In a competitive marketplace, the appeal of a specific product, service, or organisation often stems from meticulous brand crafting. While some consumers are drawn to a brand’s name or logo, others may be captivated by its slogan or colour scheme. These elements resonate because they engage the customer’s senses and emotions—a concept at the heart of brand storytelling.
Brand storytelling is essential for shaping consumer behaviour and driving business success. Therefore, it transcends mere marketing. It involves creating a distinct product, service, or company identity through compelling narratives. These narratives, crafted by brands and communications experts, engage the cognitive regions of the brain associated with memory, emotions, and decision-making, thereby distinguishing a brand and earning consumer loyalty and respect.
Branding is more than just creating narratives; it is about achieving strategic objectives. Thus, the role of brand and communications experts is crucial in leading teams to develop stories that underscore a brand’s core value, mission, and unique attributes. This fosters emotional connections and loyalty among customers. The overarching aim is to retain existing clientele while attracting new customers, ensuring the brand remains focused and goal-oriented.
Africa is home to many globally recognised brands and communications experts who meticulously craft compelling narratives for diverse products, institutions, and services. These strategists have refined their skills over the years, benefiting the businesses they represent while strengthening the African economy. These professionals exemplify the pinnacle of brand strategy, shaping the future of multinational enterprises across the continent. Here is a list of some distinguished female brand and communications experts behind the top multinational companies in Africa: Top female brand experts driving multinational success in Africa.
1# Folake Ani-Mumuney (First Bank Plc.)
Folake Ani-Mumuney is the Global Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications for First Bank Plc. She is an accomplished marketer and communicator who manages FirstBank’s dynamic marketing and corporate communications team. This role demands innovation and strategic insight for one of Nigeria’s tier-1 bank brands. Previously, she served as Chief Marketing and Communication Officer for Dangote Group, Africa’s largest conglomerate, and earlier oversaw Brand, Policy, and Communications for British Airways across Europe and Africa.
With a solid academic background in Philosophy and Law and a Diploma in Business Computing Systems Analysis and Design, Ani-Mumuney is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of her field.
She is the President of the Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), an Honorary Member of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, and a member of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Marketing and the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria. She provides strategic advice to various organisations on marketing and communication.
A Harvard Business School alumna, Folake also serves on several private sector and NGO boards, where she applies her expertise in strategy and marketing communications.
2# Thoko Moyo (Mastercard Foundation)
Thoko Moyo is the newly appointed Senior Director of Corporate Communications at the Mastercard Foundation. She assumed office in November 2024. Before this role, she served as Communications Lead at the World Bank, Director of Global Communications at The Ford Foundation, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where she established herself as a communications expert. Moyo has extensive experience advising C-suite executives and high-profile individuals across Africa, Europe, and the United States. Her expertise spans corporate governance, having served on boards of private and publicly listed companies and trusteeships for global non-profit organisations.
Moyo’s academic background includes degrees from Harvard University and the University of Zimbabwe. She has also contributed as a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business.
A proud African, Moyo has been a thought leader in shifting narratives about the continent. During her tenure at the Ford Foundation in New York, her early research and ideas laid the groundwork for creating Africa No Filter, an initiative focused on challenging harmful stereotypes about Africa.
3# Annaleigh Vallie (Nedbank)
Annaleigh Vallie serves as the Executive Head of Integrated Communication at Nedbank, where she leads efforts to shape the bank’s public image, foster client trust, and ensure consistent messaging across various channels. With a strategic approach, Vallie oversees Nedbank’s brand and crisis communications, positioning the bank as a leader in transparency and client engagement within South Africa’s financial landscape.
Before joining Nedbank, Vallie was the Group Communication Manager at Massmart, where she honed her expertise in corporate communications, media relations, and brand storytelling. Her diverse skills include copywriting, social media strategy, and journalism, which she developed through over a decade of experience in corporate and financial communications.
A graduate of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Vallie brings a nuanced understanding of South Africa’s social and economic context to her role. Her leadership is pivotal in aligning Nedbank’s communications with its commitment to customer-centricity and social responsibility, enhancing the bank’s reputation and impact in the communities it serves.
4# Amaka Onyemelukwe – Senior Director, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability (The Coca-Cola Company).
Amaka Onyemelukwe is the Senior Director of Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability at The Coca-Cola Company (TCC). She is a distinguished public policy expert and sustainability professional with extensive experience driving business growth, managing challenging operational environments, and fostering sustainable communities aligning with corporate objectives.
