Hippo Announces Refreshed Brand Identity

August 26, 2026

Dricus du Plessis, UFC champion.

To help consumers make better insurance decisions with less effort and more confidence, Hippo has invested significantly in a new and improved customer and digital experience accompanied by a refreshed brand identity and punchy TVC.

Finding the right insurance cover isn’t always easy. It’s a lengthy, complicated and costly process at a time when many South Africans are trying to make every rand count. Often, ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’, or, as UFC champion Dricus du Plessis would say, ‘hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie’.

New And Improved Customer And Digital Experience

‘Our platform now offers a modern, mobile-first experience with simplified navigation and a more intuitive customer journey. Enhancements such as one-click quotes, secure OTP verification and smarter comparison tools reduces friction, making it easier to quote, buy and re-buy insurance,’ said Mark Goosen, Head of Marketing for Hippo.co.za.

Goosen notes that feedback from consumers helped shape Hippo’s new platform. One of the most significant changes is that Hippo will no longer contact customers after they have compared quotes. Instead, only the insurer selected by the customer will make contact at a pre-arranged time to help finalise cover, reducing unwanted calls and creating a more streamlined experience.

The enhanced platform also offers consumers more choice than ever before, with 13 car insurance partners and a network of more than 50 partners across Hippo’s product range. This broader partner ecosystem gives consumers access to a wider range of options, making it easier to compare, choose and secure cover that best meets their needs.

Refreshed Brand Identity

The upgraded platform is only one part of Hippo’s broader evolution. To reflect a simpler, smarter and more confident experience, the brand has also refreshed its visual identity. The updated look builds on Hippo’s established brand equity rather than replacing it, retaining its familiar green and charcoal palette while modernising and brightening the colours, refining the logo and typography, and introducing additional colours to support easier navigation and usability.

Dricus du Plessis Enters The Hexagon

Hippo’s evolution is being brought to life through a new campaign fronted by Dricus du Plessis. In the TVC, Dricus helps land the campaign message in a way that is memorable and distinctly South African, reminding consumers that during moments of uncertainty, they don’t have to figure it out alone.

‘South Africa’s largest insurance aggregator is now, to quote another Dricus tagline – built different, reinforcing Hippo’s position as the perfect starting point for smart insurance shopping,’ concluded Goosen.

HIPPO.CO.ZA
www.hippo.co.za

More Than Marketing: Turning Brands, Customers And Ideas Into Business Value

Modern Marketing

August 26, 2026

More Than Marketing-Turning Brands, Customers And Ideas Into Business Value — Dirk Swanepoel and Aletia Oberholster, Barnard Inc.

Successful businesses understand that marketing is about more than attracting customers, it is about creating assets that generate long-term value.

In this practical session, which will be held during the free-to-attend Modern Marketing Power Hour, Dirk Swanepoel, Team Leader: Commercial Law and Aletia Oberholster, Team Leader: Intellectual Property Law at Barnard, will explore how strong brands, customer relationships, commercial strategy and intellectual property work together to drive growth, profitability and business sustainability.

Attendees will gain practical insights into protecting business value, managing risk, leveraging AI responsibly and positioning their businesses for future growth and opportunity.

Topic: More Than Marketing: Turning Brands, Customers and Ideas into Business Value
Tuesday, 8 September 2026, 14:00-15:00

Book your free slot here.

The event is taking place at the Modern Marketing Expo. The sessions will be held on the Balcony in Hall 3 at Gallagher Convention Centre.

Please register online for free attendance to the Modern Marketing Expo, taking place 8-10 September, 9am-5pm at Gallagher Convention Centre. The event is co-located with: Sign Africa, FESPA Africa, Africa Print and Graphics, Print and Sign expos.

MODERN MARKETING EXPO
+27 11 568 1894
https://modernmarketingexpo.co.za

Penquin Appointed By Gin Brand For Growth And Strategy

Modern Marketing

August 26, 2026

Penquin will support Ginologist’s next phase of growth, helping to amplify the brand’s market presence through integrated brand, communication and consumer engagement strategies designed to deepen brand affinity and unlock new opportunities for growth.

The appointment marks another significant addition to Penquins’s growing portfolio of iconic South African brands and further strengthening its presence in the food, beverage and lifestyle sector.

