Work
Ikalafeng has had a profound, sustained and distinguished contribution to branding in Africa and in shaping a positive narrative for the continent in a career that spans over 30 years building brands across Africa in corporate, academia, advisory and through his brand-led initiatives and advocacy.
Advocacy
Founder & Chairman - Brand Africa
- Convened inaugural Brand Africa Forum, 2010
- Launched Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands, 2011 | Research and Ranking of the most admired brands
- Launched Brand Africa | Best Places, 2023
To learn more about Brand Africa and its work visit – www.brand.africa
2010 - To Date
Founder & Chairman - Brand Africa
- Convened inaugural Brand Africa Forum, 2010
- Launched Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands, 2011 | Research and Ranking of the most admired brands
- Launched Brand Africa | Best Places, 2023
To learn more about Brand Africa and its work visit – www.brand.africa
2010 - To Date
Academia
Founder and Principal - Africa Brand Leadership Academy (ABLA)
- Established the first Africa-focused academy for brand leadership to ignite the ability of individuals and organisations to create the next generation of meaningful brands that have the power to transform Africa and inspire the world.
To learn more about ABLA and programmes visit – www.abla.academy
2010 - To Date
Founder and Principal - Africa Brand Leadership Academy (ABLA)
- Established the first Africa-focused academy for brand leadership to ignite the ability of individuals and organisations to create the next generation of meaningful brands that have the power to transform Africa and inspire the world.
To learn more about ABLA and programmes visit – www.abla.academy
2010 - To Date
Advisory
Founder and CEO - Brand Leadership Group | South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana
Brand Development, Strategic Communications and Intellectual Property advisory
- Repositioning, rebranding and running political campaign for Ghana’s challenger party, NDC and Presidents Professor John Atta Mills and John Mahama, winning the electoral mandates in 2008 and 2012 www.ndc.org.gh.
- Rebranding and launching the merger of UNISA, Vista and Technikon SA www.unisa.ac.za to create the 10th largest mega university in the world with over 300,000 students: 2004-2005
- Re-branding the acquisition of AON’s insurance business across 10 African markets (excluding South Africa) to Minet www.minet.com 2008 – 2021.
- Repositioning, rebranding and managing Africa’s foremost agri-business forum, www.agrf.org in 10 different African countries between 2012-2020. AGRF attracts more than 2,500 in person and more than 10,500 virtual audiences from 80 countries.
- Renaming, repositioning and branding the premier prize for African agricultural achievements, Yara Prize to the Africa Food Prize in 2016 www.africaprize.org
- Naming, positioning, branding and launching the acquisition of Vodafone’s cloud-based digital services to a new business and brand, INQ, in 2020 www.inq.inc
- Designing and delivering South Africa’s Nation Brand Forum as a national collaborative platform to re-imagine South Africa post the pandemic in 2021 and 2022 www.brandsouthafrica.com
- Brand Leadership inducted in Rebrand Hall of Fame in 2016 for effective brand transformation
- FinWeek Marketing Services Company of the Year – 2008
To learn more about Brand Leadership, its capabilities and experience visit – www.brandleadership.africa
2002 - Current
Founder and CEO - Brand Leadership Group | South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana
Brand Development, Strategic Communications and Intellectual Property advisory
- Repositioning, rebranding and running political campaign for Ghana’s challenger party, NDC and Presidents Professor John Atta Mills and John Mahama, winning the electoral mandates in 2008 and 2012 www.ndc.org.gh.
- Rebranding and launching the merger of UNISA, Vista and Technikon SA www.unisa.ac.za to create the 10th largest mega university in the world with over 300,000 students: 2004-2005
- Re-branding the acquisition of AON’s insurance business across 10 African markets (excluding South Africa) to Minet www.minet.com 2008 – 2021.
- Repositioning, rebranding and managing Africa’s foremost agri-business forum, www.agrf.org in 10 different African countries between 2012-2020. AGRF attracts more than 2,500 in person and more than 10,500 virtual audiences from 80 countries.
- Renaming, repositioning and branding the premier prize for African agricultural achievements, Yara Prize to the Africa Food Prize in 2016 www.africaprize.org
- Naming, positioning, branding and launching the acquisition of Vodafone’s cloud-based digital services to a new business and brand, INQ, in 2020 www.inq.inc
- Designing and delivering South Africa’s Nation Brand Forum as a national collaborative platform to re-imagine South Africa post the pandemic in 2021 and 2022 www.brandsouthafrica.com
- Brand Leadership inducted in Rebrand Hall of Fame in 2016 for effective brand transformation
- FinWeek Marketing Services Company of the Year – 2008
To learn more about Brand Leadership, its capabilities and experience visit – www.brandleadership.africa
2002 - Current
Corporate
1996 - 2002
Marketing Management
Nike South Africa and Nike Africa - Johannesburg, South Africa
Set strategic direction, resource allocation and team for South Africa and the development of the brand across Africa covering 23 countries through Nike partnership and distributor network.
Set strategic direction, resource allocation and team for South Africa and the development of the brand across Africa covering 23 countries through Nike partnership and distributor network.
- Chief Marketing Officer for Nike across Africa
- Grew Nike Brand Value in South Africa 123x between 1996 - 2002
- Won IMM Marketing Organisation of the Year (2001)
- Won IMM Chartered Marketer Award for Community Marketing (2001)
- Won 75+ Local & Global advertising, communication and marketing awards, incl. Loeries (SA), Cannes (France), Clios (NY), D&AD (UK), Institute of Marketing Management (IMM), for locally conceived and created demand creation initiatives.
1996 - 1996
Strategic Planning
Public Relations International (a division of Leo Burnett SA) - Sandton, South Africa
- Provided strategic communications and public relations advisory for private and public sector brands.
1994 - 1996
Marketing Management
Sun International - Sandton, South Africa
- Worked on marketing communication and advertising for gaming properties across South Africa
1993 - 1994
Brand Management
Colgate-Palmolive (Pty) Ltd - Boksburg, South Africa
- Worked on marketing communication, advertising and activation initiatives for the flagship Colgate Palmolive branded products.
1993 - 1994
Brand Management
Colgate-Palmolive Company - New York, USA
- Worked on coordinating best practice initiatives among emerging markets for the flagship Colgate-Palmolive branded products
Invert Background