Venelize de Lange from media update unpacks how SA's record agricultural exports (despite declining US demand) highlight the importance of adaptive strategy, audience insight and diversified market positioning.

Avatar has announced the promotion of Nash Koosialee to Managing Director, effective from Thursday, 1 January. This strategic appointment has aimed to underscore the agency's commitment to sustainable growth and operational resilience amid a dynamic market landscape.

As Gen Z continues to dominate cultural conversation and spending power, Penquin, one of South Africa's brand and communication agencies, is urging brands to rethink how they show up in 2026. 

As the marketing sector races to adopt generative AI tools, Courtney Chapple, Artificial Intelligence Director at FORGE, warns that speed without taste delivers "efficient mediocrity".

Africa's heritage is one of the world's greatest cultural endowments, yet much of it remains fragile, undocumented and at risk. As time, climate change, conflict and globalisation accelerate loss, the question is no longer whether Africa should digitise its heritage, but how quickly it can act, says Matone Ditlhake, CEO of Corridor Africa.

Tiger Brands has appointed Lorraine De Graaff as Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer effective Sunday, 1 March 2026. Lorraine will report to the CEO, Tjaart Kruger, and will lead the Group Marketing and Research and Development team, partnering with the business on enabling growth across Tiger Brands' brand portfolio.

The One Club for Creativity has announced the promotion of Adam Izen to the newly-created position of Chief Awards Officer, responsible for the vision, integrity and impact of the nonprofit organisation's entire global and regional awards ecosystem.

The legal industry has undergone a radical shift as traditional "prestige-based" marketing loses ground to "precision-based" digital strategies. Modern law firms have been moving away from corporate jargon to embrace human-centered content and data-driven visibility.

Independent South African agency Boomtown has announced the appointment of Zahra Mirza as Group Managing Director and Nigel Matthews as Executive Creative Director (ECD), marking a significant leadership milestone as the agency enters its next phase of growth, creative ambition and continental expansion.

What does successful brand leadership look like today? media update's Venelize de Lange chats to Koji Sekiguchi about the lessons he learnt from a global career in marketing leadership.