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Online search behaviour has changed significantly with the rise of AI. How can African brands adapt to this new marketing landscape?
MARKETING APPOINTMENTS
By our News Team | 2022
Marketer with experience building the QSR brand in the UK, Netherlands, Sweden and Iceland comes full circle to his African roots.
KFC Africa has announced the appointment of Grant Macpherson as its Chief Marketing Officer. The SA-born marketer joined the QSR brand in 2013 as Marketing Manager for KFC UK, where he led several portfolios across retail, brand and innovation.
In 2015, he moved to KFC Netherlands to lead the marketing function across that country, as well as Iceland and Sweden.
Following his successful tenure with the brand in the UK and Europe, Macpherson returned to South Africa in 2018 and has been at the forefront of driving branded retail for KFC, the company says in a media statement.
Photo by Hello I’m Nik on Unsplash
During this time, he helped to navigate the brand through the pandemic, enabling it to continue to drive sales momentum, grow market share and elevate its leadership position.
Macpherson then assumed the role of Marketing Director, Brand Communication and Purpose, where he led KFC’s focus on ‘taste’, resulting in the recent industry award-winning ‘Taste Guarantee’ and ‘Taste Inspector’ campaigns. During this time, KFC South Africa was also voted ‘Coolest Brand that Cares’.
Brand continues to grow across Africa
“It is certainly an exciting time to be part of the brand as we continue to define our recipe for growth and good, ensuring we remain South Africa’s favourite QSR brand and continue to grow across the African continent,” says Macpherson.
Adds Dhruv Kaul, General Manager for KFC Africa: “We are proud to welcome Grant to the KFC Africa leadership team. We pride ourselves in understanding the different skills needed to deliver on our business goals, successfully, and while Grant’s experience and record speak for themselves, it is his approach to people and leadership that makes him such a natural fit for this role.
“We look forward to seeing him continue to lead our marketing and make a distinctive mark.”
The year 2021 marked 50 years since the KFC brand was introduced to South Africa. Since then, it has expanded into many other parts of Africa. According to The Africa Report, KFC has a presence in 25 countries on the continent, with more than 1 300 franchises.

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