Thabang Skwambane

Thabang is the Group Managing Director of FCB Africa, the flagship agency within the FCB Africa group, the largest and first ever creative services agency group in South Africa. Thabang is a well-known social activist, social entrepreneur, philanthropist and businessman with a flair for successfully combining capitalist and philanthropic principles.

He left a successful career in banking at Standard Bank to co-found Kaelo simply healthcare, a healthcare company focusing on HIV and Aids, which has now become South Africa’s leading wellness provider and primary healthcare company.

Thabang established Aluwani Foundation, formerly The Lonely Road Foundation in 2007 when he cycled alone and unsupported from Johannesburg to Kilimanjaro, a journey of 6000 kms, surviving on the generosity of the people across all 6 countries to raise funds and awareness for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs). Aluwani enables rural communities to take care of OVCs and currently have over 3,500 children in their ambit of care.

Since joining FCB in February 2015 and with no formal marketing and advertising experience, Thabang has led the business to be recognized as the AdFocus Agency of the Year and Large Agency of the year in 2016 and 2017 and Sunday Times Top Brand Agency of the Year in 2016. He has been on the board of the Association for Communication and Advertising South Africa and has been the Deputy Chairperson for the last 4 years.

In June 2020, Thabang was globally recognized as one of the top 100 creative leaders in the world by Adweek. As one of only 2 Africans and in the middle of a global pandemic, he has used this award to promote his foundation and focus on FCB Africa and its people.

Thabang has a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Accounts) from UCT and a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard, he is a Mason Fellow of Public Policy and Management and an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow.