Open to opportunities

Karabo Talane

@karabotalane

Commercial brand leader and director building revenue-driving brands through strategy, franchise alignment, and operational excellence.

South Africa

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking for a role where I can drive commercial growth through brand strategy tied to revenue, align franchise and field teams around a clear vision, and partner closely with operations to protect margins and deliver measurable results.

I’m a commercially minded brand champion with over 10 years of experience building brands and leading teams in South Africa. My career bridges high-energy corporate marketing with hands-on entrepreneurship in manufacturing, so I understand both brand equity and real supply-chain P&L ownership.

I’ve built from scratch to scale: I founded Marasque Holdings and grew it into a structured, highly recognized manufacturing brand, expanding our client base by 8%. I also tailored and deployed national campaigns across Wimpy’s regional footprint, lifting localized store traffic by an average of 15%.

As a marketer and operator, I thrive on turning consumer insights into campaigns that move product off the shelves—and aligning franchise owners, board members, and floor teams behind a shared vision. Through collaborative relationship-building, I achieved an 80% brand compliance rate across highly independent franchise networks at both Nando’s and Wimpy.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Brand Manager

Famous Brands – Wimpy

Apr 2014 - Apr 2016 (2 years)

Formulated and implemented marketing and brand strategies, including media planning and BTL/ATL activity budgeting. Managed menu pricing strategy and new product innovation, supported franchisees, and delivered regional store promotions that increased regional sales by 12%.

Brand Strategy Marketing Planning Media Planning Budget Management BTL ATL Activity Management Pricing Strategy New Product Innovation performance reporting

Regional Marketing Manager

Ster-Kinekor

Oct 2011 - Feb 2012 (4 months)

Managed regional marketing execution across 50 cinema sites with a R800,000 promotional budget. Increased local ticket sales and concession spend by 15% through targeted movie launches, partnerships, and school programs, while coordinating campaign requirements and marketing materials.

Marketing Execution Budget Management Partnerships Partner Sourcing Proposal Management Digital Artwork Marketing Material Sourcing Media Relations Event Promotion

Regional Trade Marketing Manager

Nando’s

Jun 2009 - Sep 2011 (2 years 3 months)

Protected and grew Nando’s brand personality across South Africa by designing and executing regional brand plans aligned to national strategy. Managed regional budgets and performance against targets, supported restaurant teams with coaching and toolkits, ensured brand compliance, and conducted competitive analysis to adjust initiatives.

Brand Management Brand Initiatives Regional Budgeting ATL BTL Advertising Performance Monitoring Coaching & Development Competitive Analysis POS Digital Toolkit Development Relationship Management

Assistant Brand Manager

Jive City Groups

Jun 2007 - May 2009 (1 year 11 months)

Developed marketing and brand-building campaigns, monitoring and reviewing brand performance and managing media initiatives within budget. Coordinated production and distribution of promotional materials, briefed agencies, supported TV and radio advert approvals, and managed sponsorship visibility, database communications, and competition elements.

Brand Performance Media Initiatives & Advertising Promotional Materials Agency Briefing Budget Management POS & Promotional Material Control Database Building Communication Competition Pricing Fulfillment

Marketing Assistant

The Africa Conference Directory

Feb 2005 - May 2007 (2 years 3 months)

Researched and prepared marketing strategy, reviewed marketing objectives quarterly, and promoted the brand through trade fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Conducted venue educationals planning and post-event evaluation, managed client databases, and compiled and distributed newsletters based on market and competitor analysis.

Marketing Strategy Marketing Objectives Venue Educational Scheduling Strategic Marketing Competitor Analysis Recommendations

Sales & Marketing Manager

Heineken International

Mar 2004 - Oct 2004 (7 months)

Managed sales and marketing activities, meeting or exceeding sales targets and developing relationships with accounts in the Dubai market. Briefed clients on Heineken campaigns, managed consumer expectations and deadlines, drove venue traffic through promotions, ensured branded materials were visible, and organized Heineken-sponsored events.

Sales Targets Client Management Account Relationship Management Market Analysis Promotions & Venue Traffic Growth Event Management

Public Relations Officer

Mercer Electronics

May 2003 - Mar 2004 (10 months)

Produced and compiled company supplements and supported marketing and sales programs through cross-department coordination. Assisted communications administration, improved customer service by resolving queries and complaints, and supported event management and corporate representation.

Public Relations Marketing Support Communications Management Event Management

Co-Founder & Director

Marasque Holdings (Pty) Ltd

Apr 2016 - Present (10 years 3 months)

Co-founded Marasque Holdings and led brand strategy alongside manufacturing operations as the business transitioned from non-executive to full-time co-founder. Built client relationships, managed brand communications and market research, and oversaw production with continuous improvement, including reducing operational waste by 5%.