Celebrated for its innovative approach to craft gin, distinctive flavour profiles and premium brand experience, Ginologist has become one of South Africa’s most recognised and respected names in the category. The brand’s commitment to quality, creativity and consumer experience has earned it a loyal following and a strong position within the country’s premium spirits market.

For Penquin, the appointment reinforces its reputation as a strategic partner of choice for brands seeking to accelerate growth, strengthen market relevance and create meaningful connections with consumers.

‘We’re excited to be partnering with Ginologist,’ said Mandy Davis, Managing Director at Penquin. ‘This is a brand that has already built something truly special. They’ve established a distinctive position in the market, cultivated a loyal consumer base and earned a reputation for innovation within the category. For us, this partnership is about taking an already successful brand and unlocking even greater opportunities for growth. We’re honoured to have been entrusted with the brand and look forward to creating work that strengthens Ginologist’s connection with consumers while delivering meaningful business results.’

At Ginologist, we’re passionate about creating products and experiences that awaken the senses and leave a lasting impression. With exciting plans on the horizon, it was important for us to partner with an agency that understands our ambition and shares our commitment to creative excellence. Penquin’s strategic thinking and genuine enthusiasm for our brand made them the ideal partner to help write the next chapter of the Ginologist story.

The appointment continues a period of strong growth for Penquin, as the independent agency expands its portfolio across multiple sectors and continues to attract ambitious brands looking for strategic thinking, creative excellence and measurable business impact.

The agency will begin working with Ginologist immediately, with further details on upcoming campaigns and initiatives to be revealed soon.

PENQUIN
https://www.penquin.co.za

African Youth Survey Illustrates Rising Optimism

Modern Marketing

August 26, 2026

African Youth Survey Illustrates Rising Optimism

The latest African Youth Survey, commissioned by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation and conducted by PSB Insights, interviewed 4,901 young Africans aged 18 to 24 across 16 countries in March 2026. It is the largest edition yet of the recurring survey, which was launched in 2020 to give governments, business, civil society and the media a rigorous understanding of the views of Africa’s rising generation.

Africa’s young people are more optimistic about the future of their countries, economies and the continent than at any point since the pandemic, but they are demanding jobs, cleaner government, safer communities, a stronger political voice and a model of democracy that reflects African realities, according to the 2026 survey.

Across the eight countries tracked in every wave of the survey, 47% of young Africans say their own country is moving in the right direction, up from 30% in 2024. Some 45% say their national economy is moving in the right direction, up from 26% in 2024. Across the same tracked markets, 43% now say Africa is moving in the right direction, up from 37% in 2024.

The rising cost of living is named as the single event or development that has had the biggest impact on Africa over the past five years, selected by 27% of respondents. When asked what Africa most needs to progress, young Africans put creating new, well-paying jobs first at 27%, followed closely by reducing government corruption at 25%. Making it easier to start a business is selected by 16%, up from 10% in 2020.

The recovery is especially striking in Ghana, Ethiopia and Zambia. In Ghana, positive sentiment about the country’s direction has risen by 51 percentage points since 2024. In Ethiopia, concern about employment has fallen by 44 percentage points while positive sentiment about country direction has risen by 44 percentage points. In Zambia, concern about employment has fallen by 41 percentage points while confidence in national direction has risen by 32 percentage points.

Ivor Ichikowitz, Founder and Commissioner of the African Youth Survey, said, ‘Do not mistake this optimism for satisfaction. It is not a vote of confidence in the status quo. It is a warning. Young Africans still believe in this continent, but they are no longer prepared to confuse hope with patience while they struggle with the cost of living, unemployment, corruption and governments that too often talk about the future while excluding the very generation that will have to live in it.

‘This is a generation that wants delivery, not slogans. It wants jobs, clean government, safety, business opportunity and a real voice in power. It is also telling the world something important: Africa’s youth are not interested in being lectured by East or West. They will judge every leader, every government and every foreign partner by the same standard. Who is helping Africa build? Who is creating work? Who is treating this continent with respect? The age of speeches without delivery is over.’

