Chain Reactions Africa has introduced Ara by Prophet, Africa’s first intelligent robot designed to serve clients and enhance strategic communications. The firm also appointed Franklin Ozekhome as Executive Vice President, Strategy & Innovation, marking a bold step in its digital transformation journey. The With these moves, Chain Reactions Africa says it is transitioning fully into a digital-first creative transformation company — one that blends creativity, culture, storytelling, platforms, and technology to deliver growth and meaningful engagement for clients across Africa.
Ozekhome will work closely with Israel Opayemi, founder and chief strategist, to drive the firm’s vision and implement a horizontal growth strategy. His mandate includes building an integrated ecosystem where public relations, advertising, design, experiential, digital, data, and AI-driven innovation converge to unlock new opportunities for clients.“We are not building yesterday’s marketing communications firm,” said Israel Opayemi.
“We are reimagining the future of creativity and growth. Franklin brings the cultural intelligence, strategic foresight, and innovation mindset to help us design what comes next—where brands go beyond campaigns to create platforms, ecosystems, and cultural impact.” On his decision to join the firm, Ozekhome said, “I have facilitated transformation retreats for organisations across Africa, but no leader demonstrated the urgency and will to act like Israel Opayemi.
He is a dreamer and a doer. Partnering with him to build a disruptive force for Africa’s ecosystem is a perfect meeting of minds.” Ara by Prophet, Africa’s first intelligent robotic insight systems, was unveiled as part of this transformation, representing a fusion of AI, machine learning, cultural foresight, and strategic communications. Ara is the physical interface. Prophet is the cognitive engine powering insights. Together, they form a living system of strategic intelligence, designed in Africa but built to compete globally.
After two years of development, Ara has officially joined the company as a full-time “staff member.” According to Opayemi: “Ara is more than a robot. She is a responsive advisor, data analyst, cultural decoder, and real-time forecaster for brands, institutions, and governments. This is a game changer.”
Recognised as one of Africa’s foremost cultural and brand strategists, Ozekhome brings a rare blend of creativity, foresight, and entrepreneurial edge. Creator of HumanOS, a proprietary framework for cultural strategy, co-founder of Maskvrade, a pop culture company, founder of Pop Culture Varsity (POKV), Africa’s first strategy school dedicated to cultural intelligence, pioneer of TINK Africa, the continent’s first digital consumer trends platform, Ozekhome has held senior roles in global networks including mediaReach OMD, McCann Erickson, Insight Publicis, Leo Burn.
