfair, Johannesburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Knott-Craig</span> South African entrepreneur and author (born 1977)

Alan Knott-Craig is a South African entrepreneur and author. He is the founder of Project Isizwe

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Creative Counsel</span> South African advertising agency

The Creative Counsel is a South African advertising agency founded in 2001 by school friends Gil Oved and Ran Neu-Ner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Book fairs in South Africa</span>

Book fairs and literary festivals are held throughout South Africa each year to promote literacy among children and adults. A country's literacy rate is often a key social indicator of development. In 2005, UNESCO Institute for Statistics reported a literacy rate of 94.37% among the population aged 15 years and older. The literacy rate among the male population in this age group was 95.4% and 93.41 for female counterparts. According to Statistics South Africa, functional illiteracy among those aged 20 years or older, was recorded at 15.4% in 2005. This has improved from 2002's 27.3%. Women are more likely to be functionally illiterate across all age groups, apart from those aged between 20 and 39 years old.

Tania Habimana is a Rwandan Belgian entrepreneur and television presenter.

Wunderman was a New York City-based global digital agency. It was part of Young & Rubicam Brands and a member of international advertising group WPP Group.

Mandla Hlatshwayo, was a South African actor and media personality. He is best known for the roles in the television serials such as; The Lab, Generations and Backstage.

References

  1. "Home of Avatar Agency - AVATAR". AVATAR. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  2. "www.avataragency.co.za/2016/11/24/adfocus-medium-sized-agency-for-2016/". avataragency.co.za. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  3. "Zibusiso Mkhwanazi | 世界经济论坛". 世界经济论坛. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  4. "cn.weforum.org/people/zibusiso-mkhwanazi/". cn.weforum.org. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  5. "National Economic Education Trust" . Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  6. "National Economic Education Trust: NEET Bursary in South Africa 2020". World Scholarship Forum. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  7. "David's League" . Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  8. "BEE deal creates major digital agency". It-online.co.za. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  9. "Digital agency empowers". ITWeb. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  10. "BEE deal creates major digital agency". IT-Online. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  11. "www.avataragency.co.za/2017/11/01/veli-ngubane-cco-avatar-ad-agency-history-selling-bright-ideas/". avataragency.co.za. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  12. VELI NGUBANE, A FOUNDING PARTNER OF DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY AVATAR , retrieved 7 May 2018 [self-published]
  13. "#AgencyLeaders2016: Most digitally integrated ad agency in Jozi • MarkLives.com". marklives.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  14. "#AgencyLeaders2017 South Africa: Agency diversity & transformation • MarkLives.com". marklives.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  15. "www.avataragency.co.za/2016/02/09/avatar-invades-cape-town/". avataragency.co.za. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  16. "Exclusive: avatar CT wins H&M • MarkLives.com". marklives.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  17. "www.avataragency.co.za/2016/02/02/avatar-wins-the-chevron-sa-account-opens-cape-town-office/". avataragency.co.za. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  18. "The Red Quarter – Brand Design". theredquarter.co.za. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  19. 1 2 Ayabonga Cawe, Power FM interview with Veli Ngubane, a founding partner of digital marketing agency Avatar, 5 April 2018, retrieved 7 May 2018 [self-published]
  20. "M&N Brands buys Mela Events • MarkLives.com". marklives.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  21. "We're transforming the milky way - The Mail & Guardian". mg.co.za. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  22. "What is Content Marketing? Interview with Zibusiso Mkhwanazi - Part 2 - AVATAR". www.avataragency.co.za. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  23. "Zibusiso Mkhwanazi". BizNis Africa. 28 November 2013. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  24. "Yale hosts program for Young Global Leaders". 12 October 2012.
  25. 1 2 "Empowering our country". Leadershiponline.co.za. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  26. "Zibusiso Mkhwanazi: Young, Gifted and Taking Over". Kasi Times. 16 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  27. "The M&G Online". Mg.co.za. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  28. Moyo, Admire (26 January 2011). "IT Personality, Visionary CIO named | iWeek Magazine". Iweek.co.za. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  29. "IT Personality/Visionary CIO of the Year 2009 | Brainstorm Magazine". Brainstormmag.co.za. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  30. "Zibusiso Mkhwanazi". Weforum.org. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  31. "Top 25 media game changers". theredzone.co.za. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  32. "The 2015 hotlist: Top 40 under 40s in The Media". themediaonline.co.za. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  33. "Agency Leaders 2016: Most admired ad agency boss in South Africa". Marklives.com. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  34. "AABLA Awards | Press Releases".
  35. "EY honours Southern African entrepreneurs who redefine convention and inspire change".

Further reading