A Delivery Generation In A Divided World

The survey finds that 70% of young Africans say the world is becoming more divided and dangerous. In response, they are prioritising global partners that can deliver practical benefits. Some 55% say their country should prioritise alliances with partners that are effective and can deliver benefits like trade and investment, regardless of their system of government, while 42% say their country should prioritise alliances with countries that share similar values and systems of government even if they are less effective at delivering tangible benefits.

When asked what should matter most in choosing an international ally, the leading answer is the ability to invest in infrastructure and the economy, selected by 43%. This is followed by respect for natural resources at 39%, democratic values and a strong human rights record at 34%, sovereignty and non-interference at 34%, access to advanced technology and knowledge transfer at 30% and military and security support at 29%.

The United States and China remain the two most influential external powers in the eyes of young Africans. US influence is now seen by 81% of respondents, while China is seen by 79%. However, China’s influence is viewed more warmly among those who see it, with 95% describing it as positive compared with 85% for the United States. The UK’s perceived influence stands at 63%, Russia’s at 54%, France’s at 47% and India’s at 45%.

The findings also show that young Africans are approaching the Trump era pragmatically rather than ideologically. While 52% say their leaders should find a way to work with President Trump despite differences, 46% say the dismantling of USAID as an independent foreign assistance agency will have a negative impact on their country, especially in healthcare services and disease prevention.

Democracy On African terms

The 2026 survey finds that young Africans continue to support democracy, but not uncritically. Some 73% say democracy is always preferable to any other kind of government. Clear majorities reject one-party rule and unchecked presidential authority, while equal treatment before the law, free and fair elections and freedom of speech remain core democratic priorities.

At the same time, 56% say Western-style democracy is not suitable for Africa and that a new form of African-style democracy is needed. When asked what matters most in such a model, young Africans prioritise national unity and stability at 48%, regular free and fair elections at 46%, leaders who deliver jobs and services at 43% and community decision-making at 36%.

Ichikowitz added, ‘The call for African-style democracy should not be misunderstood as a rejection of democracy but rather as a rejection of a Western model that too often fails to meet African realities. Young Africans still strongly support equality before the law, elections and freedom of speech. What they reject is the idea that democracy can be reduced to imported institutions that do not deliver dignity, opportunity and accountability in African conditions, and therefore why a new African model for democracy is needed.’

‘Perhaps the most important lesson is that African youth do not see a contradiction between democracy and delivery. They want both. They want freedom and opportunity. They want accountability and effectiveness. They want elections and economic progress.’

Youth Want Real Power, Not Symbolic Inclusion

Some 70% of young Africans agree that their voice matters to national leaders and 84% are confident that young people can meaningfully influence political decision-making over the next five years. Yet 76% also say leaders are out of touch with the needs and aspirations of young people.

The findings reveal a generation that believes it can shape politics, but does not believe current leaders fully understand it. That creates an opportunity for governments that take youth seriously and a warning for those that treat young people only as voters, campaign audiences or beneficiaries of policy. Support is strong for reforms that would give young people a greater role in government, including the creation of a Minister for Youth and age limits for presidents and prime ministers.

Security Starts With Jobs

While 70% of young Africans say they feel safe in their country today and satisfaction with police and security services has risen to its highest level since the survey began, only around a quarter are very satisfied. Unemployment and poverty are seen as the biggest threats to safety in local communities, selected by 54%, ahead of drugs and alcohol abuse, corruption in security services, violent crime and domestic violence.

Asked what governments should prioritise to improve security, 56% choose job creation for young people, ahead of military investment at 35% and anti-corruption measures at 33%. The finding reinforces one of the central messages of the survey: for Africa’s youth, employment is not only an economic issue, but also a security, governance and stability issue.

Ichikowitz concluded, ‘Young Africans understand something many policymakers still overlook – prosperity is one of the most powerful forms of security. For them, unemployment and poverty are not simply economic challenges. They are security challenges. They are governance challenges. They are stability challenges. This finding should reshape how we think about security policy.’

A Sharply Varied Continental Picture

The country-level picture is sharply varied. Rwanda records the strongest confidence in national direction, with 91% saying the country is moving in the right direction, as well as the highest safety figure, with 99% saying they feel safe. Somalia is one of the survey’s most striking positive-surprise stories, with 82% saying Somalia is moving in the right direction, 79% saying the national economy is moving in the right direction and 89% saying they are optimistic or excited about the future of their country.

