Author Archives: Daniel Montile

APO Group Announces Promotion of Malika Bouayad to Group Account Director

APO Group

APO Group

APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading multi-award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, is pleased to announce the promotion of Malika Bouayad to Group Account Director, in the company’s Public Relations&Strategic Communications division. This appointment, effective 1 December 2025, reflects APO Group’s commitment to developing strong African talent and enhancing its delivery of world-class communications support to clients across the continent and beyond.

Born and raised in Morocco, Malika brings close to a decade of experience in communications, marketing, and stakeholder engagement across diverse sectors. Fluent in English, Arabic, and French, she holds both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane.

Since joining APO Group in 2022, Malika has played a pivotal role in delivering award-winning campaigns. She has spearheaded major media programmes for global events, including three consecutive editions of GITEX Global and GITEX Africa, managing African and international media with precision and excellence. She has also led local media engagement in Morocco for high-profile clients such as Basketball Africa League (BAL) and Canon and contributed to strategic communications work for organisations including APIX and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In her new role, Malika will be responsible for both strategic client leadership and operational delivery excellence. She will lead high-level client engagements, oversee quality assurance and commercial alignment, and ensure that all client programmes are strategically aligned, operationally sound, resource-optimised, and delivered to the highest standard. She will also play a key role in streamlining delivery operations across the team.

Commenting on the promotion, APO Group CEO, Bas Wijne, said: “Malika embodies the professionalism, creativity, and strategic insight that define APO Group’s work across Africa. She has consistently delivered exceptional results for our clients and has become a trusted partner to senior leaders across the continent. Her promotion is a natural next step and a testament to her dedication, leadership, and passion for Africa’s development. We are proud to see her take on this expanded role and look forward to all she will achieve.”

“Joining APO Group almost four years ago and growing into the role of Group Account Director has shown me that our strength lies in our people, our purpose, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. This promotion is not mine alone – it reflects every mentor, colleague, and client who inspires us to push further. I’m energised to lead with integrity, empower our team, and to advance African stories with credibility, creativity, and transformative impact across the continent,” said Malika.

By nurturing outstanding African PR and strategic communications talent, APO Group is delivering on its vision to pioneer the future of communication and serve as the channel for Africa’s voices.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

Media contact: 
marie@apo-opa.com 

About APO Group: 
Founded in 2007, APO Group (www.APO-opa.com) is the leading award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. Renowned for our deep-rooted African expertise and expansive global perspective, we specialise in elevating the reputation and brand equity of private and public organisations across Africa. As a trusted partner, our mission is to harness the power of media, crafting bespoke strategies that drive tangible, measurable impact both on the continent and globally.   

Our commitment to excellence and innovation has been recognised with multiple prestigious awards, including a PRovoke Media Global SABRE Award and multiple PRovoke Media Africa SABRE Awards. In 2023, we were named the Leading Public Relations Firm Africa and the Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy Africa in the World Business Outlook Awards, and the Best Public Relations and Media Consultancy of the Year South Africa in 2024 in the same awards. In 2025, Brands Review Magazine acknowledged us as the Leading Communications Consultancy in Africa for the second consecutive year. They also named us the Best PR Agency and the Leading Press Release Distribution Platform in Africa in 2024. Additionally, in 2025, we were honoured with the Gold distinction for Best PR Campaign and Bronze in the Special Event category at the Davos Communications Awards. 

APO Group’s esteemed clientele, which includes global giants such as Canon, Nestlé, Western Union, the UNDP, Network International, African Energy Chamber, Mercy Ships, Marriott, Africa’s Business Heroes, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies, reflects our unparalleled ability to navigate the complex African media landscape. With a multicultural team across Africa, we offer unmatched, truly pan-African insights, expertise, and reach across the continent. APO Group is dedicated to reshaping narratives about Africa, challenging stereotypes, and bringing inspiring African stories to global audiences, with our expertise in developing and supporting public relations campaigns worldwide uniquely positioning us to amplify brand messaging, enhance reputations, and connect effectively with target audiences.  

Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Appoints APO Group Founder and Chairman Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard to its Advisory Board

APO Group

APO Group

APO Group (https://APO-opa.com), the leading, multi-award-winning, pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, is proud to announce that its Founder and Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), has been appointed as a member of the Advisory Board of the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF).

