Kabelo Manyelo, a seasoned marketing professional with a proven track record of driving brand growth across FMCG giants, has been appointed Marketing Manager: Colgate Total & Therapeutics for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) at Colgate-Palmolive.
Manyelo made the announcement on her official LinkedIn page, expressing enthusiasm for her expanded mandate.
“I am excited to share that I’ve stepped into the role of Marketing Manager: Colgate Total & Therapeutics for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) at Colgate-Palmolive,” she wrote. “A new chapter. A bigger mandate. In this role, I’ll be leading the strategic growth of the portfolio across diverse markets, consumers and oral care needs; building brands that go beyond the shelf to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
The appointment marks a significant milestone in Manyelo’s career, bringing together her deep expertise in brand strategy, innovation, consumer insights, and cross-functional leadership.
A Steady Rise Through the Ranks
Manyelo joins Colgate-Palmolive with nearly a decade of high-impact experience, most recently serving as Marketing Manager for Colgate Total in the region. Her journey at the company began accelerating in late 2025, following a distinguished tenure at Nestlé where she spent over six years honing her craf
At Nestlé, she held the position of Brand Manager for Dairy Culinary Solutions & Klim, where she managed comprehensive marketing plans, campaign execution, and trade marketing partnerships to drive sales and brand visibility across iconic portfolios including Milkybar, Quality Street, Smarties, and KitKat Seasonal.
Her achievements at Nestlé stand out for their strategic depth. Manyelo successfully defined communication strategies across multiple touchpoints — from digital media and in-store activations to PR — while conducting thorough market trend analysis, U&A studies, and SWOT assessments. She was instrumental in establishing seasonal portfolios, launching nine new products from concept to market, and contributing to sustainability initiatives, notably transitioning Smarties packaging from plastic to paper.
Earlier roles at Nestlé included Assistant Brand Manager for Milkybar & Seasonal Portfolio and Marketing Graduate Trainee for KITKAT & TEX, where she gained broad cross-functional exposure in marketing, sales, production, forecasting, and field operations.
Building a Strong Foundation
Manyelo’s foundation in marketing and leadership extends beyond corporate roles. She has demonstrated strong organisational and stakeholder management skills through positions such as Evaluator and Marker at the University of Pretoria, General Secretary of the Golden Key International Honour Society, and a Commercial Intern at Reckitt Benckiser
Known for her passion for people, purpose, brands, innovation, and growth, Manyelo is now poised to elevate Colgate’s oral care portfolio across Sub-Saharan Africa’s dynamic markets.
Her appointment comes at a time when Colgate-Palmolive continues to invest in meaningful brand experiences that address real consumer needs in oral health and wellness.
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