Mike Abel appointed as nonexecutive chair of Irish firm Sens

The company enables researchers obtain more truthful answers, including by using human-like avatars

06 FEBRUARY 2024 - 07:00

At this point in history, we need, more than ever, to challenge perspectives. How can we establish connections with individuals, even amidst our diverse viewpoints? Balancing resilience with openness, optimism with pragmatism, as well as traditional values with technological advancements, poses a challenge. How do we continue to progress and evolve as a community? Mike Abel, a prominent figure in South Africa's marketing, advertising, and communications field, aims to address these queries in his latest podcast,

Willing & Abel

South African adman Mike Abel is well known for his outspoken opinions and his advertising expertise. The founder and chief executive of M&C Saatchi Abel now has a book out in which he discusses the lessons of the last 10 years of his career – and why he thinks business leaders have an obligation to speak out.

What started as an act of kindness to give those less fortunate a dignified shopping experience has turned into a global initiative and tomorrow (12 June) the Street Store celebrates 10 years.

The enterprise is the world’s first rent-free, premises-free, free pop-up clothing store for people living on the street. It was founded in 2014 as a collaboration between a Cape Town ad agency, M&C Saatchi Abel, and the Haven Night Shelter in Green Point.

Mike Abel, the co-founder of the drive, said the aim is to give people who cannot afford to buy clothes a decent shopping experience. “We were concerned about the plight of less fortunate people. We were working with the shelter and came up with this idea of giving people who cannot afford to go to a shop a dignified shopping experience.”

Abel explained that the enterprise consists of downloadable posters in the form of a hanger, donors hang up their pre-loved items on these hangers, and those living on the street pick and choose what they want at no cost. He added that for many, this becomes their first shopping experience.

South African adman Mike Abel is well known for his outspoken opinions and his advertising expertise. The founder and chief executive of M&C Saatchi Abel now has a book out in which he discusses the lessons of the last 10 years of his career – and why he thinks business leaders have an obligation to speak out.