STRATCOM BRANDING · GLBA · THEAGENCYIQ

Gail Macleod — AI governance, AI visibility and AI advisory, built on 30 years of global brand strategy

AI Advisor & Global Brand Strategist

Working across South Africa, Australia, the USA and the UK. AI governance, AI visibility and AI advisory, backed by 30 years in global brand strategy. Founder, Stratcom Branding (est. 1996, Johannesburg). Co-founder, Global Local Branding Alliance (GLBA), 2013, still involved. Founder, TheAgencyIQ.

Areas served: South Africa, Australia (all states), the United States, and the United Kingdom. Gail Macleod is available for contracts in South Africa, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Gail Macleod, AI advisor and global brand strategist

Gail Macleod is an AI advisor and global brand strategist, working across South Africa, Australia, the USA and the UK. She advises leaders on AI governance, AI visibility and governed AI systems, and co-authored the chapter on AI-enabled marketing and communication in FaBA White Paper No. 3 (University of Queensland, 2026). That AI work is built on 30 years in global brand strategy, brand architecture and brand governance. She is the founder of Stratcom Branding (est. 1996, Johannesburg). In 2013 she co-founded the Global Local Branding Alliance (GLBA) with Thomas Reiner (Berndt+Partner, Berlin) and Dave Ceradini (Ceradini Brand Design, New York). The three founders grew GLBA to seven agencies, and she built its Australian presence herself through Macleod GLBA. She is the founder of TheAgencyIQ, the agency of the future.

Gail was a Presenter for the School of Magic at Tiger Brands (2009).

Selected clients (Stratcom): Coca-Cola, Danone, Nestlé, Distell (Heineken portfolio), Kraft Foods / Mondelez, General Mills, Kellogg's, McCain, Nando's, Bayer Healthcare (across its entire brand portfolio), GSK, L'Oréal, PPC, Tiger Brands, SAB, PepsiCo.

Publications

Timeline

  1. 1994–96

    Trademark International.

  2. 1996

    Founder, Stratcom Branding (est. 1996, Johannesburg).

  3. 2009; 2012–2018

    Gail was a Presenter for the School of Magic at Tiger Brands (2009). Stratcom ran School of Magic packaging projects 2012–2018.

  4. 2013

    Co-founded the Global Local Branding Alliance (GLBA) with Thomas Reiner (Berndt+Partner, Berlin) and Dave Ceradini (Ceradini Brand Design, New York). The three founders grew it to seven agencies. Gail later built GLBA's Australian presence herself through Macleod GLBA. Still involved.

  5. 2021–2026

    AIP (Australian Institute of Packaging) member (past, not current). Source

Australia

  1. Jan 2022

    Macleodglba traded as a sole trader.

  2. 12 Dec 2022

    Macleodglba Pty Ltd incorporated (founder).

  3. 2023–present

    Hort Innovation Avocado Market Development Advisory Panel. Source

  4. 25 Mar 2024

    AtomIQ Technologies Pty Ltd registered (founder).

  5. 27 Jun 2024

    AIP ARL training course certificate.

  6. 2024

    Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) — guidance to the Grow National programme. Source

  7. Guest lecture, University of Queensland (UQ).

  8. Founder, TheAgencyIQ.

Guest lectures: University of Melbourne

Guest lecturer on brand and packaging in the University of Melbourne's Master of Food and Packaging Innovation. Gail lectured as a representative of the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), which delivers the packaging lectures in partnership with the University.

  • 2022

    Unit FOOD90032 Food Packaging Design. Two one-hour online modules, timetabled for Friday 15 July 2022.

  • 2023

    The AIP confirmed Gail in April 2023 to represent it again in the same unit. She prepared and recorded both modules for the University in May 2023.

  • Innovation through Marketing

    White-space discovery, hypothesis-led innovation, innovation sprints and workshops, and stage-gated selection of ideas.

  • Analysis of Brand Pack Identity and Strategy

    Usage and attitudes research, the visual audit, brand architecture and pack price architecture, colour and food photography as shelf navigation, and the brand guard book.

About the programme (AIP)

Global Local Branding Alliance (GLBA)

Co-founded in 2013 with Thomas Reiner (Berndt+Partner, Berlin) and Dave Ceradini (Ceradini Brand Design, New York). The three founders grew GLBA to seven agencies, and Gail built its Australian presence herself through Macleod GLBA. Still involved.

Education

Press & Recognition