MarketingWorld’s CMO of the Week: Sydney Mbhele of Absa Group

By MWorld Team Mar 3, 20250

Sydney Mbhele, Group Chief Marketing & Corporate Affairs Officer at Absa Group, has been named MarketingWorld’s CMO of the Week.

Mbhele stands as a unique actor whose profound expertise and strategic acumen have redefined brand leadership across multiple global and African corporate giants. With a career spanning over two decades, Mbhele has solidified his reputation as a transformative force in marketing, brand management, and corporate affairs.

Before his tenure at Absa, Mbhele demonstrated his strategic prowess as the Chief Executive: Brand at Sanlam. Under his stewardship, the Sanlam brand reached new heights of recognition and resonance, affirming its position as a market leader.

His tenure as Chief Marketing Officer at Liberty Holdings Group further showcased his ability to steer complex marketing initiatives and enhance brand equity in a highly competitive financial services sector. At Nedbank, where he served as Executive Head of group Marketing, he played a crucial role in shaping the bank’s marketing direction, leveraging innovative campaigns to strengthen its market positioning.

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Mbhele’s marketing genius is not confined to the financial sector. His earlier roles reflect a rich tapestry of experience in global and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industries. As Head of Global Brands at SABMiller, he was responsible for orchestrating brand strategies that resonated across diverse markets.

His extensive tenure at Unilever, where he held leadership roles such as Global Category Marketing Director – Deodorants and Marketing Director – Savoury (Foods), South Africa, speaks volumes about his dexterity in managing multinational brands with precision and creativity. Before these, he honed his expertise as Marketing Manager at Cell C and Brand Manager at Smirnoff at Brandhouse Beverages (a Diageo company)

MarketingWorld Magazine’s CMO of the Week is a weekly recognition of top-performing CMOs across the globe. This recognition is based on spectacular brand transformation, market growth, breaking new frontiers, disruptive innovation, exemplary leadership, exceptional service, and professional experience