AWIEF (www.AWIEForum.org) is a pan-African organisation dedicated to advancing women’s economic empowerment and leadership across the continent. Through its annual conference, awards, accelerator programmes, and strategic partnerships, AWIEF continues to support women founders, executives, and innovators, driving sustainable growth and inclusive development.

Each year, AWIEF convenes entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, corporate leaders, and development partners from across Africa and the diaspora for two days of high-level dialogue, innovation showcases, and strategic engagement — all focused on advancing women’s entrepreneurship and leadership. The programme includes keynote addresses, panel discussions, masterclasses, workshops, and B2B networking sessions covering leadership, innovation, trade, technology, investment, and policy.

Since its inception in 2016, the AWIEF Awards have become a powerful beacon of recognition and inspiration for women in business and leadership. More than a celebration of success, the Awards empower the next generation of innovators and changemakers, fostering a dynamic pan-African community rooted in collaboration, creativity, and measurable impact.

AWIEF’s work is supported by a broad coalition of sponsors and partners. AWIEF 2025 has been made possible through the strong support and strategic partnerships of leading organisations, including OCP Africa, Deloitte Africa, the City of Cape Town, the African Women Development Fund (AWDF), Nedbank, UNDP, UN Women, and MINT360.

The Advisory Board also brings together a distinguished group of leaders whose experience and influence elevate AWIEF’s mission. Among them are Fatma Samoura, former Secretary General of FIFA, and Awa Ndiaye-Seck, Special Representative of UN Women, both of whom contribute invaluable insight and global perspective to advance women’s leadership and entrepreneurship across Africa.

Speaking on his appointment, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard said: “I strongly believe African women should be empowered, equipped, and recognised for their contributions, innovations, and leadership. AWIEF highlights and celebrates these women, globally, in the most beautiful way. It is a powerful platform that amplifies women’s leadership and innovation across Africa. I am glad to support this mission, and joining AWIEF’s Advisory Board offers a meaningful opportunity to help drive real impact towards a more inclusive and prosperous future.”

A Franco-Gabonese entrepreneur named among the 100 Most Influential Africans in 2023 and 2024, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard serves on numerous prominent advisory boards and international committees. These include the Senior Advisory Board of the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business; the Leadership Council of the Africa Tech Festival; and the Advisory Boards of the African Energy Chamber, World Football Summit, Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF), Critical Minerals Africa Group, Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa, Sports Africa Investment Summit, EurAfrican Forum, and All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). He also acts as a strategic advisor to the CEO of the Royal African Society (UK), a strategic advisor to the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce, and a special advisor to the President of Rugby Africa. Most recently, he was appointed as a Council Member of the Africa No Filter Foundation.

Nicolas’s wholly-owned company, APO Group, is the premier award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. The company serves more than 300 clients, including Canon, Emirates, Nestlé, Western Union, UNDP, TikTok, Coca-Cola, NBA, NFL, and Marriott.

More information about Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard: http://apo-opa.co/3LCf8Vj

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

Media contact:
marie@apo-opa.com

About APO Group:
Founded in 2007, APO Group (https://APO-opa.com) is the leading award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. Renowned for our deep-rooted African expertise and expansive global perspective, we specialise in elevating the reputation and brand equity of private and public organisations across Africa. As a trusted partner, our mission is to harness the power of media, crafting bespoke strategies that drive tangible, measurable impact both on the continent and globally. 

Our commitment to excellence and innovation has been recognised with multiple prestigious awards, including a PRovoke Media Global SABRE Award and multiple PRovoke Media Africa SABRE Awards. In 2023, we were named the Leading Public Relations Firm Africa and the Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy Africa in the World Business Outlook Awards, and the Best Public Relations and Media Consultancy Agency of the Year South Africa in 2024 and again in 2025 in the same awards. In 2025, Brands Review Magazine acknowledged us as the Leading Communications Consultancy in Africa for the second consecutive year. They also named us the Best PR Agency and the Leading Press Release Distribution Platform in Africa in 2024. Additionally, in 2025, we were honoured with the Gold distinction for Best PR Campaign and Bronze in the Special Event category at the Davos Communications Awards.

