Wendy van den Heever

Role: Fractional Marketing Manager

Region: Gauteng

 Strategic Marketing & Communications Leader | Driving Brand Growth & Business Impact 


How I Can Help Your Business Grow 
My Expertise: 

• Brand Strategy & Campaign Management – Developing and executing marketing initiatives that align with business objectives and deliver measurable ROI. 

• Digital Marketing & Analytics – Leveraging AI, SEO, and data-driven insights to enhance customer engagement and optimise media reach. 

• Corporate Communications & PR – Crafting compelling messaging to enhance brand reputation, stakeholder engagement, and media presence. 

• Business Development & Relationship Management – Strengthening partnerships, managing sponsorship activations, and leading contact centre operations. 

• Change Management & Process Optimisation – Leading transformational projects that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and drive innovation. 

 

My Competitive Edge
Strategic Innovation with Hands-On Execution – I bridge high-level strategy with practical implementation, ensuring marketing initiatives translate into real business impact.  


About Me 
I am a results-driven marketing and communications leader with over 15 years of experience developing and executing strategic initiatives across global markets. Throughout my career, I have successfully aligned marketing with core business objectives, driving brand growth, enhancing customer engagement, and optimising operations. 

As Head of Digital & Direct Marketing at AIG, I led key partnership development initiatives and oversaw contact centre operations across claims, service, and sales. I designed and implemented multi-channel marketing campaigns, incorporating direct email, social media, paid search, and display ads, utilising AI tools and analytics to maximise media reach. My expertise in website management includes overseeing site-wide rebrands and platform upgrades, ensuring consistent user experience and brand messaging. 

Beyond digital, I have spearheaded corporate communications and PR strategies, elevating brand visibility through thought leadership, media relations, and stakeholder engagement. I have led complex branding initiatives, successfully executing three regional rebrands and maintaining brand consistency across all marketing touchpoints. 

My ability to drive change and optimise processes is evident in key projects such as: 

• Relocating AIG SA’s Claims Contact Centre to the Philippines in under two months, enhancing operational efficiencies and reducing costs.
• Establishing AIG’s South African Innovation Hub, overseeing its design, control environment, and innovation development from 2018 to 2020.
• Leading the internal launch of AIG’s Culture Journey, creating engaging visual assets and communications strategies to foster a unified company culture.
• Managing the change strategy and communication plan for AIG SA’s head office relocation to Sandton, collaborating with senior executives and external design teams. 

With a strong background in stakeholder engagement, I have expanded business partnerships, managed lead generation initiatives, and led high-profile sponsorship activations, including AIG’s global partnership with the All Blacks during their tours in South Africa. My role has required the ability to manage multiple stakeholders across regions, ensuring consistent and impactful brand messaging. 

Fun Facts 

• As a teenager, I was desperate to learn to play the guitar but being left-handed made it tricky. The only guitar I could afford was right-handed and since I had no clue how to restring it, I taught myself to play right-handed instead. I don’t remember if it felt awkward, but I do remember how excited I was when I was able to play my first song. 

•  My first qualification was in textile design, and that’s shaped how I approach branding and visual storytelling ever since. It taught me to think like a designer—blending creativity with problem-solving to create work that’s both eye-catching and meaningful. For me, design thinking is about seeing the bigger picture, paying attention to the little details that make a difference, and then making sure everything connects to a clear, strategic goal.