The 15th anniversary of the Brand Africa Awards has brought another exciting moment for the continent, with Absa Bank’s Group Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer, Sydney Mbhele Nhlanhla, scooping the Best Africa Brand Excellence Leadership Award at the South African edition of the awards.
Mbhele’s achievement is a testament to his dedication and expertise in building and managing brands across Africa.
With over 20 years of experience in brand strategy, corporate communications, and reputation management, Mbhele has consistently delivered results-driven marketing strategies that have boosted brand growth and stakeholder relationships.
Message of Gratitude
Upon receiving the award, Mbhele expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his team, colleagues, partners, family, and friends.
“My heart is full of gratitude and emotion. I was honoured by Brand Africa with the prestigious Distinguished Leadership Excellence Award in Building African Brands, alongside the awards for the most admired brands in Africa for 2025,” Mbhele said on receiving the award.
He added, “To Thebe Ikalafeng (founder and Chairman), the esteemed panel of judges, my extraordinarily talented teams over the years, colleagues, partners/agencies, family and friends…Bravo!”
He also acknowledged the support of two key individuals who believed in him early in his career, Michael Joubert and Kees Kruythoff.
A Stellar Career
Mbhele’s career journey spans senior and executive roles in global and multi-territory organisations, including Unilever, SABMiller, Nedbank, and Sanlam. He has led teams in marketing, communications, and corporate affairs strategies that maximise organisational value creation.
His impressive track record has earned him recognition as one of the top marketers in South Africa and Africa.
Brand Africa’s Enduring Legacy
The Brand Africa Awards have become a benchmark for excellence in branding across the continent. The organisation’s founder, Thebe Ikalafeng, praised Mbhele’s achievement, saying it was a well-deserved honour adjudicated by esteemed judges.
Speaking about this award, Thebe said, “This is the singular most impactful and inspirational moment at our 15th BA. What a well-deserved honour, that was adjudicated by 3 Hall of Fame marketers, and 7 former CMOs of international and African listed and unlisted businesses,” adding, “Your closing speech will reverberate for ages. Congratulations,” he added.
Looking Ahead to Uganda
The Brand Africa Awards are coming to Uganda this July, and brand enthusiasts won’t want to miss it! The event promises to celebrate the best of Ugandan brands and provide a platform for industry leaders to share insights and experiences.
Mbhele’s award is a testament to his exceptional leadership and expertise in building African brands.
As the Brand Africa Awards continue to celebrate excellence across the continent, Mbhele’s achievement serves as an inspiration to marketers and brand professionals everywhere.