Woodrow, the future positive communications consultancy, has announced it has appointed David Karega as Head of its East and Southern Africa practice. Woodrow is a FT1000 business headquartered in London and has recently won major contracts with philanthropic organisations in East and Southern Africa, and Karega’s appointment comes at an exciting moment in the organisation’s growth.
Karega joins from Ogilvy Africa, where he spent close to five years, most recently as Deputy Managing Partner for PR & Influence. He will work out of Woodrow’s Nairobi office, reporting into Woodrow’s CEO & Founder, Charlie Tarr.
Karega has more than 13 years’ experience in the industry, leading teams in the UK, West and East Africa. In his time at Ogilvy, Karega delivered notable campaigns for the likes of Mastercard Foundation, Electoral Commission of Ghana, Bolt, Twitter ExxonMobil, Standard Chartered Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Woodrow has a long history of operation across Africa and in fact, the company’s origins began there when Founder and CEO Charlie Tarr set up a press office for the Liberian government in the wake of an Ebola outbreak. Current clients in the region include international conglomerate Janus Continental Group, and Hormuud Telecom.
David Karega commented: “I’m honoured and excited to be leading the talented Woodrow team in East and Southern Africa. As we continue to deliver impactful communications work on the continent, my vision will be to cultivate a culture of creativity, innovative storytelling and continuous learning that will help our clients achieve stronger relationships with the audiences that matter to them.”
Woodrow has been recognised by industry for its campaigns, such as helping to achieve key worker recognition for hundreds of thousands of transport workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Woodrow’s London HQ was voted as one of the capital’s best workspaces in 2022 by the Evening Standard. Its team now numbers 30 across offices in London, New York, and Nairobi.
Charlie Tarr, Woodrow’s CEO & Founder commenting on Karega’s appointment: “David brings dynamism and experience to the team, and we’ve been bowled over by his energy, enthusiasm and belief in our mission. Woodrow has worked on campaigns of vital significance across the region, and with major new client wins, expectations are heightened, and we relish the opportunity. On a personal note, he also shares my strong desire to give back to young professionals in Kenya and beyond – more to come on that soon.”