Bronwyn Nielsen

Bronwyn Nielsen
Born1972 (age 53–54)
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
EducationUniversity of Cape Town
Harvard Business School
Occupations
Years active2007– present
EmployerCNBC Africa (2007–2017)
Notable work
  • Editor-in-Chief at CNBC Africa
  • Executive Director at ABN Group

Bronwyn Nielsen (born 1972), is a South African broadcaster and media executive. Since 2018, she has been the founder and CEO of The Nielsen Network, a Johannesburg-based communications consultancy. She previously worked at CNBC Africa from 2007 to 2017, serving as Editor-in-Chief from 2012 and as Executive Director of its parent company, Africa Business News (ABN Group) from 2014. Since 2011, she has served as a moderator of debates and panel discussions at meetings of the World Economic Forum and other international forums. She began her broadcasting career in 1997 with Summit Television and later worked as a news anchor at e.tv. In 2007, she received the Telkom ICT Journalist of the Year award.

Biography

Bronwyn Nielsen was born in 1972 and grew up in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Cape Town, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1992. She later completed executive education programmes at Harvard Business School in 2016.

Media career

Nielsen began her broadcasting career in 1997 with Summit Television on DStv, presenting business news focused on South African markets. In the early 2000s, she joined E.tv as a news anchor, succeeding Jane Dutton. Additionally, in 2003, she had a TV programme on the Summit TV named Weekend Property. She later delivered a daily African business news segment on Sky News.

ABN Group

In 2007, she joined CNBC Africa as a business news anchor and presenter, covering economic, political, and corporate developments on the African continent. In 2012, she was appointed Editor-in-Chief of CNBC Africa. Since 2013, she hosted and moderated CNBC Africa debates and panel discussions at World Economic Forum meetings. The senior leaders she hosted include Paul Kagame, Jacob Zuma, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Oscar Onyema, and John G. Coumantaros among others. In 2014, she became Executive Director at Africa Business News (ABN Group), the parent company of CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa. She left the positions in November 2017.

Additional career

Nielsen moderated business and policy discussions at international forums, including the World Economic Forum, Milken Institute, and the African Development Bank. In 2017 alone, she moderated on World Economic Forum events in Switzerland (Davos), South Africa (Cape Town and Durban), UAE (Dubai), China (Dalian) and India (New Delhi).

Since 2016, Nielsen has been board member of the Graça Machel Trust and chairperson of its Women in Media Network.

In 2018, Nielsen founded The Nielsen Network, a Johannesburg-based communications and media consulting firm and has served as its CEO since. The firm offers services in providing media training and strategic communications advisory services in Africa and internationally.

Recognition

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Famous Faces Bookings - Bronwyn Nielsen". 2014-08-17. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
  2. 1 2 3 "Summit TV's Bronwyn is suited to hit Sky". IOL. 2006-12-29. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  3. 1 2 "Telkom ICT Journalist of the Year winners". Bizcommunity. 2007-04-13. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
  4. ↑ "Fame & Fortune: Bronwyn Nielsen". Sunday Times. 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
  5. 1 2 "Bronwyn Nielsen". World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 2026-02-01. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  6. 1 2 "You have to get your hands dirty in television". IOL. 2003-04-10. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
  7. ↑ Reporter, Staff (2007-04-24). "CNBC Invasion". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  8. ↑ "ABN Group appoints Bronwyn Nielsen as executive director". Bizcommunity. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  9. ↑ "Challenges make us think harder, smarter – Kagame". The New Times. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  10. ↑ Mazimpaka, Magnus (2015-01-21). "Kagame Defends Africa At WEF". KT PRESS. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  11. ↑ "New executive director appointed to ABN group". Media Update. 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  12. ↑ Maseko, Fundi (2019-03-24). "Renowned broadcaster, Bronwyn Nielsen to host IoT Forum Africa 2019". African Business Technology News. Retrieved 2026-02-05.