Tim Ekandjo has been named among the inaugural Africa CMO 100 (ACMO100). The prestigious list, announced by Brand Africa in partnership with African Business magazine, MIPAD, and the African Media Agency, honours the 100 most impactful marketing, brand, and reputation leaders shaping the continent’s story and economic prosperity.
Ekandjo, whose career has spanned leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, is celebrated alongside 38 other honourees from the Southern African region. The list, which highlights the growing influence of African brand strategists, places Ekandjo among an elite group of executives driving brand equity across the continent.
The ACMO100 list is the culmination of Brand Africa’s 15 years of independent research, which consistently shows that while 68% of Africans believe in the continent’s potential, only 18% of the brands they admire are African. The initiative aims to recognise the leaders best positioned to change that narrative.
“CMOs and senior brand leaders are among the most powerful architects of Africa’s future,” said Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa. “Through strategy, stewardship and influence, they shape narratives, build trust, and guide the preferences of hundreds of millions of people.”
The inaugural list reveals that women dominate the profession, making up 62% of honourees, with Southern Africa reflecting this trend. Financial services and telecoms emerged as the dominant sectors, representing more than half of the list, underscoring the importance of brand trust in Africa’s rapidly digitising markets.
The ACMO100 honourees will be celebrated during Brand Africa Week, scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 22 to 26 May 2026. The event will also feature the unveiling of the Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands and a high-level dialogue aimed at convening the continent’s top marketing leaders.