---
title: 'Head: Corporate Communications at Takealot Group'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/head-corporate-communications-takealot-group-cape-town-xexvs86tb4j2'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-06'
---

# Head: Corporate Communications at Takealot Group

- **Company:** Takealot Group
- **Location:** Cape Town, South Africa
- **Posted:** 2026-11-02
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-06
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/takealotgroup/jobs/8346014

## Job description

[takealot.com](https://www.takealot.com/), South Africa's leading online retailer, is looking for a highly accomplished Head of Corporate Communications  to join our Corporate Affairs team in Cape Town.

We are a young, dynamic, hyper growth company looking for smart, creative, hard-working people with integrity to join us. We offer a market related, Total Remuneration Package which allows full flexibility according to your needs, a great work environment and a promise that you won’t be bored as long as you are prepared for a challenge and want to build something great.

This position reports to the Group Executive: Public Affairs

Your responsibilities will include:

Corporate narrative and reputation strategy

- Develop and lead the Takealot Group corporate communications and reputation strategy, aligned to business strategy, the Group's South African identity, economic contribution, innovation agenda and social impact.
- Create and maintain a clear messaging architecture, approved proof points and corporate narrative that can be used consistently across Group functions and business units without diluting their distinct customer brands.
- Position the Group credibly on the issues that shape its licence to grow: e-commerce and the digital economy, entrepreneurship and localisation, employment and platform work, logistics innovation, consumer trust and inclusive growth.
- Translate the strategy into a prioritised annual communications plan linked to material reputation risks, policy priorities, business milestones and opportunities for proactive leadership.

Media relations, executive communications and thought leadership

- Lead Group-level relationships with business, political, technology, labour, consumer and general news media, building a proactive programme rather than a predominantly reactive press office.
- Advise and prepare the Group CEO and designated executives for interviews, speeches, opinion pieces, panels and other high-value platforms; ensure executive visibility is purposeful and tied to strategic priorities.
- Lead communications for Group results, material corporate announcements, partnerships and strategic milestones in coordination with Finance, Legal, Naspers/Prosus and the relevant business units.
- Set media-response and spokesperson protocols, oversee high-risk media enquiries and ensure the Group and BU teams communicate accurately, consistently and at appropriate speed.

Issues, crisis and reputation risk

- Maintain an active reputation and issues register linked to Public Policy, Risk, Legal and operational risk processes, identifying emerging narratives before they become material reputation events.
- Develop scenario plans, holding statements, key messages, escalation paths and spokesperson arrangements for priority risks, including driver and labour issues, community tension, consumer or product-safety concerns, regulatory scrutiny, technology incidents and operational disruption.
- Lead the communications response during Group-level crises and coordinate relevant BU, Legal, Risk, Operations, Customer and executive stakeholders around a single verified position and clear decision rights.

Public policy, stakeholder and social impact communications

- Work with Public Policy and Stakeholder Relations to translate complex policy positions into clear public narratives without pre-empting the accountable advocacy or negotiating mandate.
- Build communications strategies around priority issues such as the future of platform work and the Third Way, fair e-commerce competition and customs/VAT parity, consumer protection, localisation, driver ecosystem sustainability and digital economic inclusion.
- Lead the narrative for the Takealot Township Economy Initiative (TTEI) and broader social impact agenda, connecting driver development, marketplace SMEs, township and rural inclusion, franchisee development and skills programmes to measurable economic contribution.
- Partner with Social Impact, Sustainability, Finance and programme owners to ensure public claims are evidence-based, balanced and auditable; turn verified data and human stories into credible stakeholder and media content without overclaiming.

Group and business-unit communications governance

- Define and embed the operating model, decision rights and escalation protocols between Group Corporate Communications and the CMOs of takealot.com, Mr D and TFS.
- Convene a regular Group communications forum to align major announcements, emerging issues, executive visibility and narrative priorities while preserving BU ownership of consumer and commercial marketing.
- Retain final accountability for the Group's institutional position and corporate reputation. The relevant CMO retains final accountability for customer brand and commercial execution; major launches, partnerships, incidents and public-interest campaigns are coordinated jointly where the two intersect.
- Maintain a single source of truth for approved corporate facts, messages, policy positions and proof points, with clear approval routes for corporate statements, media responses and reputation-sensitive communications.

Reputation intelligence, capability and delivery

- Build a decision-useful reputation intelligence capability covering media, stakeholder sentiment, message penetration, misinformation, emerging issues, competitor narratives and material shifts in the external environment.
- Measure what matters: quality and relevance of coverage, message pull-through, stakeholder understanding and trust, executive credibility, issue preparedness and response effectiveness. Do not rely on advertising-value equivalency or volume alone.
- Build and lead the corporate communications team and agency model, manage approved budgets and develop strong capability in writing, media relations, issues management, research, executive communications and rapid response.
- Use AI-enabled monitoring, research, drafting and scenario preparation to improve speed and coverage while retaining human judgement, source verification, confidentiality, editorial accountability and the required Legal or executive approvals.

