
AI won’t replace market research. But it will expose weak strategy
Much of the broader conversation around AI in market research assumes conditions that do not consistently exist across many African markets, writes Soyinka Witness.
SALES TALENT
By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2024
Gia Conte leverages industry experience to become Head of Sales: Malls for the out-of-home company’s South African operations
Out-of-home media company, JCDecaux South Africa, has announced the appointment of Gia Conte as Head of Sales: Malls. The appointment became effective on 1 July.
Gia Conte. Photo: JCDecaux
In her new role, Conte will report to Sales Director, Archie Masebe. Masebe is also a newcomer to the business, having taken up his role in June 2024.
“Gia joins the team with a wealth of experience and expertise in the out-of-home advertising industry, bringing a deep understanding of the communication needs of leading SA brands, comprehensive research and insights, and a proven track record in sales and agency roles,” the company says in a media statement.
She was most recently Senior Out-of-Home (OOH) Specialist at GroupM South Africa, where she was responsible for managing key accounts such as Coca-Cola, Netflix, Ford and Telesure.
Ability to drive strategy and implementation
Her role included integrated media strategy, OOH innovation ideation and implementation, and bridging communication and insights between clients, media and creative agencies. Her strategic acumen and ability to drive OOH strategy and implementation have been instrumental in delivering successful campaigns for her clients, JCDecaux says.
Prior to joining GroupM, Conte served as a business partner at Dentsu, where she spearheaded Vodacom’s cross-media strategy. Her role encompassed crafting an integrated multichannel media strategy to drive sales performance and meet various communication objectives.
Her expertise extended to providing insights to optimise media verticals and budgets through data-centric and research-driven analyses.
“We are excited to welcome Gia Conte to our team,” says Masebe. “Her proven track record of success in mall advertising, extensive understanding of the retail landscape and strategic mindset, coupled with extensive experience in media, sales and agency roles, will be pivotal in driving our mall advertising growth initiatives.”

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