It is something I have always been passionate about and which has been at the core of several articles I have authored for a number of platforms, including Bizcommunity. It has to be the opportunity to be able to influence and shape some of the communication to go out. What excites you most about the agency and this division in particular? The influencer part has also been receiving much attention, which is probably informed by the fact that advertising budgets have had to be prioritised to where brands will be able to get measurable value while also tapping into where audiences are spending most time – digital platforms. This is very much informed by the fact that communication is something that most brands have relied on during these times to remain relevant and top of mind to consumers. Quite significantly, this is a service most of the brands we have been working with have been enquiring more and more about. How do you plan to navigate the agency’s PR & Influencer Partnerships division through these unusual times? This has essentially been about introducing PR and influencer strategies to our clients and showcasing how it would add value to the overall approach to communication. It is also a Covid-19 compliant space so I am happy that I can come into the office every day.Īt this point it has been about establishing the discipline within the brands we service.
My preference to date has been to work from the office precisely because I wanted to get to know my colleagues on a one-on-one basis. I joined Rapt Creative in February this year as a consultant, but the appointment took effect in March.Īre you working remotely and if so, how are you getting to know and building rapport with your colleagues and clients under such conditions?įortunately, I have the option of doing both remote and office. I am honestly the most excited I have ever been in a very long time! What an honour and privilege to be working with the incredible team at Rapt. How do you feel about joining RAPT Creative? Here, Dziba tells us more about his career journey to date and that he’s learned that the work of advocacy is something that has to be embedded in who you are, as you will always need to go back to this point of strength to keep you going when the stories and ideas you have are not taken forward in the work you do… My role at Rapt Creative will allow me to do just that, and I am excited for what the future has to offer,” he said. “I have often written about my passion for PR and the need for practitioners to be able to merge what I believe are necessary industry disruptors into the solutions agencies offer brands.
That’s Khangelani’s job.”ĭziba studied journalism and is in the process of completing his Masters in Brand Leadership, and has worked at Fleishmanhillard, DNA Brand Architects and Group Africa Marketing, across multiple blue-chip clients in various industries, including the likes of Standard Bank, Nestlé, Vodacom, USAID, Clark & Sons, Bongang Matheba and Penrod Ricard.Īfter almost a decade working for some of the industry juggernauts, all of whom inspired him to briefly head up his own consultancy, the opportunity to join Rapt Creative could not have come at a better time, he said. With the convergence of media and the blurring of the lines when it comes to marketing and advertising disciplines, PR has to shape and inform the messages wherever the conversations take place and opinions are aired. “It is no longer enough for the PR function to push ‘earned’ opportunities and exposure. “I am a firm believer that digital, social media and PR should live as one function and bringing someone like Khangelani onboard will assist us in bridging that gap enabling us to dramatically differentiate ourselves from our competitors in what is already known as an oversaturated space. He added that PR is a highly specialised discipline which is proving to be an asset to Rapt Creative’s business model. “When we were evaluating our business offering, we realised the need to expand our services to include PR and influencer marketing,” said founder and group Chief Executive Officer of Rapt Creative, Garreth van Vuuren. He will be based at Rapt Creative's Johannesburg headquarters but will work closely with all business units across Cape Town, Johannesburg, the UK and Ukraine. As such, they've appointed Khangelani Dziba to head up the new division. Following the recent news of Rapt Creative opening offices in London and Kiev, the agency has expanded its services to include PR and influencer marketing.