Street Toolz, Africa’s leading interactive marketing and advertising agency, last week, announced the appointment of Semira Mahmud as its Interim Chief Executive Officer, following the decision of its founding CEO, Jerry Oche, to step down in order to give his full attention to some other pressing interests. The appointment, according to official information from Street Toolz, takes effect from June 1, 2017.
Mahmud, 28, who left the employment of the company in 2015 to pursue her advanced studies in Europe, is returning to a very familiar terrain with a wealth of experience, having formerly worked as the Chief Operating Officer at Street Toolz.
Commenting on the new appointment, Oche said: “Semira is Street Toolz through and through, and I’m delighted that she is coming back to work in this capacity. Her work ethics, wealth of knowledge and ad experience with a strong global perspective will surely come to bear in her role as Interim CEO. As such, she is sure to make a success of it, more importantly, perhaps, because she is a great advocate of our integrity and speed-centric culture, with a robust social anchor.
Mahmud, whose academic background is in Behaviour Change Communications and Digital Marketing, holds an Mphil in International Peace Studies form Trinity College, Dublin, A masters in Media and Public Relations from University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne as well as a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A. Sc.) Degree in Mass Communication/Media Studies from the University of Lagos, She has work experience cutting across development communications, digital marketing, new media and campaign management.
On the appointment, industry stalwarts who have associated closely with the company believe that, since Mahmud was extremely successful as COO in her short time with Street Toolz a couple of years back, she is best equipped and well positioned to lead the agency at this point in time.
Mahmud, who spends her spare time volunteering for causes she is passionate about, comes to the new position with ample experience in agency workings, and would be leading business operations, strategy and planning at the Digital Shed in her role as Interim CEO, until the end of 2017, when a substantive CEO would be confirmed for the company.
Expressing faith in Mahmud’s capacity to lead the agency to lofty heights, Oche urged members of staff, partners, clients and stakeholders of Street Toolz to lend their support to the interim CEO.
Founded in 2011 with the belief that user experience, interactivity and engagement, not advertising, is the key to successful brand building and marketing, Street Toolz continues to push the borders of digital marketing and advertising in Africa, providing innovative solutions across the digital and traditional media landscape, alongside its other brands like Zowasel, Growsel and Tools Academy.
