Ogilvy appoints creative head of its sub-Saharan Africa network

“We are really excited to welcome Delna as our new Chief Creative Officer for Africa,” says Ogilvy EMEA’s Stephan Vogel. “She has led dozens of innovative, exciting campaigns, and been recognised with a slew of industry-leading awards. We look forward to working with Delna, learning from her across clients and across our business.”

The role is a newly created position at Ogilvy Africa, as the agency gears towards further strengthening its position in the region.

A rare breed of ambidextrous creative

“Delna’s cross-functional experiences as a creative leader make her a rare breed of ambidextrous creatives who’s created successes playing at the intersections of marketing disciplines. She’s a valuable addition to our leadership team as we continue building world-class solutions which are made in Africa. [I am] delighted to welcome her as my creative partner in this journey,” says Vikas Mehta, CEO of Ogilvy Africa.

Sethna served as Executive Creative Director at WPP/Redfuse, where – among her other successes – she helped successfully relaunch the Palmolive brand to the Indian market.

After working as a filmmaker in the early part of her career, she entered the marketing sphere and rose rapidly through the ranks at several leading agencies. These include Lowe and Saatchi & Saatchi.

Among the creative accolades she has received have been at Cannes, D&AD, the #FemvertisingAwards, Spikes, Kyoorius and the Effies. She has also served on many awards juries and has been listed among the Women Who’ve Changed the Face of Media. She was named among India’s 50 Most Influential Women two years in a row.

“I am thrilled to be embarking on this new challenge at Ogilvy Africa,” says Sethna. “I am passionate about finding creative solutions to help clients achieve their strategic objectives. Being able to do that in a region as dynamic as Africa is a dream come true.”