AFRICA – Media investment company GroupM Sub-Saharan Africa, has extended its GroupM Academy Gradx program established in South Africa in 2020 to Kenya and Nigeria with plans to add other markets in the future.

The New York headquartered firm has also appointed a steering committee for Sub Saharan Africa that will harmonise processes across owned offices and affiliates.

According to Federico de Nardis, GroupM Sub-Saharan Africa Chief Executive Officer, GroupM has had a strong and direct presence in all key markets in Sub-Saharan Africa for a long time.

“GroupM has had a strong and direct presence in all key markets in Sub-Saharan Africa for a long time. With this market expansion, we’ve recently taken a number of decisions to strengthen our focus on three strategic pillars of people, data, and technology in order to help our clients grow their businesses.”

In its first year, GroupM Academy’s 11 graduates have been absorbed internally at Groupm and the intention is to position future available graduates to clients and affiliate partners in the region.

“We believe that strengthening our teams as well as those of our clients and partners in emerging media markets sets us apart in the continent”

Federico de Nardis – CEO, GroupM Sub-Saharan Africa

GroupM and Mediacom Managing Director East and Central Africa Serah Katusia said that the aim of the programme is to nurture the new generation of media and marketing experts of the future

“In Sub Sahara Africa, media talent is limited, we want to drive this agenda from the front, we believe that strengthening our teams as well as those of our clients and partners in emerging media markets sets us apart in the continent.”

GroupM is the world’s leading media investment company responsible for more than US$63 billion in annual media investment through agencies Mindshare, MediaCom, Wavemaker, Essence and m/SIX, as well as the outcomes-driven programmatic audience company, Xaxis.

GroupM’s portfolio includes Data & Technology, Investment and Services, all united in vision to shape the next era of media where advertising works better for people.

The steering committee includes all senior leaders from GroupM and the agency networks Mediacom, Mindshare and Wavemaker in the key markets; namely Serah Katusia and Hemang Doshi from East and Central Africa, Seni Adetu from Nigeria, and Ashish Williams, Lwandile Qokweni, Zia Namooya and Derek Sim from South Africa.

The committee will be chaired by Federico de Nardis, CEO, GroupM Sub-Saharan Africa.

GroupM is part of British multinational communications and advertising firm, WPP.

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