Weber Shandwick bolsters African presence with Larry Khumalo-MacArthur as Market Lead
Weber Shandwick has announced the appointment of Larry Khumalo-MacArthur as Managing Director and Market Lead for its Africa region. Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Khumalo-MacArthur will lead the agency’s operations across the continent’s footprint of offices, affiliates and partners covering more than 30 countries, driving business growth, strengthening multi-market client relationships and elevating the firm’s strategic communications offering.
Before stepping into this role, Khumalo-MacArthur served as Executive Vice President, Client Growth: Africa, at Weber Shandwick, where he played a pivotal role in driving business growth and enhancing client partnerships across the region.
With over a decade of industry experience, Khumalo-MacArthur brings a sharp understanding of Africa’s complex and dynamic media and business landscape. His expertise is anchored in storytelling craft, strategy, issues and crisis management, public affairs, content and strategic media, making him well-positioned to shape the firm’s next phase of impact in the region.
His extensive experience, covering industries such as travel and tourism, development finance, social impact, technology, health, automotive, energy and the public sector, provides clients with insights-driven communications strategies that resonate across borders and cultures.
As businesses across Africa navigate economic, technological, demographic and geopolitical shifts, Khumalo-MacArthur’s leadership will reinforce the company’s commitment to data-driven storytelling, technology-enabled communications and creative strategies that drive meaningful impact and value.
Before joining Weber Shandwick, Khumalo-MacArthur led public relations at Havas, where he ran the division, driving business growth in South Africa.
Michael Frohlich, Weber Shandwick’s Global Chief Transformation Officer and CEO of EMEA, welcomed Khumalo-MacArthur’s appointment, noting the strategic significance of his leadership, ‘Larry’s deep understanding of African markets and experience in business growth, combined with his expertise in multi-sector communications, make him an invaluable asset to our team. Africa is a key region for our business and under his guidance, we are poised to expand our influence, drive innovation and deepen our client partnerships across the continent.’
In response to his appointment, Khumalo-MacArthur reflected on the role of communications in shaping Africa’s evolving business and social landscape, ‘We are in a transformative era where communications is no longer just about storytelling but about shaping narratives that drive tangible progress. Africa is a continent of immense potential and brands that communicate with authenticity, cultural awareness and strategic foresight will be the ones that create lasting impact. I am excited to be stepping into this role and I look forward to continue working with our teams and partnering with our clients to craft bold, integrated and meaningful communication interventions that connect with audiences and deliver meaningful and measurable value.’
As Weber Shandwick continues to grow its African operations, clients can expect an elevated, insight-driven approach to communications – one that merges the power of strategic content, digital engagement and brand reputation management to drive business success.
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