AVATAR South Africa Reviews & Profile

About AVATAR South Africa

“WE'RE ONLY THE LARGEST 100% BLACK OWNED AGENCY GROUP IN SOUTH AFRICA...BUT THERE IS STILL THE REST OF AFRICA AND THE WORLD. THAT'S WHY WE TRY EVEN HARDER, EVERY DAY”

Mzamo Xala is Avatar Agency’s Group Chief Executive Officer and a seasoned strategist who joined the Avatar team in 2019 as Chief Strategy Officer He has extensive experience in the industry spanning over 22 years

Before taking on the role of GCEO, Mzamo was also the managing director of the Agency’s B2B growth company, Resilience

Prior to joining Avatar Agency, Mzamo served as Vodacom Executive: Head of Department for Insights and Analytics, where he led insight digital transformation, financial services growth, and digital monetisation During his time at SA Rugby, he served as Marketing Manager for the national rugby team Springboks, playing an instrumental role in developing an integrated communications campaign for the 2007 Rugby World Cup

Earlier in his career, Mzamo served as Innovation Projects Manager for multinational beverage company Diageo, leading the commercialization of the Smirnoff Ready to Drink innovation programme

After graduating from IMM Graduate School, he began his career at Unilever as Insights Manager, providing innovation and brand change insight research support During his time at Unilever, he was involved in the migration of the Ego brand of male grooming products to Axe and the launch of fabric softeners for low-income consumers across Africa

A strategist turned creative, Veli has not only co-founded Avatar, but also inspired a new agency offering, YGK, and is part of M&N Brands, a holding company with diversified investments in leading advertising, media and communication businesses

Veli serves as Advisory Board Chairman at the Red & Yellow School, sits on the IAB’s Transformation & Education Council, is a DMA Board Member and has judged the Loeries, Apex, Bookmarks, Pendorings, PRISM and AdFocus Awards

Constantly learning, constantly innovating, 36-year-old Veli has also learnt the pitfalls of success, “I have learnt that one must define what success means to oneself, as there is a great danger with conforming to the one society creates ”

“THE EXCELLENCE WE ASPIRE TO BECOME IS WORLD CLASS”

“WE ARE ENTREPRENEURS THAT USE CREATIVITY TO ACHIEVE BUSINESS RESULTS NOT TO BE MORE CREATIVE THAN THE NEXT CREATIVE”

Avatar’s DNA is all about passionate and caring individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit We have to balance the right amount of science with the perfect blend of magic and we have to master the art of ideas that move people