Dawn Rowlands
CEO, Sub-Saharan Africa
Dawn Rowlands is the CEO of dentsu Africa and one of the continent’s most dynamic media and marketing leaders. Overseeing 11 markets, she has transformed dentsu’s presence from a 40-person team to more than 1,500 professionals, largely built on home-grown talent. With over 30 years’ experience across multiple sectors and 12 businesses launched under her leadership, Dawn is a seasoned entrepreneur who thrives on building scalable, sustainable ecosystems that empower people, brands, and communities.
A passionate advocate for innovation with purpose, Dawn has led award-winning initiatives that blend technology, inclusivity, and impact. Under her leadership, dentsu Africa launched Merkury, the continent’s first privacy-compliant identity solution; created transformative intern-to-hire pipelines; and redirected major media investment into black-owned enterprises. She serves on dentsu’s global Social Impact board and the Loeries Middle East & Africa board and has earned numerous accolades including Businesswoman of the Year and the African Impact Award. Resilient and future-focused, Dawn continues to pioneer a creative and connected future for African marketing.