Ghana, Ethiopia and Zambia record major rebounds in confidence since 2024. By contrast, youth in Kenya, South Africa, Mozambique, Chad and Nigeria are among the most pessimistic about national direction, the economy, security or the wider global outlook. Kenya and South Africa are also among the most negative about Africa’s direction overall, with 70% of Kenyan youth and 69% of South African youth saying the continent is moving in the wrong direction.

The 2026 African Youth Survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews in Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Further Key African Youth Survey 2026 Data:

– 60% say their country should build strong alliances with one or two major global powers to secure long-term benefits, while 37% prefer neutrality.

– When choosing international allies, 43% prioritise infrastructure and economic investment, followed by respect for natural resources at 39%, democratic values and human rights at 34%, sovereignty and non-interference at 34%, technology transfer at 30% and military and security support at 29%.

– 72% are concerned about asylum and immigration, while 57% are satisfied with their government’s efforts to limit illegal immigration.

– 80% worry about human trafficking, 79% about the smuggling of drugs or weapons and 78% about armed groups crossing borders.

– Concern about illegal migration is highest in Ghana at 91%, Mozambique at 90% and Liberia and South Africa at 88%.

– 68% believe their country would be better governed if more women held senior positions in government, while 65% support reserving a set number of government positions for women.

– Only 22% are familiar with AfCFTA, but among those familiar with it, 69% are optimistic about its economic impact.

– 80% agree that the UN Security Council needs to be reformed to include permanent African representation.

A full copy of the report can be downloaded here.

AFRICA PR AND COMMUNICATIONS REPORT
https://africaprreport.com

New Gen Awards Welcome WesBank As Headline Sponsor

Modern Marketing

August 21, 2026

WesBank Returns As Headline Sponsor For 2026 New Generation Awards

The New Generation Awards stand as South Africa’s independent recognition platform for social-first marketing, digital innovation, AI, and creative technology. For the second consecutive year, WesBank has renewed its partnership as the Headline Partner for the 2026 New Generation Social & Digital Media Awards.

The collaboration underscores WesBank’s commitment to driving progressive growth by celebrating digital innovation, strategic excellence, and creative bravery across South Africa’s marketing landscape. Together, this continued partnership promises to elevate the 2026 event experience to unprecedented heights. To celebrate the partnership, the awards will be rebranded as The WesBank New Generation Awards through May 2027.

‘We are thrilled to team up with WesBank once again,’ said Stephen Paxton, Founder of the New Generation Awards. Over 14 game-changing years, the New Generation Awards have grown from a bold concept into the undisputed springboard for South Africa’s most fearless digital trailblazers. We serve as the crucible where emerging talent proves its mettle, legacy brands reinvent themselves, and social-first creativity transforms into tangible market authority. WesBank’s 50-year track record of adaptability perfectly mirrors our mission: honouring those who challenge norms and drive real impact. This collaboration reinforces our shared commitment to empowering the next generation of marketers, creatives, and digital leaders.

‘At WesBank, we believe progress is driven by people and ideas that challenge convention and create meaningful impact’, said Lebogang Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank, ‘The New Generation Awards shine a spotlight on the marketers, creators, innovators, and businesses shaping South Africa’s digital future through bold thinking and strategic execution. We’re proud to renew our partnership and help celebrate the individuals and organisations setting new benchmarks for innovation, customer engagement, and digital excellence.’

WesBank has sponsored the following 15 categories:
– Best Social Media Reach from an Event / Activation.
– Best Community Engagement Campaign by a Corporate.
– Excellence in Content Marketing by a Corporate.
– Best Online PR Campaign by a Corporate.
– Best Integrated Marketing Campaign by a Corporate.
– Most Viral Campaign by a Corporate.
– Best Use of Social Media to Research & Evaluate.
– Best CRM Strategy Campaign by a Corporate.
– Best Use of Technical Innovation by an Agency.
– Best Use of AI in Marketing Campaign by an Agency.
– Best Marketing Automation Campaign.
– The Black Onyx Best Customer Experience CX Campaign of the Year.
– The Black Onyx Digital Brand of the Year.
– The Black Onyx Online Strategy of the Year.
– The Black Onyx Social & Digital Corporate of the Year.

