Our People.


Ronelle Bester,
Founder & Account Director


With over 20 years of experience in PR and Marketing, Ronelle is one of the South African communications industry’s most influential voices. It was during her four-year tenure as the Marketing Manager for Dimension Data that Ronelle discovered her passion for the technology sector, and she went on to open Red Ribbon Communications. She attained her BTech in Public Relations Management from UNISA in 1996. Ronelle is a farm girl with a city heart and a love for traveling, trail running, interior and all things beautiful.



Ida-Marié Van Der Merwe,
Snr Account Manager - Tech


Ida has a BA degree in English and Afrikaans literature from UNISA. She started her career at Red Ribbon Communications in 2018 as an intern, but she quickly climbed the ranks. During her time with the company she has gained experience in media relations, social media and project management. She enjoys creating creative content ideas for clients and achieving her goals of good quality publicity and building clients’ thought leadership profiles in the media. When she is not working she enjoys hobbies such as reading, photography, music and hiking.



Zenahrea Damon,
Snr Account Manager - Consumer


Zenahrea Damon is a seasoned PR professional with a decade of experience in crafting and executing campaigns across diverse industries, including FMCG, Beauty, Fashion, Lifestyle, Hospitality, Tech, and Corporate sectors. Her exceptional communication skills have paved the way for robust client relationships and fruitful media connections. In her personal life, Zenahrea enjoys balancing her busy professional life with precious moments spent with her energetic toddler, as well as with her family and friends.



Karabo Mafolo,
Account Executive - Consumer


Karabo is a dynamic PR professional with a passion for storytelling and building meaningful relationships. With a background in journalism from her time at the Daily Maverick, she seamlessly transitioned into the world of public relations, bringing a unique perspective and depth of experience to the team at Red Ribbon. Outside of work, she finds joy in hiking, reading, and indulging in the guilty pleasure of watching reality TV shows.



Tanya Koch,
Finance and Operations


Tanya is a bit of a perfectionist who loves to make things run like clockwork. From financial figures and travel bookings to organising corporate events. She is the longest serving employee with more than 12 years’ happy memories at Red Ribbon. Previous studies in office management, marketing and financial management allow her to juggle a host of different responsibilities during the average working day - which is always fast-paced, challenging and fun. When she is not supporting the Red Ribbon team, she loves spending time with her family and friends, exploring new places and experience new things.