Who we are
 | |
Brandon de Kock
Director of Storytelling
Brandon’s been telling stories to anyone who will listen, all his life. A celebrated writer, photographer, editor, book author and public speaker, he’s had too much to eat and drink on all seven continents and played golf on six of them, although he now claims to be ‘completely recovered’ from the sport.
His describes his career as a ‘compendium of games’: bars & restaurants, a decade in music and another in publishing as editor of Compleat Golfer and then group creative director for RamsayMedia (Wine, Getaway, CAR). It was there, together with the late Stuart Lowe, that he launched RamsayMedia Research Solutions and discovered that Brené Brown was right: stories are just data with a soul!
Together with his wife Nikki, he continues to share a love of food, wine and travel at supertasters.co.za but for the past 12 years, he’s been partner in and creative director of WhyFive, the company behind the annual BrandMapp survey. As a go-to thought-leader in the world of consumer behaviour, he specialises in taking data and presenting them like great rock songs. |
 | |
Julie-Anne Bell
Business Development Director
Julie-Anne started her career in media sales and moved into the world of marketing and brand management before settling into research and consumer insights. She’s worked with landscape datasets like AMPS, TGI and MAPS and the platforms on which they live (like Choices and Eighty20) and, more recently, got to grips with data layering and the power of Geospatial data.
In short, she may not have done ‘it all’ but she’s certainly come close, and in the process, she’s developed a deep understanding of how valuable it is to find the “story or so what” in numbers, and help a wide variety of clients convert it into actionable strategy.
For the past 5 years, Julie-Anne’s brought this wealth of experience and industry nous to her role heading up the client relationship and product development side of WhyFive’s business. It’s the perfect playground for someone who’s passionate about consulting with brands and agencies on how to bridge the gap between first and third party data and shift the needle in a meaningful way. |
 | |
Ashleigh Cumming
Youth Development Director
Ashleigh has joined the WhyFive team with a passion for people and a fresh perspective on the world of insights. With a background in both psychology and business, she brings a unique blend of human understanding and strategic thinking.
Her career began in the financial research industry, where she developed strong skills in data analysis, client engagement, and market interpretation. Over time, she became increasingly focused on the ‘why’ behind consumer behaviour: what drives people, how they make decisions, and what those patterns reveal about society and the economy. WhyFive is a very natural fit.
Ashleigh’s approach is both thoughtful and inquisitive, combining research rigour with creative curiosity to uncover the stories lurking beneath the data. She thrives in collaborative environments and enjoys translating complex information into clearly articulated insights that help brands and businesses make smarter decisions. With a strong belief in the power of good questions, she’s excited to contribute to BrandMapp’s mission of making data more human and more useful. |
 | |
Stuart Lowe
Gone, but never forgotten. The spirit of our friend, partner and co-founder Stuart Lowe is deeply imbedded in our DNA: moving with purpose, maximizing every minute, prioritizing relationships, making everyone you encounter feel valued and seen, and an unwavering passion for helping brands and businesses make better decisions while shining a light on the vital role that media plays in our lives. There will always be a spare set of chopsticks at our celebratory sushi lunches. |
|
| |
|
|
