Umurhohwo, recently recognized among Brandcom Awards’ Top 35 Under 35 Marketing Professionals, brings over a decade of cross-sector experience spanning technology, consumer electronics, and fintech. His career trajectory has been widely described as remarkable, with a record of driving growth, digital engagement, and consumer connection.
Proven Brand Builder
He began his career at itel Mobile, where he was instrumental in transforming the brand from relative obscurity into one of Africa’s most recognized mobile phone names. Under his leadership, itel saw rapid expansion in market share and digital presence, bolstered by innovative campaigns such as the “Love Always On” CSR initiative, nationwide campus activations, and celebrity partnerships that connected deeply with young consumers.
From there, Umurhohwo transitioned into fintech as Global Marketing Manager at Zap Africa, a blockchain-based payments and crypto platform. He successfully spearheaded a major rebrand that included a new corporate identity, enhanced user experience, and bold engagement strategies aimed at solidifying Zap’s place in the competitive African fintech space.
A New Challenge at StarTimes
At StarTimes, Umurhohwo assumes responsibility for repositioning the pay-TV giant at a time when traditional broadcasters face mounting competition from streaming platforms. His mandate includes re-energizing brand perception, modernizing creative output, boosting digital engagement, and ultimately driving subscriber growth.
“StarTimes has an incredible story, but I see even greater opportunities ahead,” Umurhohwo said in a statement. “From refreshing our digital touchpoints to improving how we connect with customers across channels, my focus will be on repositioning StarTimes as a modern, engaging, and customer-first brand. Together with the team, we will raise the bar and ensure our marketing efforts directly contribute to growth.”
Signaling a New Phase
Industry observers note that StarTimes’ decision reflects a wider shift among pay-TV providers to rethink marketing in response to changing consumer habits. With his proven record of digital-first campaigns and youth-driven engagement strategies, Umurhohwo’s appointment is expected to inject fresh energy into the company’s marketing approach.
As StarTimes navigates the evolving media landscape, Umurhohwo’s arrival signals a new chapter—one that will focus not just on technology and content, but also on how the brand connects with and inspires its audience.