Rittenberry will be based in Johannesburg, which serves as the hub for the Edelman’s work in Africa. An Edelman veteran with a decade of service at the firm, Rittenberry takes over from Tod Donhauser, who has transitioned to the role of CEO of Edelman United Arab Emirates. Under Donhauser’s leadership over the past two years, Edelman South Africa has established itself as a formidable agency within the region.
“Our South Africa operation now stands at an inflection point,” said Robert Holdheim, CEO of Edelman South Asia, Middle East & Africa. “Tod and his team have successfully integrated our acquisition and built a solid operational foundation. We are now set to expand our offering and solidify the office’s role as a hub for client servicing both domestically and across the continent. Supported by a strong team, Jordan’s experience with Edelman in several key roles in our operation gives him the skills to take us to the next level.”
Rittenberry was previously based in Edelman’s Chicago office as an executive vice president where he led the Technology and Business Marketing practice. While in Chicago he also played a key role in the firm’s Data Security & Privacy offering. He has a wealth of experience working with blue chip brands, crossing both corporate and consumer-facing programs.
“I am extremely excited about my new role at Edelman, and the opportunity to build on the strong foundation that is in place to further strengthen Edelman’s operation,” said Rittenberry. “Worldwide, we’ve seen a convergence of communications and marketing disciplines. That same paradigm shift applies to South Africa as well, where we’re leading with creative but also bringing in new types of talent such as planners and analysts so we’re able to best support our clients and help them tell stories that invoke emotion and inspire action among stakeholders.”