For 14 years, New Gen has benchmarked industry excellence, processing over 6,500 entries across corporate, agency, and emerging talent spaces, and awarding more than 1,700 trophies to the campaigns defining our digital future. To win at New Gen isn’t just to take home a trophy, it is to set the industry’s new baseline for digital excellence.

Across 60 specialised categories, New Gen celebrate the visionaries who seamlessly blend human connection with advanced tech. New Gen highlight the strategists redefining modern brands, driving deep cultural relevance, and unlocking unprecedented ROI through disruptive creative strategy. Modern Marketing is proud to serve as the official media partner for the awards.

The 2026 Awards Gala marks a bold new era for the New Gen legacy. New Gen have refined every detail to create a sleeker, sharper, and more impactful ceremony that honours the pace of the digital world. New Gen is shedding the traditional to embrace the dynamic, creating a stage dedicated to the work and people behind it. Mark your calendars for September 23 at NH Sandton, in their newly transformed event space, which is set to become one of Sandton’s most talked-about event destinations. This is the night Johannesburg witnesses the pinnacle of South African digital achievement.

The official 2026 WesBank New Generation Awards finalists will be announced on Wednesday 26 August, via Modern Marketing.

For more information and to book seats to attend this year’s awards gala ceremony, click here.

WESBANK NEW GENERATION AWARDS
www.newgenawards.co.za

How The Women At OFYT Shape What Gets Made

Modern Marketing

August 20, 2026

How The Women At OFYT Shape What Gets Made — Aakifah Rodrigues and Louise Newman (top) with Caitlin Wood and Chanelle Mac Allister, OFYT.

In the spirit of celebrating Women’s month, OFYT (Old Friends Young Talent) is highlighting the women behind the agency’s creative, PR, social media and marketing work, and the influence they have in shaping the future of brand storytelling.

At OFYT, they are known as the women in SPAM, a playful shorthand for the women working across social media, PR, advertising and marketing, an acknowledgement that so much of the thinking, shaping and doing inside the agency is being driven by women across every discipline.

This is less about counting the women in the room and more about recognising the influence they have in it. Women at OFYT are not sitting on the sidelines of the work; they are in it from the very beginning, helping shape what gets made, how it lands, and why it matters.

That perspective carries through to the agency’s approach to brand storytelling, creating work that doesn’t just seek an audience, but feels considered, work that understands people first and platforms second.

Louise Newman is one of the women driving this thinking. While her role spans across Copywriter and Creative Director, she is, at her core, a storyteller. Her recent work on the Satrix account showed how financial education doesn’t have to feel intimidating. Through sharp writing and an instinctive understanding of her audience, she helped encourage a new generation to think differently about their financial future without ever talking down to them. When she’s not working on Satrix, she can be found creating for Kia South Africa, Remax, and The Crazy Store.

Then there is Aakifah Rodrigues, one of OFYT’s longest friends, having been part of the agency for more than a decade. Her journey from intern to Senior Designer to Creative Director is not just a title progression; it reflects what happens when you give people room to grow beyond a single lane. She brings a deep cultural instinct to her work, and an ability to read the consumer in a way that often can’t be taught.

She and Newman can often be heard agreeing with one another in a way that sounds suspiciously like disagreeing, particularly when debating which Kia tagline lands hardest, or which angle to take for Vida e Caffè’s latest campaign. Because they know that the best work is rarely shaped by one point of view. It comes from conversation, different perspectives and people who care enough to keep working at an idea until it feels right.

That same mix of instinct and experience sits at the heart of the agency’s PR and influence offering, led by head of department, Chanelle Mac Allister. With more than 10 years in the industry, Chanelle has become the go-to when brands need to land in the real world, and not just on paper. She has helped steer work across Woolworths Food and Home, Woolworths Fashion and Beauty, ASICS South Africa and G-Star RAW. What defines her approach is an understanding that visibility alone is not influence.

Internally, she is known as OFYT’s fixer, but that undersells it. She is often the one holding the moving parts together, translating between clients, creators and culture and making sure the work actually connects.

