• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, July 25, 2013

As it prepares for a major ramp-up across the continent, WPP’s Y&R has named Yossi Schwartz to the new post of chairman Y&R Africa. Schwartz will also retain his current title and responsibilities as chairman of Y&R South Africa.

Word of Schwartz’s promotion comes as the global agency network is planning to expand its African presence from 11 offices to 20 by 2015. It also comes just a month after the agency’s digital shop VML made its own expansion move on the continent with the acquisition of South African digital agency Native (now Native VML), which has offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Schwartz moved to South Africa 20 years ago from his native Israel, where he had been the head of strategy at BBDO. He formed an independent agency, which was acquired by Y&R in 2001. According to the agency, Y&R South Africa is the fourth-largest agency group in the country.

David Sable, Global CEO Y&R, said that Native VML provides the “strong digital backbone that must be at the heart of any communications program in Africa, along with the strategic and creative resources of Y&R.” Digital capabilities are critical, in part, due to the continent’s vast mobile user base -- 600 million strong and counting, he added.

Y&R’s expanding African presence will be supported by three main hubs in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria, the agency said. The shop has been doing business in Africa for nearly 50 years.

Sable credited Schwartz’s knowledge of the region, leadership skills and “deep passion for the agency and Africa.”

Schwartz stated that Africa is an “extraordinary, diverse continent with enormous potential for growth.”

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