BHM Holdings, the African communications services group, has announced a new leadership structure as it marks the 20th anniversary of its founding.
The announcement marks a new phase for the group’s work between the UK and Africa. Founded in Lagos in November 2006, BHM now works directly and through franchise relationships in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the United States. ID Africa operates across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, helping organisations understand and communicate in those markets.
Founder Ayeni Adekunle has become Group Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair of BHM Holdings, effective 6 November 2026. In the new role, he will lead group strategy, governance, investments, technology, talent and international expansion while stepping away from the day-to-day management of the group’s operating companies.
Iretomiwa Akintunde-Johnson has been appointed Managing Director of BHM, the group’s public relations and reputation management consultancy, while Njideka Akabogu Eke-Uche has been appointed Managing Director of ID Africa, its pan-African communications, media and intelligence company. Both appointments take effect on 1 January 2027.
Plaqad, BHM Holdings’ artificial-intelligence and communications technology company, is led by Joseph Enesu, who pioneered BHM AI Labs and has overseen the development of Plaqad Intelligence.
The changes formalise a holding-company structure under which BHM, ID Africa and Plaqad operate as distinct BHM Holdings companies, each with dedicated leadership, capabilities and growth priorities.
“Twenty years ago, the ideas we had were much bigger than our resources.”
“We wanted to build an African company that could do excellent work, develop great people, create useful platforms and compete with the best companies anywhere in the world.”
“We got many things wrong, we learned, we changed and we kept building. Today, World PR Day is celebrated in more than 65 countries. NECLive continues to shape the creative industry and cultural initiatives around the world. Our research is helping people understand communications across African markets, and the work our teams do for clients has been recognised repeatedly by some of the most respected organisations in our industry.”
“But I am even more excited about what comes next. The appointment of Iretomiwa and Njideka, Joseph’s work at Plaqad, our investment in artificial intelligence and the completion of our first private placement are all connected. We are building an institution that can outlive its founders, develop new leaders and create African solutions for the world.”
Group Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair, BHM Holdings
New leadership at BHM and ID Africa
Iretomiwa Akintunde-Johnson
Akintunde-Johnson joined BHM in 2018 as an associate consultant and progressed through consulting and regional leadership roles. A lawyer and communications adviser, she has led corporate communications, crisis and issues management, stakeholder engagement and industry-development programmes.
She has also led the development of the Africa PR and Communications Report, designed to improve knowledge about the communications industry across the continent.
As Managing Director, she will be responsible for BHM’s consultancy operations, client service, talent development, new business, innovation and international collaboration.
“BHM has always believed that the best communications work must combine intelligence, creativity, cultural understanding and measurable business value.”
“I am honoured by the opportunity to lead a company that has played such an important role in my professional development and in the development of our industry. Our priority will be to deepen the trust of our clients, build new specialist capabilities and develop the next generation of African communications professionals.”
Incoming Managing Director, BHM
Njideka Akabogu Eke-Uche
Akabogu joined ID Africa in 2016 and has held positions across content, editorial, public relations, client leadership and regional management. She has managed communications programmes for entertainment, media, technology and consumer brands, including major assignments for MultiChoice, DStv, Showmax and other pan-African organisations.
She previously led ID Africa’s expansion into East Africa and will now lead the company’s pan-African expansion, integrated communications offering, media capabilities and market-development strategy.
“Africa does not need imported assumptions about its people, markets and cultures.”
“It needs world-class communications built on local intelligence and delivered with a continental perspective.”
“ID Africa’s next phase will combine our understanding of African audiences with technology, data and strong local partnerships. We will continue building a company that helps African and international organisations communicate credibly across the continent.”
Incoming Managing Director, ID Africa
Two decades of growth
BHM Holdings’ workforce – including full-time employees, contract professionals and associate fellows – exceeds 100 people. Its wider ecosystem of vendors, creators, influencers, freelancers, advisers and partners comprises more than 500 people.
