Chief Operating Officer, Sub-Saharan Africa | Regional Executive Director, Growth Markets

Lana Marais is Chief Operating Officer for dentsu Sub-Saharan Africa and Regional Executive Director for Growth Markets. She plays a central role in shaping how the business operates and scales across the region, with a focus on delivering consistent performance and sustainable growth.

Having joined dentsu as an intern in 2008, Lana has built her career within the network, progressing into one of its most trusted operational leaders. Her experience spans operations, commercial strategy, client partnerships,  and market development, giving her a deep understanding of the opportunities and complexities across Africa.

As COO, Lana works closely with market leaders to strengthen performance, improve how teams connect across the region, and ensure the business is set up to deliver for clients in a fast-changing environment. She is known for bringing clarity to complex challenges and turning strategy into practical, actionable outcomes.

Passionate about building strong teams and resilient businesses, Lana is focused on creating the conditions for people to do their best work and for the organisation to grow with consistency and purpose.