JWT South Africa appoints new CEO and management team

Modise Makhene, new group CEO for JWT South Africa

"We believe that Modise's unique experience, combined with the extensive expertise of the other members of our management team, will provide JWT with the right group leadership to continue the success our agency has seen in South Africa over the past years," says Kenny Setzin, JWT South Africa's partner and non-executive chairman, adding that Makhene will work in close co-operation with himself, Faulds, van Dam and Fologwe.

Makhene will replace outgoing group CEO Peter Sham, who in 2004 agreed to sell his stake in JWT South Africa to Setzin in a BEE deal funded by JWT's global parent, WPP. After 14 years of leading JWT SA, Sham says that it is now time for him to relocate to Cape Town, where he intends to explore his interest in acquiring a wine estate.

Makhene's appointment completes the new management group for JWT South Africa. It follows Rob McLennan's recent appointment as executive creative director for the group, as well as the earlier selections of Eric Fologwe and Conn Bertish as MD and creative director of JWT Cape Town, respectively.

In addition, Judy van Dam will become MD of JWT Johannesburg, replacing Alan Bolon, who after a decade at JWT will retire from the company, to undertake various projects of a personal nature. Jim Faulds, MD of RMGConnect, will be expanding his role to take on responsibility for business development for the JWT Group in South Africa.

Client-centric

Makhene was educated in the US at the University of Iowa, where he studied business and marketing, and then at Howard University where he completed his MBA.

Explains Makhene, "I decided to join JWT South Africa as it has such a strong network internationally and it is my belief that the company here is poised for growth. I also think that now is the time to introduce and entrench a robust creative philosophy.

"As we all know, the advertising industry is facing some tough challenges as clients look at more effective ways of spending their budgets. As a result, the notion of constantly reassessing our position and invigorating ourselves becomes pivotal in everything we do.

"It is important to note that for most of my marketing career, I have been a client, so I bring a client sensibility or perspective to the business. This is particularly important as I intend to be client-centric in every respect," says Makhene.

Paying tribute

Paying tribute to Sham, Vrijmoet said that under his leadership, the company had seen tremendous growth moving from a Top 20 position some years ago to a current Top Five position in the South African market.

"I agreed to a one year extension of my contract in order to facilitate the appointment of my successor and I am confident that at this watershed time, JWT SA now has an exciting management team to take it to the next level," concludes Sham.