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PR agency Burson makes three key appointments for its African business

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2024

Agency was created in January by the merger of PR companies BCW and Hill & Knowlton. New appointees bring wide experience.

Burson, the global communications agency, has appointed Bridget von Holdt and Karl Haechler as Co-CEOs for its Burson Africa operation, and Lerato Songelwa as Managing Director for Burson South Africa.

The agency was created in January 2024 by the merger of PR companies BCW and Hill & Knowlton. Both are part of the giant London-based WPP communications group.

Bridget von Holdt, Lerato Songelwa and Karl Haechler. Photo: Burson

Haechler and Von Holdt had previously led BCW Africa as Co-Market Leaders since March 2021, while Songelwa served as MD of Hill & Knowlton SA since October 2022. The trio thus bring a combination of experience and expertise across various industry sectors and countries.

BCW has had an African presence for three decades and is represented in most African markets.

Wealth of experience and a clear vision

“Bridget, Karl and Lerato bring a wealth of experience and a clear vision to Burson Africa. I am confident that they will drive value creation for both our customers and our talent across the continent, which we see as a significant growth area for the business,” says Bashar AlKadhi, CEO for Burson in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa.

Recently formed Burson has more than 6,000 employees in 43 markets worldwide. Its name honours the late Harold Burson, a pioneer and founding figure of modern public relations and strategic communications.

WPP, which also owns agencies such as Ogilvy and media investment firm GroupM, has restructured many of its agencies to improve efficiencies and provide a more complete offering to clients.

Last year it combined two of its major creative agencies, Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R. The combined business, known as VML, employs more than 30,000 people in 64 markets.

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