Qualification & Experience:

- An Honours degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Corporate Affairs, Business, Political Science, Public Policy, Law, Economics or a related field. A relevant master's degree is advantageous.
- At least 12 years experience in corporate communications, reputation management, strategic communications, public affairs or journalism in a complex, high-profile or regulated organisation.
- At least five years at senior leadership level, advising CEOs, executive committees or boards and leading teams, agencies and budgets.
- A strong record across corporate narrative, media relations, executive communications and issues or crisis management, including coordination across brands or business units.
- Experience navigating sensitive policy, regulatory or societal issues, influencing without direct authority and making sound decisions under pressure

Attributes Required:

- Strategic judgement; corporate storytelling; commercial, political and societal acumen; strong issues and crisis leadership.
- Executive influence, cross-functional collaboration and the ability to create alignment without unnecessarily centralising BU accountability.
- Integrity, discretion, courage and calm under pressure; able to challenge constructively, move at pace and know when the Group should not speak.
- Deep understanding of the South African media, political, regulatory and socioeconomic environment and the reputation dynamics facing digital businesses.
- Exceptional writing, editing, briefing and verbal communication; able to simplify complex business, policy and technical issues accurately.
- Ability to manage Group/BU brand architecture: protect a coherent institutional position while enabling distinct customer brands and commercial teams.
- Ability to turn policy, social-impact and economic-contribution evidence into credible narratives without overclaiming.
- Capability in reputation measurement, media intelligence, executive positioning, crisis simulation and communications governance.
- Responsible use of AI for monitoring, research and drafting, with source verification, confidentiality and human editorial accountability.

The Environment:

- We laugh hard, work harder, and take full ownership of our wins (and learning moments!)
- Teamwork makes the dream work – we're solution-seekers who thrive on collaboration
- Got feedback? Bring it on! We're always hungry for fresh ideas and honest input
- Ego? We checked that at the door. Results? Now we're talking!

If you meet the above you are an Extraordinary Mind so come and join us!

Takealot Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applicants from the previously disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities, to apply.

## About Takealot Group

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Takealot Group is South Africa’s largest e-commerce ecosystem, operating online retail (takealot.com), fashion (Superbalist, divested), and on-demand delivery (Mr D).
- **Entity Type**: Private subsidiary of Naspers (publicly-listed multinational)
- **Headquarters**: Cape Town, South Africa
- **Founded**: June 2011
- **Founders**: Kim Reid (CEO); acquired alongside Tiger Global Management from the earlier Take2 business

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: E-commerce, Online Retail, On-Demand Food Delivery, Logistics
- **Target customers**: B2C (online shoppers, food delivery users) and B2B (through Takealot for Business; third-party sellers on Marketplace; logistics clients like Woolworths, Pick n Pay)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “To be the largest most customer-centric online shopping destination in Africa” and “Changing lives in South Africa for the better through e-commerce.”

## Products & Services
For each major offering:
- **[takealot.com](https://takealot.com)**: South Africa’s largest online retailer — a full-service e-commerce store with product categories from electronics to groceries, plus a Marketplace of over 11,000 third-party sellers.
- **[Mr D](https://mrd.co.za)**: On-demand food and grocery delivery app (formerly Mr Delivery). Competes with Uber Eats. Partners with Pick n Pay, Nespresso, Frozen 4 You, and Woolworths-owned Absolute Pets.
- **[TakealotMORE](https://www.takealot.com/more)**: Subscription service (two tiers) akin to Amazon Prime, offering free delivery and exclusive deals.
- **[Takealot for Business](https://www.takealot.com/business)**: B2B procurement service launched September 2025.
- **[TakealotNOW](https://www.takealot.com)**: Ultra-fast (minutes/hours) delivery pilot launched December 2025 for ~1,000 items in Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg.
- **[Takealot Fulfilment Services (TFS)](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/takealotgroup)**: Logistics and warehousing arm providing distribution services to third-party retailers like Woolworths.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed directly (Takealot Group is a private subsidiary of Naspers; Naspers’ market cap is >$50B but Takealot is one division).
- **Key Metric**: **Revenue** → R16.4 billion (2026 financial year) — 18% year-over-year growth. First-time full-year profitability: R181 million operating profit (vs. R214 million loss prior year).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Parent company **Naspers** (96% ownership). Former major investor **Tiger Global Management** (early funding). Logistics partners: **Woolworths**, **Pick n Pay**, **Nespresso**, **Inospace** (logistics park).
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - 17% revenue growth at takealot.com (2025), 28% annual growth in a recent period.
  - Mr D revenue grew 8% (2025) and 18% annually in a later period.
  - Achieved group-level profitability for first time in June 2026.
  - Electric vehicle fleet: 232 e-bikes, 41 Mellowvan 3-wheel EVs, ~30 electric trucks (with more on order).
  - Opened new Cape Town e-commerce logistics park at Inospace’s Powder Mill Park (January 2026).
  - ~7,300 employees company-wide (including drivers and contractors).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Scale & logistics moat**: Largest e-commerce platform in Africa, with own delivery network (Mr D), distribution centers in Western Cape and Gauteng, and a vast network of Pickup Points across all 9 South African provinces.
- **Ecosystem lock-in**: Subscription (TakealotMORE), marketplace, food delivery, and B2B — all integrated into a single platform.
- **Local infrastructure advantage**: Own electric vehicle fleet, solar-powered warehouses (1,800 kWp combined capacity), and a growing fulfilment-as-a-service (TFS) offering for other retailers.
- **Brand trust**: Dominant South African e-commerce brand with over a decade of customer loyalty.