Onyemelukwe joined TCC in 2017 as Head of Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability, where she laid the foundation for a robust public policy strategy, effective stakeholder engagement, and impactful sustainability programs in Nigeria. Her contributions and leadership led to her promotion as Director in the same department before ascending to her current role as Senior Director. She has consistently driven initiatives that create shared value for both the company and the communities it serves.
Before her tenure at TCC, Onyemelukwe worked with Philip Morris International as Manager of Corporate Affairs. In that role, she specialised in relationship-building with governments and public bodies, regulatory strategy development, and managing internal and external communications.
Her career growth highlights her expertise in bridging corporate goals with societal needs, fostering partnerships, and ensuring business success is aligned with sustainability and community impact.
5# Jennifer Lowney – Global Head of Communications at Citi Bank Group. (Citi Bank)
Jennifer Lowney is the Global Head of Communications at Citi, a United States-based financial institution in more than ten African countries.
Lowney assumed her role as Global Head of Communication in 2022. She oversees the bank’s reputation and messaging across nearly 100 countries and manages a team of 300 professionals. Her responsibilities include shaping communications strategies for significant organisational changes and executive positioning, notably for CEO Jane Fraser.
Lowney has been with Citi since 2014, holding corporate and business communications leadership positions before her current role. Her prior experience includes working with high-profile companies at Brunswick Group and Hill & Knowlton, where she supported significant IPOs (e.g., Visa and Facebook), corporate transactions, and high-stakes reorganisations like Enron and MCI/WorldCom. She is also a member of the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations Board of Advisors.
6# Tolu Alero Ladipo (UBA)
Tolu Alero Ladipo is the Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, one of Nigeria’s leading commercial banks. The bank is a prominent member of the FUGAZ, an acronym for Nigeria’s top five commercial banks- the First Bank, UBA, Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank, and Zenith Bank.
Her academic journey began in 2001 when she earned her first degree in Law from the University of Northumbria, Newcastle (UK). By the following year, she had furthered her education with a Master of Law (LLM) in International Trade at the University of Essex, Colchester.
As the Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at UBA Group, Tolu is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive marketing and communications strategies. She ensures these strategies align with the bank’s goals and are effectively executed across various communication channels. Her work encompasses many responsibilities, including brand management, public relations, and digital marketing. Under her leadership, UBA’s marketing initiatives have significantly enhanced the bank’s visibility and reputation in the highly competitive banking sector.
Tolu’s innovative approach and dedication to excellence have driven the success of UBA’s marketing campaigns and established it as a key figure in the financial industry. Her ability to craft compelling narratives and her strategic oversight have fostered strong customer relationships and promoted the bank’s diverse financial products and services.
Her wealth of experience as one of Africa’s female brand experts spans nearly two decades, during which time she worked across multiple banks within and outside Nigeria.
7# Ginikanwa Frank-Durugbor (Lafarge Africa Plc)
Ginikanwa Frank-Durugbor is one of Africa’s top female brand experts. She is the Head of Corporate Communications at Lafarge Africa Plc, part of the Holcim group renowned for its innovative and sustainable building solutions. With an M.Sc in Media and Communications from Pan Atlantic University and a B.A. in Foreign Languages and Literature from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ginikanwa brings 18 years of industry expertise to her role.
Her responsibilities at Lafarge Africa are extensive, including corporate communications, strategic internal and digital communications, brand management, content development, media management, and public relations. Her expertise in digital communications is particularly noteworthy, as she leverages modern platforms to enhance the company’s outreach and engagement. Her ability to develop and implement robust communication plans has fortified Lafarge Africa’s position in the market, promoting its commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Ginikanwa excels in change communications and skillfully manages projects involving cross-functional and global teams. Her strategic vision and effective communication strategies have strengthened the company’s brand and contributed significantly to its success in the competitive building solutions industry.
8# Shamiela Letsoalo (Naspers)
Shamiela Letsoalo is the Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Naspers Ltd, a prominent South African multinational internet, technology, and multimedia holding company headquartered in Cape Town. Naspers Ltd. is interested in online retail, publishing, and venture capital investments. Letsoalo is one of Africa’s top female brand experts.
Since the early 1990s, Shamiela has pursued multiple diplomas in marketing, public relations, and business administration from prestigious institutions in South Africa. In 2023, she earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management.
With a nearly two-decades-long career, Shamiela has established herself among the leading female brand experts in marketing and communications. She has held key roles at global mining giants such as Exxaro, Glencore, and Anglo-American. Shamiela thrives in managing corporate reputation and possesses extensive expertise in marketing communications, external communications, brand development, media relations, issues management, public relations, social and digital media, advertising, sponsorship, employee branding, and internal communications.
