Ad agency VML South Africa makes two senior leadership appointments

Stiles, who takes over the role of COO from fellow co-founder Diane Wilson, has been a leader in the business since its founding. She was most recently Group Managing Director at VML South Africa. 

Khan previously held the position of Chief Growth Officer, where she spearheaded new business for the agency.  

“Insaaf brings a wealth of experience building powerful relationships with clients to this role. There is no-one I know who cares more and who works harder to give clients a Michelin-star experience, and I am delighted she has agreed to move into this new role,” says Jarred Cinman, Chief Executive Officer at VML South Africa. 

Of Stiles, he adds: “Danelle is one of the strongest, smartest and most resilient people I know, and I couldn’t be more excited for her to take this big next step in her career. She and I have partnered closely for two decades on the various iterations of this business, and I know better than most the dedication and experience she will bring to this role.” 

VML is the result of four advertising agency mergers over the past two years – first Wunderman Thompson with VMLY&R, then with Grey and The Hardy Boys. 

“It’s no secret that this has been a complicated process that is requiring a big reinvention of the organisation. The impact of artificial intelligence is also fundamentally challenging the way the industry operates and VML is adapting to these changes to create new opportunities,” the agency says in a statement.