The Studio

The Studio

Our People

Armada was built on a simple idea: bring together the best consulting knowledge workers in the industry, supported by an operational engine honed for performance and continuity.

We're structured to give our clients the depth of a large consultancy with the focus and accountability of a boutique firm.

That means permanent leadership and executional staff at the core, supported by a wider armada of fractional specialist expertise brought in precisely when it's needed.

This model allows us to scale and move quickly, think deeply, and stay cost-efficient, without ever compromising on the quality of our work.

Our People

Armada was built on a simple idea: bring together the best consulting knowledge workers in the industry, supported by an operational engine honed for performance and continuity.

We're structured to give our clients the depth of a large consultancy with the focus and accountability of a boutique firm.

That means permanent leadership and executional staff at the core, supported by a wider armada of fractional specialist expertise brought in precisely when it's needed.

This model allows us to scale and move quickly, think deeply, and stay cost-efficient, without ever compromising on the quality of our work.

Our Leadership

Our Leadership

Our leadership team brings deep, hands-on experience across strategy, media, analytics, operations, and creative execution.

They are embedded in the work and each client's business, not buffered by layers of client service. Each discipline lead acts as a true client partner, staying close to the thinking and the decisions that matter.

On average, our leadership team brings close to two decades of experience each, shaped in complex enterprise and high-growth environments.

Before Armada, our leaders held senior roles within some of the world’s largest agency and consultancy groups, and came together around a shared belief that the old way of doing things no longer fits the world we’re working in.

Managing Director

Strategy Lead

Ernst vd Merwe

Internationally awarded experience spanning 19 years, including work for Investec, Kimberly-Clark, Mercedes-Benz, and KFC. Ranked among the top five information architects in Africa and the Middle East.

Ernst van der Merwe

Managing Director

Strategy Lead

Ernst vd Merwe

Internationally awarded experience spanning 19 years, including work for Investec, Kimberly-Clark, Mercedes-Benz, and KFC. Ranked among the top five information architects in Africa and the Middle East.

Ernst van der Merwe

Managing Director

Strategy Lead

Ernst vd Merwe

Internationally awarded experience spanning 19 years, including work for Investec, Kimberly-Clark, Mercedes-Benz, and KFC. Ranked among the top five information architects in Africa and the Middle East.

Ernst van der Merwe

Operations Director

Delivery Lead

Michelle Dehning

20 years of experience leading operations, project management, and delivery for some of South Africa’s largest agencies and brands, including heading operations at one of SA's biggest PR firms.

Michelle Dehning

Operations Director

Delivery Lead

Michelle Dehning

20 years of experience leading operations, project management, and delivery for some of South Africa’s largest agencies and brands, including heading operations at one of SA's biggest PR firms.

Michelle Dehning

Operations Director

Delivery Lead

Michelle Dehning

20 years of experience leading operations, project management, and delivery for some of South Africa’s largest agencies and brands, including heading operations at one of SA's biggest PR firms.

Michelle Dehning

Creative Group Head

Design Lead

Kyle Sparks

Brings 16 years of experience as a designer and lead brand custodian for Absa, DStv, Liberty, Standard Bank, and Vodacom.

Kyle Sparks

Creative Group Head

Design Lead

Kyle Sparks

Brings 16 years of experience as a designer and lead brand custodian for Absa, DStv, Liberty, Standard Bank, and Vodacom.

Kyle Sparks

Creative Group Head

Design Lead

Kyle Sparks

Brings 16 years of experience as a designer and lead brand custodian for Absa, DStv, Liberty, Standard Bank, and Vodacom.

Kyle Sparks

Chief Analyst

Performance Lead

Theo Bili

16 years of experience across performance marketing, analytics, and media, spanning sport sponsorship and digital performance for brands including Coca-Cola, Nike, Telkom, Discovery, Vodacom, and Standard Bank.

Theo Bili

Chief Analyst

Performance Lead

Theo Bili

16 years of experience across performance marketing, analytics, and media, spanning sport sponsorship and digital performance for brands including Coca-Cola, Nike, Telkom, Discovery, Vodacom, and Standard Bank.

Theo Bili

Chief Analyst

Performance Lead

Theo Bili

16 years of experience across performance marketing, analytics, and media, spanning sport sponsorship and digital performance for brands including Coca-Cola, Nike, Telkom, Discovery, Vodacom, and Standard Bank.

Theo Bili

How We Work

How We Work

We operate on the Hollywood model: when a director makes a movie, they rely on a small, trusted core always-on team, and bring in specialist talent only when the work calls for it.

An editor, that one actor, or just the right composer might be critical to the final result, but they’re not needed for the entire production, and certainly not for every production.

Armada works the same way.

We operate on the Hollywood model: when a director makes a movie, they rely on a small, trusted core always-on team, and bring in specialist talent only when the work calls for it.

An editor, that one actor, or just the right composer might be critical to the final result, but they’re not needed for the entire production, and certainly not for every production.

Armada works the same way.

Our department leads and full-time team of approximately 10 individuals form the core of the business, working from our Bryanston offices three days a week, with flexibility the rest of the time. Supporting them is a carefully chosen group of around 10 additional long-term fractional team members who handle everything from IT to HR and finance. Around that sits a curated circle of senior specialists and partner studios with whom we have many years of close collaboration, brought in with intention rather than permanence.

For our clients, this means continuity and accountability from a stable, hands-on leadership team, alongside access to a wider armada of specialists spanning information design, data science, research, engineering, IT security, behavioural economics, and service design. The result is better thinking, cleaner execution, and less waste.

Boardmans
Bradlows
DStv
Incredible Connection
Merchant Capital
Momentum
Old Mutual
Rochester
Standard Bank
Totem Bags
Boardmans
Bradlows
DStv
Incredible Connection
Merchant Capital
Momentum
Old Mutual
Rochester
Standard Bank
Totem Bags
Boardmans
Bradlows
DStv
Incredible Connection
Merchant Capital
Momentum
Old Mutual
Rochester
Standard Bank
Totem Bags
Armada Exterior Spring

Our Space

Our Space

Our studio is tucked so deeply into the greenery of the Bryanston Bird Sanctuary that it feels more like working in a tree house than an office.

Based in Peter Place Park, we look out over the Bryanston Bird Sanctuary, with fountains, wild country gardens, and birdlife all around. The view is lush greenery and open sky. The noise of Sandton falls away. The pace changes, and it becomes easier to think, focus, and have proper conversations.

The building also meets best-practice sustainability standards, boasting a 4-Star Green Building Council rating. But what matters most is how the space feels day to day: quiet, grounded, and genuinely conducive to doing great work.

Armada Office Interior

Studio Space

Armada Office Interior

Studio Space

Armada Office Interior

Common Area

Armada Office Interior

Common Area

Armada Office Interior

Brainstorm Nook

Armada Office Interior

Brainstorm Nook

Armada Office Exterior

Patio

Armada Office Exterior

Patio

Client Enquiries

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Let’s talk

Thinking about transforming your brand
and unsure where to start?

Tell us what brought you here,
and we’ll get in touch to talk it through.

Join Our Team

If you’re curious about joining the Armada team, whether in a permanent role or on a project basis, please use the button below to access our Talent application form.

Client Enquiries

By submitting, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.

Let’s talk

Thinking about transforming your brand
and unsure where to start?

Tell us what brought you here,
and we’ll get in touch to talk it through.

Join Our Team

If you’re curious about joining the Armada team, whether in a permanent role or on a project basis, please use the button below to access our Talent application form.

Client Enquiries

By submitting, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.