Meet the Team
Ayanda Mbanga – CEO
Ayanda Mbanga is a Rhodes University Journalism graduate with more than 25 years of experience in the advertising and media communications industry. An award-winning owner and founder of her own business, Ayanda is a qualified professional business coach, with a specific focus on career coaching.
- Associate member of the Professional Speakers’ Association of Southern Africa,
- Alumni of the Henley Business School and the Gordon Institute of Business (GIBS).
- Past board member of the Association for Communication & Advertising
- Board member of the KZN NPO, Heifer South Africa (HPSA).
“ I am passionate about inspiring people to redefine what success means for them and to ultimately bring about meaningful changes in their professional and business lives”
Beverley van der Ross – Regional Operations Manager, Western Cape
Beverley joined the company as a PA in 2010. As a multi-tasker and organiser, she was redeployed to the media department, where she immediately fell in love with this ever-changing industry. She is an expert at balancing print with digital and is perfectly suited to advise advertisers on how to best invest their money to reach target groups. She is passionate about client service and as the Office Manager in our Cape Town office, she believes in leading by example.
“I work for one of the greatest companies in SA, I have learned to work under pressure , attend to detail and work with an amazing team. One thing that stands out for me in this company is that our leaders lead by example!”
Irene Gilbert – Regional Operations Manager, KwaZulu-Natal
Irene’s 35+ experience in client service, media buying, production and Desk Top Publishing stands her in good stead when looking after the interests on our KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape clients. Versatile, multi-skilled and passionate in her approach, Irene is all about delivering best value to clients at the quickest possible time. All while keeping a committed team.
According to Irene, “Doing what you love so work won’t feel like work. Being a leader and not a dictator. happy, loyal and dedicated teams make for happy and loyal clients. ”
Dean Houtzamer – Senior Account Manager
With the company since 2011, Dean is our go-to person for all things LinkedIn. Having developed his talents in the print and digital media landscape, Dean’s strength is in his no-nonsense ability to get projects completed accurately, on-time and within budget.
“The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity” – Leonard Ravenhill
Mary Gedamu
is a passionate advocate for employability, digital visibility, and career empowerment across Africa. With a strong background in customer engagement, learning technology, and professional branding, she works with organisations and institutions to help individuals unlock opportunities in an increasingly digital world.
As part of Ayanda Mbanga Communications, the certified LinkedIn partner in Africa, Mary collaborates with universities, corporates, government institutions, and professionals across the continent on initiatives focused on future skills, workforce readiness, talent development, and LinkedIn strategy.
Mary’s own career journey is deeply connected to the power of visibility and networking. By intentionally building her professional presence on LinkedIn, she was able to access global opportunities, grow her international network, and transition into the world of global SaaS and digital transformation. Today, she is passionate about helping others understand how platforms like LinkedIn can be used not only for job searching, but also for thought leadership, learning, and creating meaningful professional connections.
She is especially passionate about youth empowerment, employability, and helping African professionals position themselves confidently in the global digital economy. Through speaking engagements, workshops, and strategic collaborations, Mary continues to champion the importance of personal branding, lifelong learning, and digital inclusion.