Sydney Mbhele named Marketer of the Year at IMM Institute annual awards

In addition, Mbele is a former Chairman of the Marketing Association of South Africa (MASA) and has long been recognised as among South Africa and Africa’s top marketers. 

He was unable to accept the IMM Institute Marketer of the Year trophy in person on Friday evening due to other commitments, but the award was accepted on his behalf. 

The other nominees for Marketer of the Year were Zakithi Mncwango, Category Marketing Manager: Cocoa Malt Beverages at Nestlé, and Mandy Lindeque, Brand and Marketing Manager at UnionPay International. 

Corporate Marketing Team of the Year was won by Pace Auto Group, a proudly South African vehicle rental company that has been providing flexible mobility solutions since 2006. With a national footprint and a diverse fleet, it serves both individuals and businesses across everyday, long-term and commercial needs. 

The other nominee in this category was Motsepe Advertising. It is a through-the-line agency delivering strategic, creative and digital solutions for leading brands. 

The Sustainability Impact award was won by Emmanuel Bonoko, founder at Brandscapers Africa and the EBonoko Foundation. He has built a leading agency serving major clients including Standard Bank and Shell South Africa. Through his foundation he has driven impactful initiatives such as donating over 17,000 books, with a strong focus on youth development and social impact. 

This year’s Marketing Lifetime Achievement Award went to Santie Botha, a former marketer with the likes of Unilever, the Absa group and MTN, she is currently Chairperson of the Capitec group, now South Africa’s largest retail bank by customer base. She has also held various executive and non-executive positions and been Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University. 

The award recognises a career defined by impact, leadership and lasting influence on the marketing profession.  

Other marketing award winners 

The winners of several other marketing award categories were also announced at the glittering ceremony held at The Venue in Melrose Arch: 

Entrepreneur of the Year: Carl van Blerk 

Marketing Student of the Year: Sophia Downes 

Emerging Marketer of the Year: Thabang Modiba 

This year’s event sponsors and media partners were: Kwikot, UXi Private Education Group, IMM Graduate School, Modern Marketing, Profmed, Tractor and the African Marketing Confederation. 

The IMM Institute is a founding member of the African Marketing Confederation.