Publicis Groupe Africa appoints Managing Director: Rest of Africa

Gideon Khobane has been appointed Managing Director: Rest of Africa for Publicis Groupe Africa. The role excludes West Africa. 

The appointment is effective immediately and he joins the Executive Committee and reports directly to Koo Govender, CEO of Publicis Groupe Africa. 

Khobane has more than 20 years of leadership experience across media, entertainment and digital platforms in Africa.  

Most recently, he was Special Advisor and Head of Entertainment at The Akuna Group, advising on strategic partnerships, impact investments and digital transformation initiatives across the continent. Akuna Group is a global creative, entertainment and media company founded by actor, producer and philanthropist Idris Elba. 

Prior to that, he filled roles such as Managing Director of Amazon Prime Video sub-Saharan Africa, CEO of SuperSport, and Group Executive for General Entertainment at MultiChoice Group, where he led operations across multiple African markets. 

“Throughout his career, Khobane has built a strong track record of driving growth, transformation and commercial performance, with experience spanning regional expansion strategy, strategic partnerships with leading telecommunications companies, multi-country operations management, and the development of high-performing teams across Africa,” Publicis Groupe Africa says in a press release. 

“His appointment marks an exciting step forward as we continue to strengthen our presence and unlock growth opportunities across the continent.” 

Comments Govender in a LinkedIn post: “Africa is home to some of the world’s most dynamic markets, remarkable talent and incredible opportunities for innovation. As our clients continue to expand and evolve, so too must the way we partner with them to unlock growth. 

“Gideon brings a wealth of experience, a deep understanding of African markets and a passion for building businesses and teams that thrive.”