BCW Africa Celebrates 30 Years of Business in Africa

BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe), a leading global communications agency, and partner to Engage BCW in Kenya is celebrating 30 years in Africa. The company’s roots date back to October 1989.

For 30 years Robyn de Villiers, Chair and CEO of BCW Africa, and her team have been on an African journey, building an award-winning communications network, consulting to some of the world’s most admired brands and contributing to the growth of the communications industry across the continent.

“I am immensely proud of our achieving this significant milestone,” said de Villiers. “It has been a successful and enormously rewarding journey made possible because of the solid partnerships we’ve formed with our colleagues across Africa, business partners, clients, suppliers, staff and friends. We couldn’t have achieved this milestone without their unwavering support.”

de Villiers has been a tireless champion for economic development and inclusion in South Africa and across Africa. Commitment to skills development, collaboration, and growing partnerships is still the bedrock of BCW Africa’s philosophy and behavior.

According to Donna Imperato, Global CEO, BCW, Robyn’s visionary leadership is renowned across Africa and throughout the global communications industry. She noted that de Villiers was a first mover in seeing the potential for Africa as a significant player in the industry and she spent her career building what is today recognized as the premier network across the continent.

“BCW Africa is a client-centric team that is deeply committed to delivering work that truly moves people while at the same time mentoring the next generation of world-class communications talent. Congratulations to Robyn and the entire BCW Africa team. We look forward to the next 30 years of success!” She added.

Harold Burson, the Founding Chairman of BCW offered his congratulations to BCW Africa colleagues on the 30th anniversary of the public relations network established by Robyn, whose entrepreneurial foresight he’s admired from the time they joined forces in 2007.

“My good wishes to each and every one of you and my deepest appreciation for your commitment to our common cause – to provide the best possible service to our clients no matter their specific geographical location,” Burson commented.

Robyn de Villiers was termed by Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, President, African Public Relations Association (APRA) as a pioneer whose approach to communications across Africa has been a defining a path for which others follow. He said that Robyn has contributed immensely to the growth and development of APRA and is the true definition of exemplary leadership and professionalism.

BCW Africa has won the African Network of the Year Award in the South African PRISM Awards for the past four years and is the only agency to have been nominated for international Holmes Report’s African Consultancy of the Year award for 12 consecutive years and to have won it twice.