Acceleration Media appoints new GM

Acceleration Media has appointed experienced marketing and communications specialist Stephanie Houslay as its new general manager. She will be based in Cape Town, where she will lead Acceleration Media’s growth in the Western Cape region.

The company has also announced that Diane Charton, its Cape Town-based managing director will be leaving the company to take up the role of managing director at the Red & Yellow School of Advertising.

Houslay brings broad and deep marketing experience on both the agency and client sides to her role as general manager of Acceleration Media. Her experience includes time spent working on above and below the line advertising accounts for TBWA and Ogilvy in South Africa.

During a four-year stay in the UK, she worked on the Nokia and Vodafone accounts for J.Walter Thompson and also filled the role of UK marketing manager for South African Tourism. She has lectured marketing students at the University of Johannesburg and the Oxford Business School in the UK.

Says Acceleration Media CEO Tony Sousa: “We are sad to see Diane go, since she has played such a central role in Acceleration Media’s growth over the past six and half years. She leaves a company that is in excellent shape to keep expanding in South Africa’s fast-growing digital marketing landscape.”

“At the same time, we are delighted to bring a marketing professional with Stephanie’s experience and expertise on board. Her intimate knowledge of tech brands and her holistic understanding of marketing will be major assets for Acceleration Media as we grow our business.”

Houslay adds that she is looking forward to working with the Acceleration Media team to grow its business. “I have a passion for social marketing and sustainability – two areas that I see scope to advance through my role at Acceleration Media,” she says.

“I feel privileged to have been part of the growth and journey of a business that has grown from four people in 2006 to 32 today and to have worked with such amazing clients and colleagues,” says Charton.

“It is not easy for me to leave because I am proud of what we have built, but I know the business is in strong hands with Tony and his team. I am looking forward to shaping the business leaders of tomorrow at the Red & Yellow School of Business in the years to come.”