WPP Scangroup Plc has announced the appointment of Akua Brayie Owusu-Nartey as its new Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, effective 17 November 2025. This leadership transition comes at a critical time for the company following the exit of former CEO Patricia Ithau in July and the interim stewardship of COO Miriam Kaggwa. Owusu-Nartey brings over 18 years of strategic leadership experience across multiple African markets, including Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zambia, positioning her as a transformative leader in Africa’s dynamic advertising and communications industry.
Her career includes senior roles at Ogilvy Africa and Publicis West Africa, where she spearheaded client strategy, digital innovation, and connected culture initiatives. She has previously served as Chief Client Officer and Head of Connected Culture at Ogilvy Africa and also held leadership roles at Scanad Kenya. With deep expertise in brand building, creative management, and agency transformation, her appointment signals a renewed focus on restoring growth, talent retention, and client confidence across the Scangroup portfolio.
Owusu-Nartey steps into her new role at a time when WPP Scangroup has faced significant turbulence marked by profit warnings, loss of major clients, declining share performance, and internal restructuring that resulted in talent exits and the shuttering of digital initiatives. These challenges have reshaped the agency landscape in Kenya, opening space for competing local and international players. Her leadership is expected to bring stability and strategic realignment to the organization, with a focus on reclaiming market share and regaining industry dominance.
WPP Scangroup’s recent financial performance underscores the urgency of leadership renewal. The company reported a KSh 208 million loss in the first half of 2025—an improvement from the previous year—alongside a 16% drop in gross profit. Despite narrowed forex losses, client spending remains constrained across key markets. Owusu-Nartey’s mandate will involve strengthening operational performance, reigniting digital innovation, and building resilience in the face of evolving market dynamics.
Her academic background, including a BBA from Central University College and an Executive MBA from Hult International Business School in the UK, reinforces her strategic readiness to drive the company into a new era of growth and transformation. Her appointment represents a pivotal moment for WPP Scangroup—a turning point toward rebuilding trust, driving innovation, and positioning the group as a future-ready leader in Africa’s marketing communications industry.