APO Group’s esteemed clientele, which includes global giants such as Canon, Nestlé, Western Union, the UNDP, Network International, African Energy Chamber, Mercy Ships, Marriott, Africa’s Business Heroes, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies, reflects our unparalleled ability to navigate the complex African media landscape. With a multicultural team across Africa, we offer unmatched, truly pan-African insights, expertise, and reach across the continent. APO Group is dedicated to reshaping narratives about Africa, challenging stereotypes, and bringing inspiring African stories to global audiences, with our expertise in developing and supporting public relations campaigns worldwide uniquely positioning us to amplify brand messaging, enhance reputations, and connect effectively with target audiences.

APO Group Appoints Libby Allen as Vice President: Brand & Creative

APO Group

APO Group

APO Group (https://APO-OPA.com), the leading pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, has appointed Libby Allen as Vice President: Brand&Creative. The newly created role forms part of APO Group’s Senior Leadership Team and reflects a strategic investment in strengthening brand and creative capability as the business enters its next phase of growth.

As APO Group continues to scale its integrated communications offering across Africa and internationally, the appointment signals a deliberate move to bring brand, positioning, and creative leadership closer to executive decision-making – recognising brand as a critical enabler of commercial credibility, differentiation, and long-term performance.

In her role, Allen will lead APO Group’s brand strategy and creative direction across marketing, digital, content, and visual identity. Her mandate includes evolving how the Group presents itself across markets, building greater coherence and consistency at scale, and developing the Brand&Creative function to support APO Group’s expanding services, footprint, and ambition. She will work closely with public relations, commercial, and senior leadership teams to ensure brand decisions reinforce strategic priorities and support effective execution across the business.

Commenting on the appointment, Bas Wijne, CEO of APO Group, said: “As APO Group grows in scale and complexity, brand and creative leadership become increasingly central to how we operate and compete. Elevating this function to senior leadership level ensures stronger alignment between strategy, execution, and market perception, and positions the business for its next stage of development.”

Allen joined APO Group during a period of rapid expansion and has been instrumental in laying the foundations for a more structured and deliberate approach to brand and marketing. Her work to date has focused on clarifying positioning, establishing standards and systems, and building a dedicated Brand&Creative team to support a truly pan-African organisation operating across multiple sectors and markets.

She brings experience spanning private-sector brand leadership and high-stakes environments, including commercial, sustainability, social impact, and regulated sectors, as well as work linked to multilateral institutions. Her background reflects a balance of commercial discipline and strategic judgement, with experience operating across African, European, and global contexts.

“Brand is a strategic business asset – not a layer applied at the end,” said Allen. “As APO Group continues to grow, the way we present ourselves to markets must reflect the scale, substance, and performance of our work. This role is about building a brand platform that supports commercial growth, enables clarity, and evolves in step with the business.”

The appointment reinforces APO Group’s position as a trusted communications partner for global and African organisations operating across the continent, combining strategic advisory, disciplined execution, and guaranteed visibility through its proprietary distribution infrastructure.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

Media Contact:
marie@apo-opa.com 

About APO Group:
Founded in 2007 by Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, APO Group is the communications consultancy built for performance – combining strategic advisory, on-the-ground execution, and guaranteed visibility across every African market.

Recognised with multiple international awards, including SABRE, Davos Communications, and World Business Outlook distinctions, APO Group partners with global and African organisations to deliver communications that perform – through strategy, execution, and measurable visibility.

Our founder’s advisory roles with international institutions strengthen APO Group’s access to decision-makers and reinforce our role as the continent’s most connected communications consultancy. Clients include Canon, Emirates, Nestlé, NFL, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Afreximbank, the African Development Bank Group, GITEX Global, Royal African Society, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

How Decision-making Authority Collapses Under Pressure (By Sanchia Temkin)

APO Group

APO Group

By Sanchia Temkin, Associate Director: Content, APO Group  (www.APO-opa.com).

Most organisational failures do not begin with poor judgement or the wrong message.

They begin earlier – at the moment a decision is required, and no one is clearly authorised to make it.

This dynamic rarely appears in calm conditions. It surfaces in a crisis: when scrutiny intensifies, time is limited, and the organisation is forced to act beyond the comfort of its usual processes. In many cases, that pressure arrives publicly, through media attention or stakeholder questioning, where hesitation is immediately visible.

Process doesn’t necessarily break down. But it becomes the constraint.

