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Kirsten Veenstra

@kirstenveenstra

Senior marketing & communications leader with 20+ years in digital, brand, content, CRM, B2B, strategy and global markets.

South Africa

Message

What I'm looking for

I'm looking to provide senior, hands-on marketing and communications leadership for complex businesses, building sales-aligned functions, brands, content, digital platforms and stakeholder communications from the ground up.

I provide fractional marketing and communications leadership to organisations in South Africa, the UK, Europe and the US, especially in engineering, manufacturing, marine, technology and specialist sectors. I build marketing functions from the ground up and connect strategy directly to business-development and commercial objectives.

My work has included regional marketing across Africa and the Middle East for Bullitt Group’s rugged mobile-device brands, including Cat phones, Land Rover and Kodak. I managed budgets of up to R8 million per annum, led go-to-market programmes with distributors and retailers, and delivered launches, campaigns, CRM, events and five television advertisements.

At Virgin Group, Old Mutual, T-Systems, Honda and DaimlerChrysler, I led internal and external communications, brand, PR, CRM, digital channels, executive communications and change activity. I translate complex technical and business information into clear, credible communication for employees, customers, media and senior stakeholders.

I stay hands-on across copywriting, content, websites, WordPress, SEO, paid campaigns, video, analytics and supplier leadership. I also use AI tools with rigorous human review, and received the 2024 SABBEX Award for Marketing & Promotion.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Founder & Director

Current

Independent Consulting Practice

Mar 2014 - Present (12 years 6 months)

Provides senior fractional marketing and communications leadership to SMMEs, established businesses and larger groups, often in engineering, manufacturing, marine, technical and specialist sectors where little formal marketing infrastructure previously existed.

Marketing Strategy Brand Strategy Communications Strategy Content Strategy Digital Marketing Social Media PR CRM SEO WordPress Google Analytics AI Tools ChatGpt Claude Gemini NotebookLM Adobe AI

Marketing & Channel Marketing Manager

Bullitt Group

Feb 2016 - Dec 2018 (2 years 10 months)

Led regional marketing across Africa and the Middle East for Bullitt Group, a UK-based manufacturer of rugged and specialist mobile devices developed under global brand licences including Cat phones, Land Rover and Kodak.

Channel Marketing Regional Marketing Budget Management Digital Marketing Social Media Content Marketing Brand Management PR Trade Shows CRM Direct Marketing

Internal Communications Manager

Virgin Group

Jan 2013 - Mar 2014 (1 year 2 months)

Led internal communications, employee engagement and culture activity across Virgin South Africa, including management of Virgin Tribe, the cross-company staff organisation and loyalty-partner programme.

Internal Communications Employee Engagement Brand Management PR Media Relations Digital Channels Social Media Event Management

Communications Lead

Old Mutual

Mar 2012 - Dec 2012 (9 months)

Joint communications lead within a major global IT infrastructure and service-delivery transformation programme, working as part of a large multidisciplinary international programme team across numerous interconnected technology workstreams.

Communications Strategy Change Management Stakeholder Analysis Internal Communications Digital Platforms Event Management

Marketing, Communications & CRM Manager

Spark ATM Systems

Apr 2011 - Nov 2011 (7 months)

Established the full marketing, communications and CRM portfolio at a fast-growing independent ATM deployer, working closely with leadership and business development.

CRM Direct Marketing Loyalty Programs Corporate Communications PR Media Relations Website Management Social Media Internal Communications Event Management

Communications Specialist

T-Systems South Africa

Jan 2009 - Mar 2011 (2 years 2 months)

Managed the national corporate communications portfolio for one of South Africa’s largest IT outsourcing businesses, part of Deutsche Telekom.

Corporate Communications PR Media Relations Internal Communications Digital Platforms Social Media Change Communications

Independent Marketing, Communications & PR Consultant

Self Employed

Oct 2007 - Dec 2008 (1 year 2 months)

Undertook freelance PR, media, copywriting, website, marketing and communications assignments for businesses, magazines and other publications. Contracted to Ronald Sewells & Associates / Sewells Group (now part of MSX International), combining automotive performance consulting with national facilitation of management and sales programmes.

PR Media Copywriting Website Management Marketing Communications Management Facilitation Sales Training CRM

Group Marketing, Communications & CRM Manager

Honda Western Cape / Mekor Motors

Sep 2005 - Aug 2007 (1 year 11 months)

Established and led the marketing, communications and CRM function from scratch across Honda dealership operations in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, covering both cars and motorcycles.

Marketing Strategy CRM Direct Marketing Loyalty Programs Brand Marketing Digital Marketing Advertising PR Media Relations Event Management Internal Communications

Group Marketing & Communications Manager

Sandown Motor Holdings / DaimlerChrysler

Jan 2001 - Sep 2005 (4 years 8 months)

Led retail marketing, communications, key-account activity and CRM across DaimlerChrysler-owned dealership operations in the Western Cape and selected Gauteng operations, spanning Mercedes-Benz passenger and commercial vehicles, Chrysler, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Freightliner, smart and Maybach.

Retail Marketing CRM Key Account Management Brand Management Advertising Direct Marketing Digital Marketing Event Management PR Media Relations Team Leadership

Executive Assistant to Global Vice-President

Federal-Mogul Corporation

May 1999 - Dec 2000 (1 year 7 months)

Key member of an international director team within a major US-headquartered global automotive component manufacturer, supporting the Vice-President responsible for friction-product operations across Europe and Africa.

Executive Support Coordination Report Preparation Event Coordination Confidentiality