In today’s landscape, a brand’s reputation is often shaped in the scroll of a feed. Caitlin Wood, OFYT’s head of social media, leads the teams behind brands including Skin Republic, GloPotion, The Crazy Store and Durbanville Hills Wines. Her role is to understand what each community cares about and give every brand a voice people want to hear from. Rumour has it she also types more than 100 words a minute, which undoubtedly helps.

Together, these women show that influence inside Old Friends Young Talent is not limited. It lives in the decisions made, in the strategy, the conversations, the instincts, the timing, and the care taken to make sure ideas resonate.

And just as importantly, that influence is being passed on. OFYT’s intern programme, which has a 90% conversion rate into full-time roles, has become one of the most tangible ways the agency is shaping the next generation of talent. Many of those interns are young women stepping into the industry for the first time, learning not just how to do the work, but how to trust their voice inside it. They are not being shaped into a mould; they are being given space to find their own.

Supporting women in the industry, then, has to go beyond the language of empowerment, especially during Women’s Month. It means giving them room to grow across disciplines, to lead, to challenge, and to shape the culture of the organisations they are part of.

Women at Old Friends Young Talent are not just part of the future of brand storytelling, they are the ones writing it.

C1W Initiative

Change 1 Woman (C1W) aims to empower women in the branding, print and signage industries. As part of this initiative, Modern Marketing would like to spotlight women-focused content like this piece. If you have any trend/business articles related to the signage, branding and printing industries, please email content to: info@c1w.co.za. Follow C1W on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.

OFYT
www.ofyt.co.za

Beyond the Prompt: The AI-Powered Business

Modern Marketing

August 20, 2026

Beyond the Prompt- The AI-Powered Business

AI is moving far beyond writing copy and generating images. It is becoming a powerful marketing engine capable of researching markets, uncovering customer insights, developing strategy, creating campaigns, producing images and video, personalising content and automating marketing workflows.

In this practical session, which will be held during the free-to-attend Modern Marketing Power Hour, Gerald Yapp, Creative Director, In-Detail Advertising demonstrates how marketers and businesses can move beyond basic prompting and put AI to work across the entire marketing process.

Through real-world examples, discover how AI can turn one idea into an integrated campaign, create personalised marketing at scale, uncover opportunities in customer data and dramatically expand what businesses can produce with existing resources.

Topic: Beyond the Prompt: The AI-Powered Business
Wednesday, 9 September 2026, 10:00-11:00

The future isn’t about better prompts. It’s about building smarter, AI-powered businesses. Book your free slot here.

The event is taking place at the Modern Marketing Expo. The sessions will be held on the Balcony in Hall 3 at Gallagher Convention Centre.

MODERN MARKETING EXPO
+27 11 568 1894
https://modernmarketingexpo.co.za

Coaching Business Launched To Enhance Organisational Performance

Modern Marketing

August 19, 2026

Coaching Business Launched To Enhance Organisational Performance — Lynn Madeley and Beverley Jones, HPM.

High Performance Matters (HPM) has been launched to help leaders turn strategy into operating reality. Across industries, business leaders are under pressure to deliver growth, manage change, integrate new technologies and improve performance, often all at once.

Yet many organisations are discovering that the real challenge is not a lack of ambition or strategy but rather making that change land across strategy, people, processes, systems and everyday decision-making. That execution gap is the space High Performance Matters is entering.

Founded by Lynn Madeley and Beverley Jones, HPM has launched as a founder-led consulting and executive coaching business built to help leadership teams move beyond strategy decks, fragmented advice and short-term fixes and embed the operating changes needed to improve performance.

With more than two decades of senior leadership experience across some of Africa’s largest marketing, communications and business environments, Madeley and Jones say the same pattern keeps appearing inside organisations: businesses fail because no one stays close enough, for long enough, to make the strategy real.

Lynn Madeley, co-founder and CEO of HPM, said, ‘HPM was created because too many leaders are expected to solve complex business problems with fragmented support. Strategy, people, process and systems cannot be treated as separate conversations. If one of them is misaligned, performance suffers. Our role is to work alongside leadership teams to diagnose what is really getting in the way, fix it with them, and help the change land.’

