Former Ogilvy EMEA PR CEO, Joanna Oosthuizen joins Trippant as Chief Client Officer
Landmark senior appointment strengthens Trippant’s leadership team as the consultancy enters its next phase of international growth
The appointment represents a significant statement of intent from Trippant as it continues to expand internationally and builds on four consecutive years of 100% year-on-year growth.
Oosthuizen brings more than 25 years of global agency and communications leadership experience to Trippant. Most recently, she led Ogilvy’s PR business across Europe, the Middle East and Africa delivering sustained double-digit growth.
During her career at Ogilvy, she held several senior leadership positions, including CEO of PR and Influence for EMEA, Chief Client Officer and Chief Communications Officer for EMEA. She led transformation across 25 markets, held full P&L responsibility and worked with major international organisations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Tata Consultancy Services.
Earlier in her career, Oosthuizen helped transform Ogilvy South Africa’s PR operation from a 16-person team into the country’s largest PR consultancy. She subsequently became Chief Operating Officer and an Executive Director of the wider South African business.
As Chief Client Officer at Trippant, Oosthuizen will lead the consultancy’s global client experience strategy. Her remit will encompass senior client counsel, delivery excellence, operational development and commercial growth.
Tom Scott, CEO of Trippant, said: “Joanna is one of the most accomplished communications leaders in our industry. Her track record of building businesses, transforming operations and delivering sustained commercial growth at the highest level of our industry is exceptional. This is a landmark appointment for Trippant and a clear statement about the consultancy we are building and where we’re heading. We have grown rapidly by combining senior communications expertise with a relentless focus on commercial impact, and Joanna shares that philosophy completely. But most importantly, this is about people. While big agencies are shedding brilliant talent to protect their margins, we’re able to do the opposite, building a team that’s exceptional at what they do.”
Joanna Oosthuizen said: “I have spent much of my career demonstrating that exceptional communications is not simply a creative discipline; it should be a fundamental driver of commercial performance. That belief sits at the heart of Trippant. Tom and the team have built an ambitious, entrepreneurial consultancy with an impressive client base, and an extremely high calibre of work. I was particularly attracted by Trippant’s senior-led model, its investment in technology and intelligence, and its determination to measure communications through the commercial outcomes it creates.”
The appointment follows a period of sustained momentum for Trippant, including four consecutive years of 100% year-on-year growth and more than two years without losing a client.
Oosthuizen will also work closely with Trippant’s leadership team as the business continues to invest in its international capabilities, proprietary technology and AI-enabled operating platform, Trippant IQ.
Trippant works with organisations across sport, technology, property, energy and other complex international markets. Its clients have included the likes of New Zealand Rugby, Nielsen, Cotality, Hilton, and News Corp.
The consultancy recently launched Trippant IQ, its proprietary AI-enabled operating system, comprising five intelligence engines designed to give clients faster analysis, greater precision and a clearer connection between communications activity and commercial impact.
