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Rich Mkhondo is a writer, author, and reputation management practitioner and communications strategist of international repute.

Through his content development hub, The Media and Writers Firm (www.mediaandwritersfirm.com) Mkhondo helps companies with company reports, website updates; brand Management; speech Writing services; company profiling; thought leadership, internal communications, external communications, crisis communication planning and management; leadership profiling; stakeholder planning and management, and reputation management.

A graduate of Rhodes University Journalism School, Mkhondo started his journalism career at the now defunct Rand Daily Mail, and then moved to The Star before joining Reuters News Agency, the world’s largest news and information agency. He rejoined Independent Newspapers, owners of The Star, as correspondent in Washington DC, where he covered North America for the company's 13 newspapers spread across South Africa's nine provinces.

Mkhondo also headed MTN Group’s Corporate Affairs department. As an Executive in the multinational telecommunications group which offers cellular network access and business solutions, Mkhondo is the MTN Group spokesman and is responsible for conceptualising and implementing its internal and external communications, sponsorships, corporate social investment , sustainability, government and stakeholder relations strategies throughout the company’s operations in 22 countries across Africa and the Middle East.

He joined MTN from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa where he was responsible for communication and public relations in the run up to and during the first ever FIFA World Cup™ held on African soil

While at the Organising Committee, Mkhondo led and directed the strategic vision of the committee’s Communications and Media Operations departments for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa in partnership with FIFA.

As Chief Communications Officer and Spokesman of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC), Mkhondo was credited with driving the organisation’s positive image and reputation, locally and abroad with his well-rounded communication and excellent writing and oral communication skills.

Because of his leadership, the OC’s division was described as “proactive, fast, friendly, highly prepared, efficient and responsive.”

A marketing communications, corporate affairs, public relations practitioner and writer of international repute, strong and proven newspaper, broadcasting, news agency, management and editing experience, was previously Managing Director of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide/South Africa, Deputy General Manager for marketing services at Discovery, South Africa’s largest life and health insurance giant; Executive Manager for Corporate Communications at South African Airways.

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