Chain Reactions Africa has appointed Franklin Ozekhome as its Executive Vice President to lead Strategy and Innovation as part of the company’s digital transformation programme, it said on Tuesday.
The appointment strengthens the firm’s leadership and marks a key step in its ambition to redefine how brands across Africa engage audiences by integrating culture, trends, and technology.
Founder and Chief Strategist Israel Opayemi said the appointment aligns with the company’s vision to build an integrated ecosystem where strategy, public relations, advertising, design, experiential marketing, digital, data, and AI-driven innovation converge.
“We are not building yesterday’s marketing communications firm. We are reimagining the future of creativity and growth in Africa,” he said in a statement. “Executive Vice President Franklin Ozekhome brings the cultural intelligence, strategic insight, and creative foresight that will help us design and execute what comes next.”
Ozekhome, who previously facilitated business transformation retreats across Africa, emphasised the synergy with the company’s leadership.
“No business leader demonstrated the urgency of the will to do as Opayemi did. Partnering with him to build a disruptive force for the African ecosystem is a perfect meeting of minds,” he said.
The company also introduced the intelligent robotic system Ara By Prophet into its workforce. Described by Opayemi as Africa’s first intelligent robotic insight system, Ara combines artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cultural foresight.
“Ara is the physical interface; Prophet is the cognitive engine. Together, they create a living system of strategic intelligence designed to advise brands, institutions, and governments in real time,” he said.
The firm said the dual appointments reflect its transition to a digital-first creative transformation company, blending creativity, culture, storytelling, platforms, and technology to deliver meaningful engagement for clients across Africa.
In his new role, Ozekhome will work closely with Opayemi to implement a horizontal growth strategy, moving the firm beyond siloed disciplines into an integrated creative ecosystem.
Widely recognised as one of Africa’s leading cultural and brand strategists, Ozekhome brings a distinctive blend of creativity, foresight, and entrepreneurial edge. He is the creator of HumanOS, a proprietary framework for cultural strategy; co-founder of Maskvrade, a pop culture company; and founder of Pop Culture Varsity, Africa’s first strategy school dedicated to cultural intelligence. He also pioneered TINK Africa, the continent’s first digital platform for consumer trends and intelligence.
His career spans top global networks, including mediaReach OMD, McCann Erickson, Insight Publicis, Leo Burnett, and Digitas (Publicis Groupe), where he shaped strategy and innovation for leading brands such as PepsiCo, MTN, Samsung, Visa, Nestlé, Philip Morris, British Airways, Coca-Cola, Jaguar Land Rover, and Promasidor. He also served as Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Vendease, helping scale one of Africa’s fastest-growing foodtech companies.
