Jacobus Johannes Etienne Viljoen

Etienne brings a wealth of multinational experience to BearHug South Africa, combining global perspective with grounded day-to-day execution. As Assistant to the Managing Director, he plays a critical role in keeping operations aligned, clients engaged, and creative processes moving — often stepping in wherever needed to keep the momentum going.

With a background that spans industries and borders, Etienne approaches every challenge with adaptability and insight. He’s the kind of team member who not only understands the vision, but actively drives it forward — even if that means shouldering more than his fair share to get things done.

Day-to-day, Etienne is hands-on with client communication and internal coordination, especially across social media planning and execution. While he thrives in fast-paced environments, the lack of proactive input from the wider team has meant too much falls on him and the MD. As a result, the long-term strategy and brand growth BearHug aspires to in South Africa haven’t had the room to flourish just yet.

Etienne knows this — and he’s not one to shy away from accountability. He’s eager to shift gears, amplify BearHug’s reach in the region, and build the kind of strategic presence that matches the company’s ambition. With his experience, drive, and commitment, he’s more than ready — all he needs now is the bandwidth and backup.