PUBLIC RELATIONS

Pan-African PR group makes internal appointment to fill key role

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2024

Cairo-based Rania El Rafie becomes Vice President of Public Relations and Strategic Communications for APO Group.

Pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, APO Group, has appointed Rania El Rafie as Vice President of Public Relations and Strategic Communications.

El Rafie, an Egyptian, is the first candidate to be promoted to this role from within the company, and the youngest person ever to hold the position.

She joined APO Group as Account Director in 2020 and was promoted to Group Account Director shortly thereafter. In the last three years, she has been responsible for managing the company’s most prestigious accounts, delivering success for both her clients and the company.

“Rania and her team provide a gateway to the media, and are responsible for supporting some of the biggest global organisations operating in Africa today,” APO Group says in a media statement released last week.

Rania El Rafie. Photo Credit: APO Group

Among the group’s clients are FIFA, Canon, Nestlé, TikTok, Jack Ma Foundation, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Marriott, AstraZeneca, European Investment Bank, Afreximbank, Islamic Development Bank, Vertiv, NBA and Basketball Africa League.

A unanimous choice for the position

“Rania’s performance as Group Account Director made her the unanimous choice among the APO Group leadership team when the position of VP of Public Relations and Strategic Communications became available,” the company says.

“In her time at APO Group, she has already played a pivotal role in two award-winning campaigns for Canon Central and North Africa at the PRovoke Africa SABRE Awards, Africa’s leading Public Relations Awards.

“Rania was also heavily involved in further SABRE Award success, thanks to her work with The Jack Ma Foundation and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).”

Prior to joining the APO Group, El Rafie was the Regional Account Director for Ketchum RAAD Middle East Dubai, managing client PR accounts and providing strategic counsel to prominent clients such as Etihad Airways, Nissan, P&G, and CNN.

She also spent five years at J. Walter Thompson PR in Dubai.

MTN reclaims number one spot in Kantar’s SA brand valuation report

Financial and telecom brands dominate the 2026 BrandZ Top 30 study of most valuable brands. Capitec Bank proves a star performer.

Formal international meeting in a large conference room with a U-shaped table and delegates seated on both sides, a speaker at center podium.

Egypt eyes rest of Africa as it strengthens export logistics network

North African country partners with supply chain solutions company DP World to leverage its continent-wide port and logistics network.

Marketing Society of Rwanda joins the African Marketing Confederation

Its aims include developing professional standards and creating opportunities for Rwandan marketers to learn and network.

Trevor Noah in the new tourism campaign

SA tourism destination marketing campaign brings back Trevor Noah

Latest campaign aims to boost international arrivals while highlighting tourism’s contribution to South Africa’s economy and job creation.

Changan auto brand enters Ethiopian market with first dealership

Fast-growing middle class and promotion of electric vehicle adoption presents ‘substantial growth opportunities’ for Chinese brand.

Portrait of a middle-aged man in a black suit and gold-and-black striped tie, looking at the camera against a white background.

MAZ’s 2026 Marketing Week engages local marketers on key topics

Week of activities and events creates opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing and hearing insights from industry experts.

Desk with a computer monitor showing an orange bar chart labeled 'Advertising Today', plus keyboard, mouse, and glasses on a blue magazine.

Memorable visuals in ads are more likely to lead to purchase – study

Research suggests that attention-grabbing campaigns may need to be paired with memorable visual design to influence buying decisions.

Busy port with cranes, warehouses, and a red training ship docked at the quay; city and hills in the background.

Underperforming Port of Cape Town seeks a private sector boost

Cape Town’s port must be a competitive advantage rather than a bottleneck that constrains trade, investment and supply chains.

Ricardo Valente Da Conceicao

H&M makes senior leadership appointment for South African market

Experienced retail executive Ricardo Valente Da Conceicao returns to Africa as GM, bringing expertise gained in various overseas markets.

Exterior of a BIM store with red signage and blue-framed windows, parked cars in front on a wet lot.

Turkish supermarket group BIM hits 1,000-store landmark in Morocco

Local consumers are proving receptive to BIM’s private-label goods and hard-discount model as they struggle with inflationary pressure.

Two magazines titled Strategic Marketing Africa and Traceability on a green background.

Current issue of AMC magazine brings critical insights for marketers

Issue 1 2026 of Strategic Marketing for Africa, the magazine for deep-thinking African marketing professionals, highlights key trends.

Rozanne