JOHANNESBURG, 26 January 2024 – M+N today announces a pivotal restructuring initiative aimed at enhancing strategic capabilities and leadership alignment within the organisation.
As part of this transformative move, M+N has centralised management of the various marketing agencies into a new Group Executive: Marketing Agencies role which will see the Avatar Group CEO role fall away completely, allowing the subsidiaries more autonomy led by their respective managing directors and management teams.
The current CEO of Avatar Group, Mzamo Xala, will conclude his tenure in February 2024 following his resignation. He will transition to a strategic partnership role with M+N through his company, Shamandu, following a mutual agreement with the founders.
Key strategic functions, including HR, IT, and Finance, under a newly created M+N Group CFO role, will now be seated at Group level. “Consolidating these essential operations at the M+N level rather than within individual agencies is key to our growth as a group.
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This consolidation strategy around M+N seeks to support the current growth trajectory we are currently in, optimise resources, drive operational efficiencies, and foster enhanced collaboration among M+N’s diverse businesses,” says Zibusiso Mkhwanazi, Executive Chairman of M+N.
“Mzamo’s extensive experience and strategic acumen will continue to be instrumental in shaping M+N’s future endeavours as a strategic partner, ensuring us a sustained offering in that space,” adds Mkhwanazi.
The restructure will see the Group CEO role fall away within Avatar, following its appointment of Lynda Fiebiger as managing director for Avatar Johannesburg. “The new structure emphasises the empowerment of leaders within each business under the M+N umbrella. This approach aims to expedite decision-making processes, fostering agility and adaptability tailored to the unique needs of individual business units,” adds Mkhwanazi.
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Fiebiger brings with her a wealth of industry experience, having led some of South Africa’s most esteemed creative agencies fostering invaluable client relationships across diverse sectors.
Importantly, these changes will not disrupt ongoing business operations. M+N remains committed to delivering the same exceptional quality of service that defines its standing in the industry.
“We are excited about the opportunities this restructuring presents for our organisation,” adds Mkhwanazi. “Our growth, which is spurred on by our recent wins, necessitates these changes with the view of fortifying our foundation as a large agency, enables us to navigate industry dynamics with heightened agility and resilience while maintaining our unwavering commitment to excellence. It raises the agency’s status to that of prominent network agencies in the country, signifying that a black-owned, South African entity now provides a substantial alternative within this market, on a significant scale.”
M+N’s expansion surged after securing the Absa business, bringing the entire group’s workforce to a cumulative total of over 300 employees to date.
