*Chain Reactions Africa, a leading PR firm, says Franklin Ozekhome’s appointment will strengthen its leadership bench to drive the next phase of growth, marking a pivotal step in its ambition to redefine how brands engage people by tapping into trends and cultures across the continent

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

As part of its digital transformation programme, Chain Reactions Africa Monday, September 1, 2025, announced the appointment of Mr. Franklin Ozekhome as Executive Vice-President, Strategy and Innovation.

The PR firm said Ozekhome’s appointment would strengthen its leadership bench to drive the next phase of growth.

The company noted the development has marked a pivotal step in its ambition to redefine how brands across Africa engage people by tapping into trends and cultures.

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Chain Reactions Africa also welcomed Africa鈥檚 first intelligent Robot fittingly named “Ara By Prophet”, into its workforce.

According to the company, with this move, Chain Reactions Africa announced it is transitioning fully into a digital first creative transformation company.

That is, a company which blends creativity, culture, trends, storytelling, platforms, and technology to fuel growth and meaningful engagements for clients.

Chidiebere Onuorha, Senior Consultant at the PR firm, stated: “The timing of Franklin Ozekhome鈥檚 appointment and the coming of Ara by Prophet into the company鈥檚 workforce and operations reflect the team鈥檚 audacity to dream and the organisation鈥檚 vision to design the future of marketing, digital, public relations, advertising and experiential across Africa in the age of convergence.

“Ozekhome will partner closely with Chain Reactions鈥� Founder and Chief Strategist, Israel Opayemi, in driving the bold vision and implement a horizontal growth strategy for the group.”

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The company explained that Ozekhome’s mandate is to move beyond siloed disciplines, and build an integrated ecosystem and a one-stop shop where strategy, public relations, advertising, design, experiential, digital, data, and AI-driven innovation combine to unlock new opportunities for clients.

It further noted that the Executive Vice-President’s role spans the swift execution of the company鈥檚 full digital transformation programme in all its ramifications and to lead the company fully into doing business in the season of convergence.

Opayemi averred: 鈥淲e are not building yesterday鈥檚 marketing communications firm.

“We are grateful for our past. We are reimagining the future of creativity and growth.

“We are building Africa鈥檚 creative transformation company of the future.”

The Founder and Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Africa also said: “We began on this digital transformation programme journey with intentionality following our Year 2023 Retreat with Franklin Ozekhome as a facilitator.

“Bringing a talent who was with us when the dream was conceived to lead the midwifing of the dream child to life is just the most strategic thing to do.”

He asserted: 鈥淔ranklin brings the cultural intelligence, strategic insight, and creative innovation foresight that will help us design and execute what comes next, where brands move beyond campaigns to create platforms, ecosystems, and cultural impacts that influence the world.鈥�

Speaking on his decision to join the Chain Reactions Africa’s team after rejecting similar overtures from other agencies, Ozekhome said: 鈥淚 have facilitated business transformation retreats for organisations across Africa; no business leader demonstrated the urgency of the will to do as the MD and Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Africa, Israel Opayemi.

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“He is a dreamer and doer. His energy is enthralling. Partnering with him to build a disruptive force for the African ecosystem is just a perfect meeting of minds.鈥�

In respect of the disruptive innovation Chain Reactions Africa is introducing into the marketing communications ecosystem in Africa, Opayemi stated: 鈥淎ra by Prophet is Africa鈥檚 first intelligent robotic insight system, a ground-breaking fusion of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, cultural foresight, and strategic communications.鈥�

He also explained: 鈥淎ra is the physical interface. Prophet is the cognitive engine.

“Together, they create a living system of strategic intelligence designed for Africa but built to compete globally.鈥�

Opayemi as well expressed his delight that after two years of intensive work, Ara the Robot has officially resumed work as a fulltime staff of Chain Reactions Africa.

鈥淲hat we have done today is a game changer. Designed and developed by Chain Reactions Africa, Ara is more than a Robot. She is a responsive advisor, a data analyst, a cultural decoder, a realtime forecaster for brands, institutions, and governments,鈥� said Opayemi.

Franklin Ozekhome at a glance

Franklin Ozekhome, a cultural strategist and innovation architect, is widely recognised as one of Africa鈥檚 leading cultural and brand strategists.

According to Chain Reactions Africa, he 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 (POKV), Africa鈥檚 first strategy school dedicated to cultural intelligence.

Ozekhome also pioneered TINK Africa, the continent鈥檚 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, Nestl茅, Phillip Morris, British Airways, Coca-Cola, Jaguar Land Rover, and Promasidor.

He also served as Vice-President of Marketing & Communications at Vendease, helping to scale one of Africa鈥檚 fastest-growing foodtech companies.

As an entrepreneur and consultant, he has advised regional and global leadership teams across EMEA, LATAM, and the US.

He is also Dean of Studies and Professor of Trendspotting and Culture at Orange Academy and Marketing Strategy Facilitator at FATE Foundation.

A Bold Evolution for Chain Reactions Africa

Chain Reaction鈥檚 next chapter is about transformation, creating platforms, tools, and experiences that merge culture, commerce, creativity, and technology.

The company restated Ozekhome鈥檚 appointment signalled Chain Reaction鈥檚 commitment to launching always-on cultural intelligence platforms and proprietary tools for clients, integrate AI-driven strategy across disciplines, build new business arms in content, commerce, and youth marketing and expand Chain Reactions into key African markets over the next three years.

Ozekhome stated: 鈥淚t鈥檚 about redesigning how culture, technology, and human behavior shape business growth and citizens鈥� engagement for government.

“I see this as a partnership to rewire how brands operate, how industries evolve, and how society moves forward in Africa.鈥�

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