Why decision-making slows in complex organisations

Large organisations are designed to distribute responsibility while centralising accountability. This architecture supports consistency, control, and risk management across markets.

It also introduces friction when decisions must be taken quickly, without full information and without consensus.

Authority often sits several layers above the point of impact. Local leaders understand context but lack mandate. Group leaders hold decision rights but lack immediacy. Functional teams optimise for their own exposure – legal, reputational, operational.

No single element of this system is dysfunctional, but delay emerges from the overlap.

When escalation replaces decision-making

Escalation frameworks are often treated as safeguards. In practice, they frequently become holding patterns.

When decision authority is not explicit, organisations default to internal consultation. Legal, risk, communications, and executive teams are engaged simultaneously. Each contribution is rational. Collectively, they slow action.

This is where communications teams often experience the pressure first – not because messaging is unclear, but because communications becomes the point at which organisational hesitation turns public.

At that stage, communication is not the problem; it’s the symptom.

The uncomfortable truth about expertise

Organisations under pressure rarely lack intelligence, experience, or advice. What they lack is permission.

When authority hasn’t been deliberately designed for moments of uncertainty, decisions stall. Leaders may know what to do, but no one is authorised to choose between imperfect options.

Meetings multiply. Language becomes careful. Responsibility diffuses without resolution. The organisation appears active, but nothing moves.

A question leadership teams often avoid

There’s a simple way to test whether authority actually functions:

If a high-risk issue emerged this afternoon, who could decide – without further escalation – in the first hour?

If the answer varies by function, geography, or personal relationships, authority is already fragile.

Some organisations address this by designing decision thresholds in advance: pre-agreed conditions that clarify what can be decided locally, what must be escalated, and when temporary delegation applies. The aim isn’t just speed but continuity of action when certainty is unavailable and pressure is public.

What distinguishes organisations that hold

The organisations that navigate pressure well treat authority as an operating system – deliberately designed, tested under stress, and trusted when consensus is impossible.

Most organisations believe they have done this. Very few have verified it. And the gap between authority that exists on paper and authority that holds in practice is where credibility is now made or quietly lost.

Why this matters now

In 2026, organisations are judged less by what they promise than by how decisively they act when information is incomplete and scrutiny is real-time.

Reputational damage is the outcome leaders fear most. What exposes organisations to it, time and again, is something more fundamental: discovering – often live in public – that decision-making authority is unclear, contested, or quietly assumed rather than deliberately designed.

Organisations that take this seriously do not wait for a crisis to reveal where authority collapses. They examine it in advance, stress-test it under pressure, and redesign it where it fails.

That work is uncomfortable, but preventative.

And increasingly, it’s the difference between organisations that stall and those that hold.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

Media Contact:
marie@apo-opa.com 

About APO Group:
Founded in 2007 by Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, APO Group is the communications consultancy built for performance – combining strategic advisory, on-the-ground execution, and guaranteed visibility across every African market.

Recognised with multiple international awards, including SABRE, Davos Communications, and World Business Outlook distinctions, APO Group partners with global and African organisations to deliver communications that perform – through strategy, execution, and measurable visibility.

Our founder’s advisory roles with international institutions strengthen APO Group’s access to decision-makers and reinforce our role as the continent’s most connected communications consultancy. Clients include Canon, Emirates, Nestlé, NFL, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Afreximbank, the African Development Bank Group, GITEX Global, Royal African Society, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

APO Group’s Founder, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Named Among the 100 Most Influential Africans for Second Consecutive Year

Other names on the list of the 100 most influential Africans 2024 include Aliko Dangote, Idris Elba, and the King Mohammed VI of Morocco

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, January 6, 2025/APO Group/ — 

APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the premier award-winning Pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, is proud to announce that its Founder and Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), has been named among the 100 Most Influential Africans for the second consecutive year.

The New African “Most Influential Africans” list is the continent’s most eagerly anticipated and widely discussed annual compilation. Since its inception in 2011, it has earned a reputation as the definitive and most authoritative reference for recognising and celebrating African excellence. The list honours individuals from diverse fields and sectors who have made significant, positive contributions to Africa and the global community.

The 2024 edition of the New African “100 Most Influential Africans” highlights extraordinary individuals shaping the African narrative at home and abroad, whose achievements exemplify the resilience, creativity, and ingenuity of the African spirit, inspiring generations to come.

