VML South Africa has bolstered its creative leadership team with two internal promotions.
Fumani Khumalo and Zinhle Mbatha are stepping into creative leadership roles at VML South Africa after being promoted to Creative Director positions. Khumalo was previously Art Director, while Mbatha held the position of Copywriter.
Reflecting on his career and the respected creative leaders he’s learnt from along the way, Khumalo says: ‘Stepping into this new role is both rewarding and humbling. I am reminded of the standard that was set for me. In this new role, I am excited by the opportunity to pay it forward – to mentor, guide and grow talent in the same way I was supported.’
Mbatha describes the experience of following in his mentors’ footsteps as “surreal”, adding that, ‘so much of what we know and what still echoes in our heads is from them. I hope to leave the same impact and love for creativity in those I get the chance to work with.’
Nhlanhla Ngcobo, Executive Creative Director at VML South Africa, said: ‘This has been a long time coming. Zinhle and Fumani’s work has consistently demonstrated not only craft, but clarity of thought, leadership instinct and the unusual ability to turn ambiguity into something sharp, memorable’ and effective.
‘I am personally looking forward to how they will inspire the teams they’ll lead to wave multi-coloured middle fingers to the conventional and pedestrian way of doing things. And how they’ll get them to colour outside the lines as they, themselves, have for the longest time on our most prolific and well awarded clients. Teams rally around their thinking because it’s both grounded and ambitious in all the right ways.
‘Creative leadership today requires emotional intelligence, relationships, decisiveness and the acumen to creatively solve business problems. Those qualities show up consistently with this dynamic duo. This is earned, overdue and exactly the kind of leadership we should be investing in. I’m so proud.’
Rising to the challenge
Khumalo and Mbatha take up their new roles at a time when the creative industry is in need of leadership that’s both level-headed and forward-thinking.
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