HPM launches at a time when AI is forcing organisations to confront exactly these kinds of operational questions. Many businesses are experimenting with new tools, but the harder work lies in clarifying roles, decision rights, data flows, accountability and team habits. Without that, AI risks becoming another layer of complexity rather than a driver of better performance.

Beverley Jones, co-founder and COO of HPM, said, ‘Every leadership team we speak to is wrestling with the same question: how do we actually integrate AI into how we operate, not just bolt it onto what we already do? That is an operational and human challenge before it is a technology challenge. It requires structure, discipline, trust and hands-on implementation.’

HPM’s model brings together consulting, fractional leadership and executive coaching, with a focus on partnership rather than prescription. The business works with CEOs, CMOs, managing directors and leadership teams across South Africa and the broader African region, helping them improve performance in ways that are human-centred and sustainable.

Its approach is deliberately practical. HPM works inside a business to understand what is happening beneath the surface, identify the few performance levers that matter most, and help teams build the systems and behaviours needed to sustain improvement.

Madeley describes it as a ‘Mary Poppins approach’, ‘We arrive when things need sorting out. We are kind, but we are firm. We do not disappear the moment it gets uncomfortable, and we do not leave behind a report that nobody has the capacity to implement. We stay close enough to the work to help the new way of operating become habit. Then, and only then, do we leave.’

That emphasis on measurement and accountability is central to the business. HPM uses data to help leadership teams define what success should look like, track whether change is happening, and ensure that performance improvement is visible and repeatable.

‘What gets measured gets done, but the measurement has to be meaningful. We help teams focus on the numbers that actually matter, not dashboards that create noise without changing behaviour.’

Joining Madeley and Jones is Grant Lapping, a specialist partner in digital media, data and technology, with two decades of experience across agencies, clients and publishers. His expertise strengthens HPM’s ability to help clients navigate increasingly complex performance ecosystems where media, data, technology and commercial decisions are now deeply connected.

Lapping added, ‘Media, data and technology decisions are no longer narrow specialist decisions. They are business decisions. Grant brings a critical lens to that part of our work, particularly where clients need to make better sense of complexity, efficiency and measurable performance.’

The business is also fortunate to be including Andrea Bottega as its financial and commercial partner. Bottega has significant experience in the marcom space, having worked with several holding companies in his career across audit, tax and advisory. As a chartered accountant and registered auditor, his expertise strengthens HPM’s ability to help clients build the financial rigour, governance and commercial clarity need to translate strategy into measurable results.

‘Financial performance is where strategy either lands or unravels. My role is to help leadership teams see the numbers clearly, strengthen the operating disciplines behind them and make sure the decisions being taken today build a business that is stronger, more resilient and worth more tomorrow.’

For HPM, the business is about changing the way leaders are supported through periods of pressure, transition and reinvention.

HIGH PERFORMANCE MATTERS
https://highperformancematters.com

Students Challenged To Showcase Marketing Talent Ahead Of Nedbank IMC

Modern Marketing

August 19, 2026

Students Challenged To Showcase Marketing Talent Ahead Of Nedbank IMC — Gugu Mthembu, Telkom; Prof. Rene Benecke, University of Johannesburg and Dale Hefer, Nedbank IMC.

Student campaign concepts will be showcased to the broader industry at the Nedbank IMC 2026. University of Johannesburg (UJ) students are stepping into real-world marketing, tackling a live commercial brief for Plug’d by Telkom.

The initiative, a collaboration between Plug’d by Telkom and the Nedbank IMC, is built around the ‘Turn Connection into Opportunity’ challenge. Students are tasked with answering a critical question: how can Plug’d by Telkom empower young South Africans to translate connectivity into tangible opportunities?

The challenge brings together students from Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Communication, with Graphic Design students encouraged to form part of multidisciplinary teams. Participants will work in teams of three to five to develop integrated campaign concepts.

All entries will be submitted ahead of the conference, showcased on a public platform, and evaluated by an official judging panel. The top five finalist teams will attend the Nedbank IMC 2026, where the winning campaign will be announced live on 17 September. The winning team will be recognised on the main stage and awarded a R10,000 cash prize.