Alongside Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, the 2024 New African “100 Most Influential Africans” list features prominent figures such as Africa’s richest person Aliko Dangote, actor Idris Elba, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina and Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah.

The New African Most Influential Africans list 2024 credits Nicolas as an entrepreneur who is “advising a number of leaders and institutions and continues to expand his influence across Africa and beyond through a combination of strategic appointments and innovative leadership, elevating Africa’s global profile across sectors ranging from technology to sports and public relations”.

Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, a Franco-Gabonese entrepreneur named among the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2023 and 2024, serves on multiple high-profile advisory boards and international committees. These include the Senior Advisory Board of the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, as well as the Advisory Boards of the African Energy Chamber, World Football Summit, Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF), Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa, Sports Africa Investment Summit, EurAfrican Forum, and All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). He is also a strategic advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal African Society of the United Kingdom, a strategic advisor to the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce, and a special advisor to the President of Rugby Africa, the governing body of rugby in Africa.

Nicolas’ wholly-owned company, APO Group, is the premier award-winning Pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, providing services to 300+ clients, including Nestlé, Coca Cola, TikTok, DHL, Marriott Group, Ecobank, Canon, Microsoft, Jack Ma Foundation, African Development Bank, Afreximbank, Africa Finance Corporation, Islamic Development Bank, Liquid Intelligent Technology, Radisson, Boeing, MultiChoice, and many more.

“It’s truly an honour to be recognized among some of Africa’s most influential, prestigious, and inspirational names for the second consecutive year,” said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Founder and Chairman of APO Group. “I founded APO Group 17 years ago with a single vision: to influence the narrative about Africa. Today, more than ever, I remain committed to leveraging my influence to fulfil that vision”.

See the list of the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2024: https://apo-opa.co/40mefVi

More information about Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard: www.Pompigne-Mognard.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

APO Group and Basketball Africa League’s Season 2 Campaign Wins 2023 SABRE Awards Africa – The World’s Most Prestigious Public Relations Awards – for Best Association Public Relations Campaign

The main objective of the BAL media campaign was to leverage as many media opportunities on an international level as possible, as well as across the African continent

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 4, 2023/APO Group/ — 

APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, is delighted to announce that its media campaign for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Season 2 has won the 2023 SABRE Award for best campaign in the Industry Association category.

The SABRE Awards are the most prestigious and important awards in the public relations industry due to their global reach and recognition, as well as their comprehensive coverage of a myriad of public relations disciplines.

They recognise outstanding achievements and celebrate the best work in public relations across multiple regions and categories, including the Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and Asia-Pacific, with the campaigns being evaluated by a jury of industry leaders.

Following the successful first season in May 2021, the BAL launched its second season in Dakar, Senegal, on March 5th, 2022. The 3-month tournament included 12 club teams from 12 African countries, with games played in Cairo, Egypt, and Kigali, Rwanda.

The main objective of the BAL media campaign was to leverage as many media opportunities on an international level as possible, as well as across the African continent.

APO Group developed and executed an integrated public relations and communications strategy using multiple tactics and strategies, including traditional media, digital media, broadcast media, and social media. Strategic media content was distributed across Africa throughout the competition, including press releases, game recaps, media advisories, and timely monitoring.

APO Group-led landmark media events during this campaign included the Sahara press conference in Dakar, attended by H.E. Macky Sall, President of Senegal, the Nile press conference in Cairo, and the Kigali finals. Combined, these three moments had a PR value of over USD$65 million.

Beyond its monetary value, the BAL Season 2 public relations campaign has achieved its goal of bringing the excitement and passion of basketball to audiences worldwide while promoting the development of the sport across Africa.

“We are thrilled that our media campaign for the Basketball Africa League Season 2 has been recognised with the prestigious 2023 SABRE Award,” said Lynne Krawchuk, Vice President, Digital, Public Relations, and Media Relations. “This accolade reflects our dedication to delivering outstanding public relations campaigns that help our clients achieve their communication goals and positively impact communities across the African continent.”

“We are appreciative of the tremendous effort APO has put into promoting and advancing our BAL journey across three iconic African cities in 2022. We couldn’t be prouder of the recognition that APO has received with the SABRE Award,” said Amadou Gallo Fall, BAL President.

