Dangote’s Anthony Chiejina named among world’s most influential communications leaders for fifth straight year

Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, has once again been named to the prestigious 2025 Influence 100, reaffirming his status as one of the most influential corporate communications leaders globally – and the only Nigerian on this year’s list.

The latest recognition marks Chiejina’s fifth consecutive appearance on the global ranking, having been previously listed in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The rare feat underscores a sustained level of professional excellence, global relevance and strategic influence at the highest levels of corporate reputation management.

Published annually by PRovoke Media and now in its 13th year, the Influence 100 identifies the world’s most impactful senior executives in communications, corporate affairs and marketing. The 2025 edition reflects a global environment in which communications has evolved from a support function into a core leadership discipline, critical to governance, trust-building and navigating geopolitical uncertainty, technological disruption and heightened public scrutiny.

According to PRovoke Media, this year’s honourees are distinguished by strategic clarity, cultural intelligence and the ability to guide organisations through complexity. Final selections are made by the publication’s senior editorial team using proprietary research and external nominations, assessed against organisational seniority and global reach, influence over agency partnerships and budgets, and contributions to thought leadership and industry direction. Gender balance, racial diversity and geographic representation are also key considerations.

Chiejina’s inclusion, the publication said, reflects his central role in shaping and safeguarding the reputation of Dangote Group, Africa’s largest industrial conglomerate. For more than 15 years, he has overseen corporate communications across the group’s diverse portfolio, spanning cement, agriculture, energy, manufacturing and consumer goods.

“As group head of corporate communications, he oversees external and internal reputation across multiple sectors spanning cement, agriculture, energy and consumer goods, and has helped steer the brand’s continued recognition as the most admired indigenous company on the continent,” PRovoke Media noted.

Under his leadership, Dangote Group’s communications function has navigated complex regulatory environments, major industrial expansions and increasing global attention, particularly as the conglomerate deepens its footprint across Africa and advances sustainability, industrialisation and energy security initiatives.

Before joining Dangote Group, Chiejina held senior roles at Zenith Bank, Oceanic Bank, Seven-Up Bottling Company, African Economic Digest (AED) and African Concord, experiences that have given him deep insight into Nigeria’s political economy, financial markets and media ecosystem. That breadth of exposure continues to shape the group’s engagement with stakeholders both locally and internationally.

His sustained presence on the Influence 100 highlights not only individual professional distinction, but also the growing visibility of African corporate leadership in global reputation management. As communications becomes increasingly central to how organisations lead and earn trust, Chiejina’s recognition reinforces Nigeria’s place in shaping the future of the profession worldwide.

The 2025 Influence 100 features 28 new entrants, alongside several high-profile re-entries by senior communications leaders who have taken on expanded global roles. These include Michael Stewart, who moved from PwC to Unilever; Michael Gonda, from McDonald’s to Nike; and Sandy Rodriguez, also from McDonald’s to Eli Lilly.

This year’s list represents a powerful cross-section of leadership from some of the world’s most influential organisations, including Walmart, Apple, Shell, Microsoft, Nvidia, Nissan, Coca-Cola, Google, Lufthansa, MTN, Emirates, Ford, Marriott, Tencent and Reliance Industries, among others.

In total, 20 countries are represented, underscoring the global reach and strategic importance of in-house communications leadership. Gender diversity remains strong, with 58 women and 42 men featured, sustaining a female majority for the second consecutive year.

The 2025 cohort is also the most highly educated to date, with all honourees holding at least a first degree and 56 per cent possessing advanced qualifications, a sharp increase from previous editions.