Maja Pawinska Sims 07 Apr 2020 // 12:00PM GMT
JOHANNESBURG –Weber Shandwick has appointed Ipi Thibedi as the new CEO of its African operations, to replace Jill Hamilton, who has left the business.
Based in Johannesburg, Thibedi has been tasked with developing business and strengthening Weber Shandwick’s multi-market client relationships in Africa, and expanding its growing regional network. The agency currently has offices in Johannesburg and Nairobi and more than 13 partners across Africa.
Thibedi joins from Deloitte Africa, where she was latterly a business leader of the Deloitte Greenhouse Innovation Hub, after joining the consultancy in 2015 as head of external communications and media relations.
She will report to Weber Shandwick EMEA COO, Jonas Palmqvist, who said: “By applying her experience in building teams focused on creative, strategic communications initiatives, Ipi will help us continue to strengthen our African operation as a leading partner for clients in the market.”
Thibedi added: “I have joined Weber Shandwick to help drive an important transformation of this innovative, strategic and creative communications agency,” said Thibedi. “I see opportunity for Weber Shandwick to continue to develop its influence in marketing in Africa by further building and merging data, technology and great storytelling to offer best-in-class, channel agnostic, creative campaigns that drive change.”
Hamilton founded PR firm ZK Public Relations – the first pan-African agency and a Weber Shandwick African affiliate – in Tanzania in 2003. She became Weber Shandwick’s first managing director for Africa in 2010 and was made Africa CEO in 2018.
Based in Johannesburg, Thibedi has been tasked with developing business and strengthening Weber Shandwick’s multi-market client relationships in Africa, and expanding its growing regional network. The agency currently has offices in Johannesburg and Nairobi and more than 13 partners across Africa.
Thibedi joins from Deloitte Africa, where she was latterly a business leader of the Deloitte Greenhouse Innovation Hub, after joining the consultancy in 2015 as head of external communications and media relations.
She will report to Weber Shandwick EMEA COO, Jonas Palmqvist, who said: “By applying her experience in building teams focused on creative, strategic communications initiatives, Ipi will help us continue to strengthen our African operation as a leading partner for clients in the market.”
Thibedi added: “I have joined Weber Shandwick to help drive an important transformation of this innovative, strategic and creative communications agency,” said Thibedi. “I see opportunity for Weber Shandwick to continue to develop its influence in marketing in Africa by further building and merging data, technology and great storytelling to offer best-in-class, channel agnostic, creative campaigns that drive change.”
Hamilton founded PR firm ZK Public Relations – the first pan-African agency and a Weber Shandwick African affiliate – in Tanzania in 2003. She became Weber Shandwick’s first managing director for Africa in 2010 and was made Africa CEO in 2018.
She told PRovoke Media: ''It has been an amazing ten-year journey – starting the agency from scratch to growing into a well-respected pan-Africa communications firm. We have seen significant growth and most importantly built a great team. The talent in Africa is incredible and the possibilities endless. I am certain that the new leadership will take the agency to even greater levels. I am not certain what my ‘next’ will be, but I am excited about the future, whatever this holds – even during these crazy times.”