With its success in the 2023 SABRE Awards, APO Group continues to demonstrate its expertise and commitment to helping its clients achieve their communication goals and positively impact communities across the African continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

APO Group’s Africa Celebrations Campaign for Mercy Ships Wins Multiple 2023 SABRE Awards Africa – The World’s Most Prestigious Public Relations Awards

The campaign has been nominated as a finalist for the Platinum SABRE Award for Best in Show

DAKAR, Senegal, May 4, 2023/APO Group/ — 

APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, is excited to announce that its Mercy Ships Africa Celebrations campaign has won the 2023 PRovoke Africa SABRE Awards for Best Campaign in West Africa and Best Campaign for Not-for-Profit/Charities.

The SABRE Awards are the most prestigious and important awards in the public relations industry due to their global reach and recognition, as well as their comprehensive coverage of a myriad of public relations disciplines.

They recognise outstanding achievements and celebrate the best work in public relations across multiple regions and categories, including the Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and Asia-Pacific, with the campaigns being evaluated by a jury of industry leaders.

The campaign has been nominated as a finalist for the Platinum SABRE Award for Best in Show, the winner of which will be announced at the Africa SABRE Awards ceremony on May 18th, as part of the 2023 African Public Relations Conference in Lusaka, Zambia.

Mercy Ships is an international NGO that operates the largest civilian hospital ships in the world to deliver surgical care, and medical training. By providing free, world-class surgical, obstetric, and anaesthetic care, the organisation brings hope and healing to those who need it most across the African continent.

Despite the invaluable work that they do, the organisation remains relatively unknown to the wider audience, particularly when compared to other organisations. To elevate the NGO’s profile, APO Group developed a campaign that would expand the public’s awareness and understanding of Mercy Ships and the massive positive impact its work has throughout Africa.

By leveraging its unrivalled access to Africa’s journalists and news networks, APO Group set out to amplify Mercy Ships’ visibility throughout the year, covering the main landmarks in the NGO’s activities and placing the organisation in publications across Africa, Europe, and North America, in print and online, as well as on social media. In total, the campaign has achieved a PR value of USD$125 million, with over 4,000 pieces of online coverage.

“We are grateful for the recognition received from the SABRE Awards. The collaboration with the APO team has led to outstanding communications and, more importantly, awareness for the need to increase access to surgical care in Africa,” stated Jitze Kramer, Vice President of Mercy Ships.

APO Group has been working with Mercy Ships since early 2022 to promote the organisation’s profoundly impactful work across the continent, telling the story of how the docking of Mercy Ships’ vessels — the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy — can represent change and hope for communities everywhere in Africa.

“Receiving this SABRE Award is a momentous achievement, and it highlights our commitment to promoting the life-changing work of Mercy Ships across Africa and beyond,” said Lindsay Farley, APO Group’s Vice President of Editorial and Content Strategy. “The Mercy Ships Africa Celebrations campaign has been incredibly successful in showcasing the organisation’s remarkable impact on healthcare and communities throughout the continent. We look forward to our continued partnership and to keeping the spotlight on the meaningful work that Mercy Ships is doing in Africa.”

With its success in the 2023 SABRE Awards, APO Group continues to demonstrate its expertise and commitment to helping its clients achieve their communication goals and positively impact communities across the African continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

APO Group and Africa’s Business Heroes Public Relations Campaign Wins Two 2023 SABRE Awards Africa – The World’s Most Prestigious Public Relations Awards

APO Group’s integrated public relations and communications campaign for ABH focused on leveraging media opportunities across Africa and increasing brand awareness for the competition

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 10, 2023/APO Group/ — 

APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, is thrilled to announce that its media and public relations campaign for the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, has won the 2023 SABRE Awards for best campaign in Northern Africa and best campaign in Corporate Social Responsibility.

The SABRE Awards are the most prestigious and important awards in the public relations industry due to their global reach and recognition, as well as their comprehensive coverage of a myriad of public relations disciplines.

They recognise outstanding achievements and celebrate the best work in public relations across multiple regions and categories, including the Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and Asia-Pacific, with the campaigns being evaluated by a jury of industry leaders.

