WPP Scangroup Plc has appointed Akua Brayie Owusu-Nartey as Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, effective 17 November 2025, after the departure of Patricia Ithau in July.

She succeeds interim COO Miriam Kaggwa, who led operations during the transition.

Owusu-Nartey has more than 18 years of experience across Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia.

She has previously served as Chief Client Officer and Head of Connected Culture at Ogilvy Africa, Acting Managing Director at Scanad Kenya, and held senior roles at Ogilvy Ghana and Publicis West Africa.

A Turbulent Advertising Ship

Owusu-Nartey’s appointment follows one of the most turbulent phases in WPP Scangroup’s history.

Over the past three years, the Nairobi-listed marketing group has issued a string of profit warnings, a sharp share price decline, and the loss of long-term clients such as Airtel Africa after 15 years.

Internal restructuring during Patricia Ithau’s tenure—particularly the merger of Scangroup and Squad Digital—led to the departure of several key creative and technology executives.

Insiders say this reorganization disrupted operations and contributed to an exodus of skilled staff, many of whom have since established rival agencies that now compete for Scangroup’s former clients.

The company’s earlier tech-driven initiatives, including e-commerce platform Goby and automated marketing system Optimus, were also shelved, cutting off what had been growing revenue lines. Optimus alone had contributed nearly KSh 300 million annually before the pivot away from digital innovation.

The company’s governance has also faced scrutiny. Former CEO Bharat Thakrar’s 2021 dismissal and subsequent lawsuit against the parent company WPP exposed internal tensions and led to reputational setbacks.

Combined with shifting advertising budgets, loss of creative leadership, and growing digital competition from global firms and local startups, Scangroup’s dominance in Kenya’s communications industry has steadily weakened.

Inside WPP Scangroup’s Books

Owusu-Nartey takes charge as the company reported a half-year loss of KSh 208 million for the period ended 30 June 2025, an improvement from KSh 252 million a year earlier.

Gross profit declined 16% to KSh 815 million, while foreign-exchange losses narrowed 97% to KSh 6 million after a period of shilling stability. Other income fell 92% to KSh 5 million as client spending weakened across key markets.

Owusu-Nartey holds a BBA from Central University College in Ghana and an Executive MBA from Hult International Business School in the UK.