EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

Ipsos names Natalie Otte as new Country Manager for the SA market

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2026

Otte joins from Kantar, where she most recently served as Chief Client & Commercial Officer for the Insights Division in South Africa.

Market research company Ipsos has appointed Natalie Otte as Country Manager for South Africa, effective from 1 February 2026. She will report to Nick Coates, CEO for sub-Saharan Africa at Ipsos.

Otte joins Ipsos from Kantar, where she most recently served as Chief Client & Commercial Officer for Kantar’s Insights Division in South Africa. She held the position since 2019, managing major brand portfolios and driving growth strategies for clients across the African continent.

Natalie Otte. Photo: LinkedIn

“We are delighted to welcome Natalie to the Ipsos family,” states Coates. “Having led the South African business myself for over five years before taking on the regional role, I know firsthand the importance of having a leader who deeply understands both the local market dynamics and our clients’ evolving needs.

“Natalie’s exceptional track record of helping brands achieve profitable growth through data-driven insights, combined with her proven leadership capabilities, will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our position.”

Career at Kantar Millward Brown

Otte also served as CEO of Kantar Millward Brown South Africa from 2016-2018, where she led teams delivering brand health tracking, media evaluation and communication testing for major clients.

“Her 21-year tenure at Kantar Millward Brown, rising from Junior Research Executive to CEO, demonstrates her comprehensive understanding of the research industry at every level,” Ipsos says in a press release.

Comments Otte: “I’m thrilled to join Ipsos at such an exciting time for the market research industry in South Africa and across Africa.

“Ipsos’ global reach, innovative methodologies, and commitment to delivering insights that drive real business impact presents an incredible opportunity.”

Otte holds a BCom Marketing with Honours from the University of Pretoria. She brings additional perspective from her early career experience across the IT, automotive and security sectors.

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