The ABH programme (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org) promotes entrepreneurship in Africa by identifying and supporting outstanding business founders from across the continent. Each year since 2019, and to continue for a total of 10 years, the ABH Prize Competition selects 10 African entrepreneurs to participate in a live pitch event to a panel of industry leaders and compete for their share of USD$1.5 million in grant funding. Finalists also have access to mentorship, networking, training, and the opportunity to raise their profiles.

APO Group’s integrated public relations and communications campaign for ABH focused on leveraging media opportunities across Africa and increasing brand awareness for the competition. The primary goal was to support African entrepreneurs by encouraging more startups and founders to learn about ABH, understand the competition, and enter the awards.

The campaign in 2022 received 21,000 applications from all 54 African countries. Additionally, 31% of the applications came from women entrepreneurs, reflecting the most diverse applicant pool yet in terms of geography and gender. Entrepreneurs as young as 19 and as old as 72 applied, further highlighting the inclusiveness of the competition.

APO Group’s comprehensive public relations and communications initiatives included strategic advisory and media training for all ABH spokespeople, media content creation and mapping, translation of media content, securing key media partnerships, coordinating, and managing targeted dissemination of messaging, media interview placements, social media strategy, and event support.

For the public relations campaign, APO Group wrote and distributed content on a pan-African level in different languages (English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese), generating more than 13,000 pick-ups, with a PR value of over USD$164 million. This was a significant increase compared to previous years, showcasing the campaign’s success in promoting African entrepreneurship.

“The Africa’s Business Heroes team shares our vision for the future of business in Africa, and together, our teams have worked tirelessly on raising the profile of the ABH Prize Competition,” said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), Founder and Chairman of APO Group. “This campaign has truly captured the public’s attention, showcasing the vast potential Africa has as a hub for the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

“We are truly honoured to be recognised again this year with APO Group for our efforts to nurture and catalyse the pan African entrepreneur ecosystem. This award highlights the power and potential of the African entrepreneurial story and its ability to inspire others,” said Jason Pau, Executive Director of International Programs, Jack Ma Foundation. “We are excited to further our shared mission with APO Group to support and celebrate more African business heroes.”

APO Group invites all entrepreneurs across the African continent to apply for the next edition of the ABH Prize Competition before the May 12, 2023, deadline for a chance to win a grant, as well as training, mentorship, and networking opportunities, among the other benefits that this prestigious pan-African entrepreneurship competition brings. (Follow this link to register: https://apo-opa.info/3BbxIKT).

With its success in the 2023 SABRE Awards, APO Group continues to demonstrate its expertise and commitment to helping its clients achieve their communication goals and positively impact communities across the African continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

APO Group Triumphs at 2023 SABRE Awards Africa – The World’s Most Prestigious Public Relations Awards – Five Awards, More Than Any Other Firm in This Year’s Competition

These prestigious accolades solidify APO Group’s position as the most awarded Public Relations consultancy in this year’s competition

LUSAKA, Zambia, May 24, 2023/APO Group/ — 

APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, proudly announces that it has received five prestigious 2023 SABRE Awards during the award ceremony held on May 18th, during the 2023 African Public Relations Conference in Lusaka, Zambia. This outstanding achievement makes APO Group the most awarded firm in this year’s competition.

The SABRE Awards are the most prestigious and important awards in the public relations industry due to their global reach and recognition, as well as their comprehensive coverage of a myriad of public relations disciplines.

They recognise outstanding achievements and celebrate the best work in PR across multiple regions and categories, including the Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and Asia-Pacific, with the campaigns being evaluated by a jury of industry leaders.

These prestigious accolades solidify APO Group’s position as the most awarded Public Relations consultancy in this year’s competition, with a total of five SABRE Awards won, up from four in 2022.

APO’s submissions were up against strong competition too, with several hundred entries submitted in this year’s edition from across the continent.

The 2023 SABRE Awards recognised the following APO Group campaigns and their respective clients for their exceptional public relations accomplishments:

  • Northern Africa:
    • Overall Winner: Africa’s Business Heroes — Jack Ma Foundation with APO Group
    • Certificate of Excellence: Canon R-Tour — Canon with APO Group
  • Western Africa:
    • Overall Winner: Mercy Ships Africa Celebrations — Mercy Ships with APO Group
  • Corporate Social Responsibility:
    • Overall Winner: Africa’s Business Heroes — Jack Ma Foundation with APO Group
  • Industry Association:
    • Overall Winner: Basketball Africa League Season 2 — Basketball Africa League with APO Group
  • Not-for-Profit/Charities:
    • Overall Winner: Mercy Ships Africa Celebrations — Mercy Ships with APO Group.

