COVER STORY
The Power of Branding and Execution
The Property Pioneer: From Investor’ s Mind to Commercial Mastery
COVER STORY
The Power of Branding and Execution
This operational foundation then collided with the world of marketing and advertising, where he spent about 10 years after obtaining his IMM Marketing Management Diploma. Working at top agencies like Ogilvy Mather Direct, Sonnenberg Murphy Leo Burnett, and DDB- Old Shanghai, this phase was transformative.
It built his strategic thinking, communication expertise, and, critically, his ability to develop a good creative brief and drive idea generation, from concept through to logistics and execution. Mike executed multimillion-rand campaigns for global brands. At DDB- Old Shanghai, he had the incredible experience of setting up and managing a full-service advertising agency and handling the exclusive strategy and launch of Mitsubishi Motors in South Africa. This included all the‘ through the line’ activities— brand strategy, creative materials, media plans, dealer roll-outs, and events.“ You can’ t just rely on creative flair; you need a system,” Mike asserts. He developed and executed brand strategies and plans for clients, including a unique five-step process for a holistic approach to communications designed to increase brand value. He was also an early technology adaptor, developing business strategy for smaller agencies and clients on the marketing front, and implemented a sales software tool.
This period equipped him with the ability to manage teams, budgets, and drive revenue across diverse portfolios. He’ s successfully presented to everyone from shareholders and staff members, to CEOs and CFOs.
The Property Pioneer: From Investor’ s Mind to Commercial Mastery
The move into property was a natural progression, fuelled by his own experiences as a property lover and investor. He developed an eye for analysing income-generating properties and businesses being sold as‘ going concerns’. He started by building a portfolio that included townhouses and houses, which he strategically converted into communes, letting rooms to students and managing upwards of forty leases at a time.
16 REI MAGAZINE DEC / JAN 2026