Ogilvy & Mather South Africa (O&M SA) has announced the appointment of Mariana O’Kelly as co-executive creative director (co-ECD) at Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg (O&M JHB).
“I am totally blown away with my new appointment and very excited to be leading an even bigger team of highly talented creatives with Co-ECD Neo Mashigo’, says O’Kelly.
O’Kelly started her career at Lindsey Smithers FCB and a year later moved to London and worked on brands such as Cable TV and Budweiser. Over the last 18 years she’s worked at SA’s most prestigious agencies including Hunt Lascaris, Jupiter Drawing Room and Net#work BBDO. She joined Ogilvy and Mather (O&M) as a Creative Director in 2011.
“At O&M JHB we have the best local and international brands in our stable and our aim is to focus on delivering world-class work that is insightful, break through and beautifully executed,’ she says.
O’Kelly has been recognised at Cannes, D&AD, One Show, Clios, Eagles and Loeries and has helped build brands such as Nike, BMW, Virgin Atlantic, Mercedes Benz, Economist, Cell C, Nedbank and Chicken Licken.
Being awarded at D&AD with two Pencils in 2012 for M-Net MK Music channel was one of her career highlights. O’Kelly and her team were responsible for most of the award-winning work from O&M JHB over the last three years, taking O&M JHB to the top three in creative rankings for 2012.
O&M SA CEO Abey Mokgwatsane says: “Mariana is an award-winning talent and we are extremely proud to have her with us. I have no doubt that she will continue to take O&M JHB and the group to the next level. We take pride in developing and recognising the talent among our ranks, which is not hard to do at a place like this.’