APO Group’s Founder and Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Lynne Krawchuk, Vice President Digital, Public Relations, and Media Relations, and Lindsay Farley, Vice President, Editorial and Content Strategy, received the awards in person at the 2023 African Public Relations Conference in Lusaka, Zambia.

This impressive achievement highlights APO Group’s commitment to delivering world-class public relations campaigns that help clients achieve their communication goals while positively impacting communities across the African continent.

Only five years after entering the public relations consultancy industry, APO Group has grown at meteoric speed to establish itself as a leading name in a market dominated by global decades-old behemoths.

What started out as a press release distribution service fifteen years ago, is now a well-oiled Public Relations consultancy machine with over one hundred team members driving some of the most compelling, impactful, and effective PR campaigns on the continent.

“We are deeply honoured to receive these prestigious SABRE Awards, which demonstrate our expertise in executing highly effective public relations campaigns for our clients,” said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (https://www.Pompigne-Mognard.com/), Founder and Chairman of APO Group. “We take pride in working closely with our clients to understand their unique communication needs and delivering tailored solutions that exceed their expectations. These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and the trust our clients place in us to tell their stories.”

Beyond these awards, APO Group’s Africa Celebrations campaign for Mercy Ships was also nominated for the Platinum SABRE Award for Best in Show in Africa, further underlining the success of this award-winning campaign.

APO Group’s success at the 2023 SABRE Awards highlights its commitment to delivering world-class public relations campaigns that help clients achieve their communication goals while positively impacting communities across the African continent.

With these outstanding results, APO Group will now move forward to compete in the global competition for the Global SABRE Awards in every category it won at the African level. This opportunity allows APO Group to showcase its expertise and success on the global stage, further establishing the company as a leading pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service.

As APO Group continues to cement its position as a frontrunner in the industry, the company remains dedicated to helping clients achieve their communication goals and make a positive impact on communities across the African continent and beyond.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

APO Group Celebrates Global Double Award Win for Africa at World Business Outlook Awards 2023

These prestigious awards solidify APO Group as the Leading PR Firm in Africa and the Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy in this year’s competition

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 29, 2023/APO Group/ — 

APO Group (http://www.APO-opa.com), the leading pan-African communication and media relations consultancy, is proud to announce that it has been named the winner in two award categories by World Business Outlook 2023. The two award titles, Leading Public Relations Firm Africa 2023 and Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy Africa 2023 have been bestowed upon APO Group following a rigorous nomination and evaluation process led by the competition’s esteemed panel of judges.

The World Business Outlook Awards (https://apo-opa.info/44f5Diq) are renowned for honouring organisations that have demonstrated outstanding performance, innovation, and leadership in their respective industries. Winners are chosen based on extensive research, industry analysis, and feedback from industry experts and clients.

This recognition is a testament to APO Group’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional communication and strategic solutions to clients and its continuous efforts in driving pan-African business growth.

Commenting on winning the awards, Lynne Krawchuk, Vice President of Digital, PR and Media Relations for APO Group, says, “These prestigious awards validate our commitment to excellence in providing top-notch media relations and communication services across Africa. This recognition further solidifies APO Group’s position as a leader in the media and communications industry. It underscores its commitment to providing exceptional services that contribute to the growth and success of businesses operating in Africa.

“We express our gratitude to our clients and partners for their continued trust and support, and to our dedicated team across the board for their hard work and dedication to delivering outstanding results.”

APO Group is made up of expert communication strategists with years of experience developing and supporting public relations campaigns on the African continent and across the globe. The consultancy also taps into a variety of resources to deliver strong and consistent messaging to the media for its clients. With a strong focus on Africa, the company has helped numerous clients spanning a broad range of sectors and industries to amplify their brand messaging, enhance their reputation, and connect with their target audience effectively.

The 2023 Annual Awards Ceremony will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, later this year in November. The Awards Ceremony will be attended by the top entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and bureaucrats from across the globe to analyse the best global business excellence. In 2022, the Awards were held in Dubai with guests arriving from around the globe to receive awards and interact with leading business personalities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.