Over two decades, companies within the group have worked with organisations including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Interswitch, Mavin Records, Wema Bank, FICO, Shoprite, Project Management Institute and Flour Mills of Nigeria. Current clients include MTN Nigeria, The Macallan, Nigerian Breweries and MultiChoice/DStv.
BHM appeared in the Financial Times rankings of Africa’s fastest-growing companies in 2023 and 2024. PRovoke Media’s 2026 profile reported revenue growth of more than 400% over the preceding decade and a compound annual growth rate of nearly 30%.
Building institutions, platforms and industries
Over its first 20 years, BHM has sought to build not only a communications business, but also the platforms, research, technology and professional infrastructure needed to strengthen industries.
BHM created World PR Day, which has grown into an annual global celebration involving professionals, agencies and industry associations in more than 65 countries across six continents. In 2024 alone, World PR Day recorded participation from more than 18,000 professionals, 157 agencies and 25 industry associations.
The group also created NECLive, established in 2013 as a platform for Nigeria’s entertainment and creative industries. Across its first nine editions, NECLive hosted more than 500 industry experts as speakers and panellists, attracted more than 100,000 participants, reached an audience exceeding 100 million people in more than 50 countries, and helped facilitate more than 1,000 deals and partnerships.
BHM is also responsible for the Africa PR and Communications Report, a research and intelligence project documenting the practice, development and economic role of public relations across 29 African markets.
The group’s work for clients has produced similarly significant results. PRovoke Media’s 2026 assessment of BHM highlighted its work on MTN Nigeria’s Anti-Substance Abuse Programme, which reached more than 110 million Nigerians and directly engaged two million students; its role in the SootCity environmental campaign, which contributed to Nigeria’s first Cannes Lions win; and Heineken’s 150th-anniversary programme, delivered across nine African markets and reaching more than 230 million people.
BHM has received 26 acknowledgements from PRovoke Media over five years, including SABRE Awards, Certificates of Excellence, campaign nominations and agency distinctions. In 2026, it was named one of Africa’s 11 best agencies for the fourth time, following previous appearances in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
It is the only Nigerian consultancy to have appeared on PRovoke’s list of Africa’s best agencies more than once- a record unmatched by any other Nigerian public relations firm.
Technology and investment
The group also announced the completion of its first private placement in August 2026. The value of the transaction and identities of participating investors are not being disclosed. Proceeds will be used to accelerate investment in technology and new services across BHM Holdings.
A major part of that investment is Plaqad Intelligence, an AI-powered platform supporting public relations, communications and business-intelligence workflows. The platform combines trusted public information with specialist AI systems and two decades of BHM’s communications experience and proprietary industry knowledge.
Plaqad Intelligence is being developed to help communications teams conduct research, monitor media, understand market developments, produce reports and manage communications workflows more efficiently.
“For most of our history, we funded our growth by reinvesting the income from our work.”
“We used the money we made from communications to build more communications capabilities—new companies, new markets, research, technology and talent.”
“The private placement gives us an opportunity to do more of that work, with greater speed and discipline. The amount and participating investors will remain private, but the purpose is clear: to invest in technology and develop new services that can strengthen our companies and help our clients.”
Group Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair, BHM Holdings
“Plaqad Intelligence is the result of a long-term belief that technology should not replace communications professionals—it should give them better intelligence, greater capacity and more time for judgement and creativity.”
Lead, Plaqad
Investing in the next 20 years
BHM Holdings also confirmed that it will establish an education scholarship from 2027 as part of its commitment to developing the next generation of African communications, media, technology and business leaders. Details, including eligibility requirements and the selection process, will be announced separately.
“Many people opened doors for me and for BHM when there was no obvious reason to believe we would succeed.”
“The scholarship is one way of making sure we continue to open doors for others.”
“We will announce the full details separately, but the idea is to begin in 2027 and build a sustainable programme that supports the people who will lead African communications, media, technology and business over the next 20 years.”
Group Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair, BHM Holdings
Media enquiries
Patricia Ibok
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