Hosted at Mosaïek Teatro in Johannesburg and online, the Nedbank IMC is Africa’s Biggest Marketing Conference™. Under this year’s theme, SHIFT HAPPENS™. ARE YOU READY? The conference will bring together marketers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, agencies and innovators to explore how organisations can remain relevant and competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

A key highlight of the programme is a dedicated youth panel focused on critical issues such as affordability, access to skills, mentorship and employability. The discussion forms part of both the IMC programme and the broader YOUTH1000 initiative in partnership with the Marketing Association of South Africa (MASA), which extends virtual conference access to young people through participating MASA patrons.

Telkom Chief Marketing Officer, Gugu Mthembu, who will be the facilitator of the panel, said, ‘Young people are one of Telkom’s most important growth audiences, and we believe connectivity should be a gateway to possibility. Through Plug’d, Telkom has created an exclusive digital platform and mobile offering for South Africans aged 18 to 24, providing affordable data, lifestyle benefits, learning resources and job-seeker support to help young people stay connected and unlock opportunities. This partnership reflects our belief that the future should be built with young people, not for them, by giving their ideas, ambitions and solutions a meaningful seat at the table while advancing Telkom’s purpose of connecting South Africans to a world of possibilities.’

Dale Hefer, CEO of the Nedbank IMC, says the initiative underscores the conference’s commitment to developing emerging talent, ‘The industry cannot continue to speak about young people without creating meaningful opportunities for participation. This challenge gives UJ students a real commercial brief, valuable industry exposure and a platform to showcase their thinking. Our ambition is to evolve this into a sustainable, annual opportunity for emerging marketing talent.’

Prof Rene Benecke, Head of School of Communication at the University of Johannesburg, says, ‘This competition gives our students a valuable opportunity to apply their knowledge to a real-world industry challenge, while demonstrating the strategic thinking, creativity and fresh perspectives that young South Africans can bring to the marketing industry.’

The partners believe the initiative has the potential to evolve into a long-term platform connecting academia, young talent and the marketing industry.

Tickets are available here.

Nedbank IMC
www.imcconference.com

IPendoring Awards Announce Jury President For 2026 Awards Programme

Modern Marketing

August 19, 2026

IPendoring Awards Announce Jury President For 2026 Awards Programme — Thembalethu Msibi, BlackSwan.

With a career spanning nearly two decades, Thembalethu Msibi, Co-Founder and Creative Partner of BlackSwan has built a reputation for creating work that is culturally rooted, strategically sharp and emotionally resonant. The iPendoring Awards has announced Msibi as Jury President for the 2026 awards programme, placing one of South Africa’s most respected purpose-driven creative leaders at the helm of this year’s adjudication process.

Through BlackSwan, she has led through-the-line campaigns for brands including Telkom, KFC, Absa, Clicks, South African Airways and the Joburg Film Festival, while helping establish the agency as one of the country’s most influential independent creative businesses.

Her appointment comes at an important moment in the 2026 awards programme, as entries remain open until 28 August 2026 and the industry continues to submit work that celebrates the depth and diversity of South African creativity.

‘Thembalethu brings a fresh perspective to this year’s adjudication and is a natural fit to lead the jury. She understands that language carries culture, context and connection, which is exactly what iPendoring exists to celebrate,’ said iPendoring General Manager Eben Keun.

Msibi has served as a judge at the Loeries, iPendoring and Effie Awards, and has held leadership roles including membership of the Creative Circle EXCO and the ABInBev Braintrust. Her experience spans integrated campaigns, brand design, live activations and sponsorship, giving her a broad understanding of how ideas connect with audiences across platforms and communities.

Speaking about the role, Msibi said, ‘The strongest creative work understands people beyond the brief. When communication is shaped by lived experience, it becomes more honest, more nuanced and more powerful. iPendoring plays an important role in recognising ideas that are not simply translated into indigenous languages, but conceived and felt within them.’

This year’s judging panel brings together leading creatives, strategists, designers, writers and storytellers from across South Africa’s advertising and communications industry. The judges will evaluate entries through a digital adjudication process, with formal judging taking place in Johannesburg on 3 and 4 September 2026.

Entries for the 2026 iPendoring Awards are now open and will close on 28 August 2026, with the awards ceremony taking place in November 2026.

For more information and entry details, click here.

PENDORING
www.pendoring.co.za

1...678...445 Page 7 of 445