The board members represent a diversity of sectors — from retail and FMCG to advertising and financial services, says MMA SA.

The group adds that board members hold senior C-Suite or executive positions, and nominees were identified for their alignment to the MMA's mission and for their active involvement in and contribution to the marketing industry in South Africa.

As board members, they will aim to draw on their experience and insight into the industry to drive MMA SA's strategic direction during their two-year tenure. The members will direct the organisation's focus towards productive targets and take on a spectrum of initiatives in the country that aim to strengthen and integrate the marketing industry.

Projects that the board will drive in 2022 include:
  • data maturity
  • brand as a performance research initiative
  • marketing growth frameworks
  • the emergence of Web 3 (a marketer's guide), and 
  • building Africa's most reputable case study hub for digital campaigns, highlighting innovations while outlining campaign effectiveness through their impact on their business.
This is as reported in the annual WARC and MMA partnership for the Business Impact Index (BII) and the SMARTIES.

MMA Sarah Utermark says, "We are excited to work with the talented group of individuals that make up our new board. Understanding the pain points and challenges marketers face today puts MMA SA in a strong position to guide the industry on how to adapt to new technologies, face the data minefield head on and — most importantly — establish consistency in how we measure and attribute marketing spend to successful business results."

Vincent Maher, MMA SA chairperson and the group executive head of digital for the Multichoice Group, adds that the new board will work very closely with MMA SA to shape their contribution to the local marketing industry.

Maher says, "The new board has a great track record of marketing and digital innovation across retail, FMCG, financial institutions, broadcasting, publishing and agencies."

"All members are actively involved in leading marketing and digital transformation in their corporations and industries, and have a wealth of practical experience and insights to contribute, in support of MMA SA objectives," adds Maher.

The board says that it will ensure that relevant MMA global programmes and research studies are leveraged at a local level to benefit and aid marketers to make better business decisions.

The 2022 MMA SA board members are as follows:
  • chairperson: Vincent Maher, group executive head of digital at MultiChoice Group
  • vice-chairperson: Bruno Bertrand, digital commerce marketing director at Estee Lauder Companies
  • chair emeritus: Enver Groenewald, a growth and performance strategy consultant
  • chair emeritus: Luisa Mazinter, chief growth officer at 42Markets
  • Beyers van der Merwe, executive and chief marketing officer at Pep
  • Dudu Mokholo, chief marketing officer at Samsung South Africa 
  • Elizma Nolte, head of marketing at Meta (formally Facebook)
  • Darren Hampton, GM digital marketing at Nandos Africa, India and the Middle East
  • Lunga Ngcime, media and digital hub director at Unilever
  • Heidi Brauer, chief marketing and corporate affairs officer at Hollard Insurance
  • Denvor Daniels, senior manager of mobile advertising at MTN SA
  • Yaron Assabi, CEO at digital solutions group
  • Andrew Kramer, MD at Digital Turbine
  • Audrey Naidoo, head digital marketing at ABSA
  • Sagren Pather, executive head of platforms and channel management at Standard Bank SA
  • Daniel Courtenay, executive head of group digital marketing at MultiChoice Group
  • Raymond Buckle, CEO at Silverstone
  • Rick Joubert, CEO at Yonder
  • James MacDonald, senior business solutions manager at SAS, and
  • Kerry Ho-Van Rensburg, head of marketing at Ignition Group.

The MMA SA concludes that by enlightening, empowering and enabling marketers, it works to propel business growth throughout the industry in an impactful way that will shape future success and strengthen the local marketing industry in South Africa — while leveraging global developments.

For more information, visit www.mmaglobal.com. You can also follow MMA SA on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.