1985
1985
Matric, St. Boniface Boys High School
Christian Brothers College, Kimberley, where the record begins.
Career & BoardsThe timeline
Thirty years, one line.
36 sourced moments, every career move, board seat, honour, publication and milestone of the journey, from Kimberley in 1985 to the Chancellorship. Filter by thread, or read it whole.
1980s
1990s
1992
1992
BSc Business Administration, cum laude
Marquette University, Milwaukee, with the American Marketing Association award for marketing excellence on graduation.
Honours1993
1993
1993
Brand Management, Colgate-Palmolive
New York, USA and Boksburg, South Africa, the first brand role.
Career & Boards1994
1996
1998
2000s
2000
2002
2002
Founds Brand Leadership Group
The multi-disciplinary branding advisory at the intersection of strategy, creativity and IP law, still CEO today.
Career & Boards2002
2002
2002
“Finding Our Voice”, early keynote era
South African creativity and its relevance; the speaking platform begins.
Writing & Voice2004
2004
First journal publication
“Unchanging Man”, Journal of Marketing, the writing record opens.
Writing & Voice2004
2004
Non-Executive Director, Mercantile Bank
Fifteen years on the bank’s boards, chairing two committees.
Career & Boards2005
2007
2007
Council Member, Durban University of Technology
Academia governance, through 2010.
Career & Boards
2010s
2010
2011
2011
Brand Africa 100 launches
Africa’s Best Brands, research across 28 countries, published every Africa Day. The definitive barometer of brands in Africa.
Career & Boards2011
2012
2012
Boards: WWF, Brand SA, Brand Finance
Non-Executive Director, World Wide Fund for Nature; Trustee, Brand South Africa; Non-Executive Chairman, Africa, Brand Finance plc.
Career & Boards2013
2014
2014
Non-Executive Director, Carrack Holdings
JSE-listed boardroom; chairs the Remuneration Committee, through 2021.
Career & Boards2015
2015
Deputy Chairman, South African Tourism
Destination marketing governance, through 2023.
Career & Boards2015
2015
“Urgency for Made in Africa”
African Independent, and a second New African “100 Most Influential Africans” listing.
Writing & Voice
2020s
2021
2021
Master of Laws (LL.M), Turin / WIPO
Intellectual property law, the third discipline joins strategy and creativity.
Career & Boards2021
2021
AdFocus Lifetime Achievement Award
Financial Mail, for contributions to marketing, branding and communications.
Honours2021
2021
Two book chapters published
In “Africa Bounces Back” (McMillan) and Dinnie’s “Nation Branding” (Routledge).
Writing & Voice2022
2022
PRISA Lifetime Achievement Award
Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa, and MIPAD lists him among the 100 Most Influential Creative People of African Descent.
Honours2022
2022
Trustee, Nedbank WWF Green Trust
With a Non-Executive Directorship at PSI Africa, both to date.
Career & Boards2023
2023
GQ “Industry Icon”
GQ Men of the Year, and Special Recognition at the 7th EMY Africa in Ghana.
Honours2023
2024
2024
Two honorary doctorates
PhD (Honoris Causa) from the University of Johannesburg and UNISA, for exceptional contributions to the industry, branding and Africa.
Honours2024
2024
The Traveller published
“Crossing Borders and Connecting Africa” (Tafelberg), the book of the journey to every African country.
My Journey2024
2024
Keynotes across the continent
“Building Great Homegrown Brands”, “Reclaiming the African Narrative”, “I am Africa” and more.
Writing & Voice2025
2025
“A Dream Deferred: Buy Africa or Perish”
African Business, WEF 2025 Special Edition, with “Building Great African Brands” on the year’s stages.
Writing & Voice2026
2026
Chancellor, Sol Plaatje University
Appointed Chancellor of the university in his home town of Kimberley, the most recent chapter of the record.
Honours2026
2026
Every country in Africa, all 60
Every AU and disputed country, all seven continents, 120 countries, both poles. The journey continues.
My Journey