Ilabeshi Gabriel, Group Head of Marketing and Communications at CapitalSage Holdings, has been honoured as the Outstanding Marketing and Communications Professional of the Year at the 2025 Marketing Edge Awards, recognising his exceptional contribution to brand storytelling, corporate communications, and strategic marketing across multiple industries.
Reflecting on the recognition, Gabriel said:
“When I began my journey in marketing and communications, my curiosity was simple, how do you turn a brand into a living, breathing story that people believe in? That curiosity has shaped a career where strategies evolve into stories and stories transform into sustainable growth. I see this award as a reminder that passion, consistency, and clarity of purpose are never wasted.”
This honour comes as Gabriel marks five years of building and leading at CapitalSage Holdings, a diversified conglomerate with interests spanning agribusiness, fintech, FMCG, and healthcare. Under his leadership, the group has built strong brands including Johnvents Group, Kolomoni (Nigerian & The Gambia), ERCAS, and Johnvents Foods amongst other, all united by a shared mission to build sustainable businesses with global reach
Gabriel, who previously held key roles at RED | For Africa as Head of Strategy and Planning, Pulse (formerly Ringier) as Head of Creative Strategy an Client Services, and Porter Novelli as Account Management and Strategic Planning Executive, has been instrumental in positioning CapitalSage and its subsidiaries as leaders in their sectors through innovative campaigns, strategic partnerships, and impactful storytelling
The 2025 awards marked a triple slam for CapitalSage Holdings, with Johnvents Group named Outstanding Indigenous Conglomerate of the Decade, Founder and Group Managing Director of CapitalSage Holdings, John Alamu winning the Business Conglomerate Leadership Award, and Ilabeshi Gabriel honoured as the Outstanding Marketing & Communications Professional of the Year.
His professional journey reflects more than a decade of experience shaping narratives that connect brands to culture and commerce.