In what might be considered a seminal leadership transition underlining the increasing global influence of African marketing and creative ecosystems, Akua Brayie Owusu takes over as the Group CEO of WPP Scangroup Plc and CEO of Ogilvy Africa. Her appointment becomes effective on 17 November 2025, marking a significant moment not only for the organisation but also for the larger African advertising and communication landscape, continuously evolving into one of the most dynamic growth regions of the world.
For decades, WPP Scangroup has been a foundational force in shaping Sub-Saharan Africa’s advertising industry; it is the marketing and communications investment arm of WPP across the region. Under its umbrella sits Ogilvy Africa, one of the largest integrated marketing agencies operating across more than 30 markets on the continent. The decision to elevate Owusu to dual leadership roles looks toward deeper regional representation, cultural understanding, and homegrown strategic direction.
A Leader Grown from Africa’s Advertising Ecosystem
Owusu’s rise to the top illustrates a career pathing anchored on extensive hands-on experience across several African markets. She joins ABA from Ogilvy Africa, where, until this appointment, she was the Chief Client Officer and Head of Connected Culture-charged with critical responsibilities in leading client relationships, cultural relevance of campaigns, and cross-border synergy of teams.
Her tenures include serving as an Acting Managing Director at Scanad Kenya, which is part of the Scangroup network. These roles gave Owusu immense exposure to the diverse consumer behavior patterns, market sensibilities, and brand expectations that define Africa’s highly segmented landscape.
She is widely recognized by her colleagues for a people-centric leadership style, strategic clarity, and her ability to unify teams around creative excellence. Her rise into the position of CEO is widely viewed as a natural progression, earned through many years of operational and strategic contribution.
A Strategic Appointment to Spearhead a Fast-Growing Market
The African creative and advertising space has witnessed rapid changes within the last ten years. With a growing digital population, surging youth influence, and swelling entrepreneurial ecosystem across the continent, brands are increasingly using innovative storytelling and data-driven marketing.
Owusu, as the new Group CEO, will be expected to lead Scangroup through this next phase of growth. He intends to achieve this by focusing on:
Digital Integration & Innovation: Accelerating data-driven marketing, social listening, and modern creative technology.
Cross-market collaboration: building stronger capabilities across East, West, and Southern Africa.
Cultural intelligence: fortifying brand storytelling with African identity and consumer realities.
People’s development: investing in diverse talent for the creative economy of the continent.
Her appointment brings both symbolism and strategic direction—signalling the agency’s commitment to nurturing African leadership capable of steering regional operations on a global playing field.
Implications for the Global Marketing Industry
Owusu’s rise to leadership has a resonance far beyond Africa. In a time when global networks such as WPP are looking more toward emerging markets, her appointment represents the new face of global marketing leadership-one that blends local cultural fluency with world-class execution standards.
This leadership change brings fresh alignment with local realities for multinational brands operating in Africa. In turn, a CEO leading this company who understands 30+ African markets means better campaign relevance, improvement in operational efficiencies, and more authentic storytelling.
Her appointment also sends a signal to the global creative industry that African talent is increasingly taking center stage and not just as contributors but as decision-makers.
A Step towards Inclusive Global Leadership
Perhaps the most celebrated aspect of Owusu’s rise is its relevance to diversity and inclusion in global leadership. Women remain significantly underrepresented in executive roles across the global advertising industry. Owusu’s achievement, therefore, sets a benchmark for the region and paves the way for more women to aspire to and attain leadership roles within the sector.
Her appointment has been hailed by industry leaders and commentators alike as another step towards building authentic leadership structures that reflect Africa’s talent pool and cultural diversity.
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter for Scangroup and Ogilvy Africa
With Owusu at the helm, expectations are high. Her mandate includes revitalizing agency offerings, reinforcing creative innovation, and strengthening the organization’s positioning as the go-to marketing partner for brands looking to win in Africa. Her combination of strategic insight, continental experience, and people-first leadership style is why stakeholders feel she’s able to effectively drive WPP Scangroup and Ogilvy Africa toward a future defined by digital acceleration, creative excellence, and African-rooted brand storytelling. Her appointment, therefore, is more than a change of guard; it signals a new chapter for Africa’s marketing industry, where the leaders of the continent are taking charge of their own creative voice on the global stage.
