Johanna McDowell

Johanna McDowell

Founder and CEO at IAS Agency Selection
Johannesburg, Sud Africa

Riassunto

Born and educated in the United Kingdom, Johanna McDowell graduated a Business and Marketing qualification in the early 1970's. 
Johanna has spent her subsequent career of more than 45 years, dividing her time between marketing and advertising, as well as communications and consulting.  She has built a career in both the UK and in South Africa.
Having worked for listed companies in both countries as well as leading ad agencies at director level in UK and South Africa, Johanna started her first company in integrated communications company in 1992 and built it to a sizeable, (20 staff)  independently owned company over 13 years before founding the IAS in 2006. 
The IAS is Johanna's dream job, she says, and the culmination of a long career in marketing and advertising.  Every day brings a new opportunity and a welcome surprise.  The business has doubled in size each year from the start up of 2007 and for the last four years has been voted the Number One pitch consultancy in South Africa by the advertising and marketing community. 
The IAS has a team of four full time consultants and contracts out its marketing, technology and financial support functions. 
Apart from the IAS, Johanna is very proud of her partnership with fellow consultants, SCOPEN, and she has led SCOPEN Africa as a shareholder and director since 2016. In the past six years, AGENCY SCOPE the main research programme from SCOPEN has become a highly successful fixture within the advertising and marketing industry in South Africa.
Johanna has been in a number of Non-Executive Director roles for more than 30 years and currently sits on two boards within the BeTheBusiness network in the UK.

Positions

Non-Executive Director - Be the Business
Be the Business, Non-profit organisation management, London
Regno Unito
September 2021 - Present (2 anni 6 mesi)
Advising SME's on business growth and challenges.
Founder and Managing Director
Johannesburg, Sud Africa
2016 - Present (8 anni 2 mesi)
I founded the company so that we could provide services to both clients and agencies and to improve the performance of marketing communications of all types in relation to client business.
Partner and director, South Africa
SCOPEN Africa (Pty) Ltd
May 2015 - Present (8 anni 10 mesi)
Fellow, Honorary Member, Nomination Committee member, former Board and Council membet
Institute of Directors in Southern Africa
June 1994 - Present (29 anni 9 mesi)
My role on the Council and Board of the IoD was to give direction to the executive management of the organisation and be part of the strategic direction of the IoD for a period of 11 years. My current role as a member of the Nomination Committee is to review nominations for the Board positions that become available annually.
Past President and Board member
International Public Relations Association IPRA
January 1992 - Present (32 anni 2 mesi)
Member first then Council member. Voluntary role. Board member for several years. President for 12 months.
Chief Marketing Officer
ABSA (then Allied Bank)
March 1991 - January 1992 (10 mesi)
CEO
Grey Phillips Advertising, South Africa
October 1989 - February 1991 (1 anno 4 mesi)
I ran the company, serviced clients, built the business and was part of the creative process of great advertising.
New Business and Marketing Development director
Brookes & Vernons, advertising, design and public relations
August 1986 - October 1988 (2 anni 2 mesi)
In this role I built a profile for the agency group and all three disciplines of marketing communications. I also developed the new business strategy and new business database for the agency as well as all of the marketing materials that they needed to use to communicate to potential clients.
Group Account Director & Board Director
Grey Phillips advertising
February 1979 - April 1986 (7 anni 2 mesi)
Head of Traffic
Lowe Lintas
August 1974 - February 1979 (4 anni 6 mesi)
Account Manager, Own Label Division
United Biscuits
January 1974 - July 1974 (6 mesi)
Graduate Management Trainee
Bentalls of Kingston
Regno Unito
September 1972 - January 1974 (1 anno 4 mesi)

Education

Business Studies and Marketing, Economics, Accounting, French, Law, Marketing Research, European Union, Psychology, Advertising

1970 - 1973 (3 anni)

2 A Levels, 8 O Levels, Maths, French, Geography, English Language, English Literature, Latin, Chemistry, Biology, Physics

1963 - 1970 (7 anni)

O Levels and A levels

1961 - 1970 (9 anni)

Other professional activities

PHNX Tribute 2020

Awards Jury Member

PHNX 2024

Awards Jury Member

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