## Strategic Focus
- **Profitability & expansion**: After achieving group profitability in 2026, focus is on scaling TakealotMORE subscriptions, B2B (Takealot for Business), and ultra-fast delivery (TakealotNOW).
- **Logistics diversification**: TFS offering fulfillment services to third parties (Woolworths, etc.) — replicating Amazon’s FBA model.
- **Electric fleet & sustainability**: Accelerating EV adoption and solar energy at DCs.
- **Competing with Amazon SA**: Amazon launched in South Africa; Takealot is investing heavily in speed, subscription, and B2B to defend market share.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture highlights**: Described by the company as “driven by people, powered by tech”; values include customer obsession, fast results, collaboration, and doing the extraordinary. Diverse, trust-based environment.
- **Remote/hybrid/office**: Likely hybrid/office-based (Cape Town and Johannesburg hubs — engineering and BI roles appear to be based in Cape Town; sales roles in Johannesburg).
- **Notable perks or engineering culture**: Strong tech stack (Scala, Java, Machine Learning, Search, DevOps) with 22 active job openings on Greenhouse (June 2026). Engineering teams include: **Takealot Engineering**, **Mr D Engineering**, **Business Intelligence**, and **Product**. Roles range from Data Engineers, Senior Software Engineers, Data Scientists, to QA Analysts. Company emphasizes autonomy, speed, and continuous learning.
- **Growth trajectory**: Company is on an upward profit path, with a young, evolving tech team. High-impact roles with ownership in a market leader.

## Sources
1. [Takealot Group Official Site](https://takealotgroup.com/)
2. [Takealot Group Career Page (Greenhouse)](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/takealotgroup)
3. [Takealot Group Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takealot_Group)
4. [Takealot Group LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/takealot-group)

## Other roles at Takealot Group

- [Promotions & Merchandising Manager - Cross Border](https://feeny.ai/job/promotions-merchandising-manager-cross-border-takealot-group-cape-town-e70a3234fa25) — Cape Town, South Africa
- [Head: Driver Experience and Future of Work](https://feeny.ai/job/head-driver-experience-and-future-of-work-takealot-group-cape-town-qths775f4teh) — Cape Town, South Africa
- [Data Compliance Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/data-compliance-specialist-takealot-group-cape-town-jc98rp44v8hq) — Cape Town, South Africa
- [Customer Engagement Assistant - TakealotMORE](https://feeny.ai/job/customer-engagement-assistant-takealotmore-takealot-group-cape-town-gj7m933qkjzq) — Cape Town, South Africa
- [Engineering Director: Fulfilment](https://feeny.ai/job/engineering-director-fulfilment-takealot-group-south-africa-r2err31exx9a) — South Africa
- [Product Manager (Retail Media)](https://feeny.ai/job/product-manager-retail-media-takealot-group-cape-town-qqmagxne95d9) — Cape Town, South Africa
- [Finance Analyst](https://feeny.ai/job/finance-analyst-takealot-group-cape-town-18cfb27b7ay7) — Cape Town, South Africa
- [Principal Software Engineer (Group Fulfilment)](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-software-engineer-group-fulfilment-takealot-group-south-africa-2n98spw3xb3x) — South Africa
- [Product Manager (On Demand Delivery Execution)](https://feeny.ai/job/product-manager-on-demand-delivery-execution-takealot-group-cape-town-jy2qeqnj05fk) — Cape Town, South Africa
- [iOS Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/ios-software-engineer-takealot-group-cape-town-0mqgv0wbbt3q) — Cape Town, South Africa