EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

Publicis Groupe Africa announces two senior appointments

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2024

Arrival of Lynn Madeley and Katherine Jones supports group’s growth ambitions across Africa’s evolving market.

Publicis Groupe Africa, part of the French multinational advertising and public relations company, has announced the appointments of Lynn Madeley as Chief Operations Officer (COO) and Katherine Jones as Senior Vice President, Production Practice.

From left: Lynn Madeley, Koo Govender, Katherine Jones

The appointments became effective from 1 October 2024 and both report to the CEO of Publicis Groupe Africa, Koo Govender.

Madeley brings extensive operational expertise from agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi (London and Hong Kong) and Ogilvy Africa. She was most recently CEO for Havas Africa.

Driving operational excellence

“Known for her ability to accelerate growth and foster high-performing teams, Lynn is tasked with driving operational excellence and aligning the group’s growth ambitions across Africa’s dynamic and evolving market,” the company says in a media statement.

Jones joins as SVP of Production, having previously led production efforts across South Africa, Africa and EMEA for Accenture Song Production and Song Studios. She was also a long-serving executive director and board member at King James, an SA creative agency that is part of Accenture Song.

“Katherine’s extensive production expertise and strong leadership skills will play a pivotal role in enhancing Publicis Groupe Africa’s South African production hub, which is a central component of Publicis Production’s global strategy – alongside key hubs in Colombia, Brazil, Central and Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia and the USA,” Publicis states.

“Katherine’s appointment is a significant step toward reinforcing the agency’s production capabilities and cementing its role as a key global production hub.”

Pre-conference masterclass discusses taking African brands to the world

Participants challenged to identify, articulate and commercialise the cultural assets that make their brand ready for a global audience.

Three people stand side by side in front of a sports direct backdrop the woman in the middle holds a blue and orange 'sports direct' sign

Africa’s first Sports Direct retail store opens its doors in Nairobi

Second outlet planned for Nairobi before year end, with Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco said to be future target markets.

Person wearing a beige sweater holds a phone with a translucent search bar reading 'search' and microphonecamera icons in the foreground

Search is fragmenting – credibility and trust create the new visibility

Online search behaviour has changed significantly with the rise of AI. How can African brands adapt to this new marketing landscape?

Person shopping at a deli counter holding an orange shopping basket in a cheese section of a supermarket

The move toward future-ready food packaging where materials meet AI

Researchers propose a framework for packaging that senses, learns and acts – making packaging an active, AI-powered tool against food waste.

Conference stage with a woman in a patterned dress speaking to an audience large screens display '' logos and banners for a marketers conference with 'institute of marketing in malawi' branding on stage panels and backdrop

Malawi’s marketers urged to put trust at the heart of the profession

Country needs marketers to build recognition and consumer trust around Malawian products and national brand, says Deputy Minister.

Lingerie brand creates street-stopping advertising in Manhattan

Fashion brand suspends giant lingerie high above the city’s streets, using shadows to create a moving billboard for pedestrians and motorists.

We know AI influencers aren’t real – so why do we trust them?

Researchers describe AI influencers as having a ‘dual identity’. Consumers evaluate both ‘person’ and ‘technology’ identities at once.

Hotel receptionist assisting a guest at the check in counter with a gray suitcase nearby behind the desk

Why trust has become a critical asset for hotel industry marketers

Reputation and trust, once modest influences on hotel choice, have become some of the strongest predictors of patronage, study finds.

Three people in formal attire pose for a photo at an awards event a woman in a pink dress holds a trophy while two men in suits stand beside her against a gold confetti backdrop

FNB bank’s eBucks programme dominates the 2026 SA loyalty awards

South African brands are increasingly setting the global benchmark for customer loyalty strategies, organisers say.

Portrait of a man with short black hair and a beard wearing a black button down shirt against a light gray background

Zambia’s strongest creative ideas are emerging from local truths

Global influences among younger consumers are still present, but they are being filtered through a distinctly Zambian lens.

Yellow humanoid robot at a bakery counter inspecting a display of donuts on display in front of glass cases

Consumers have doubts about products when they’re designed by AI

Researchers find that lack of perceived ‘genuine care’ is the mechanism connecting AI involvement to lower trust ratings.