About Steven-in-the-Loop
I turn complex search and analytics problems into clear, commercial outcomes. Twenty years across growth marketing, SEO, e-commerce and data analytics. Partnering with enterprise clients to combine technical improvements with measurable KPIs, and translating messy data into decisions teams can act on.
Holistic search: organic indexing, technical SEO, GEO/AEO and AI visibility built around how people and machines actually find brands today.
Marketing analytics and attribution: clean UTM discipline, trustworthy measurement, and data visualisation that makes performance obvious.
Enterprise campaigns tied to measurable KPIs — technical enhancements paired with strategy that moves revenue, not just rankings.
Years across holistic search, marketing analytics and data visualisation
Explore My Journey
Two decades in agency and in-house environments across South Africa, spanning digital marketing leadership, technology and analytics.
Flume Digital Marketing
Chief Technology Officer · Bryanston, Johannesburg
Executive leadership, leading technology across a full-service digital agency, building the platforms and data infrastructure behind client performance. Delivery of our promise to be 'Built to Win'.
August 2023 — Present
Flume Digital Marketing
Head of Marketing Data Analytics & SEO · Johannesburg, South Africa
Team management, capability building and upskilling, with responsibility for the successful deployment of search and marketing analytics solutions for enterprise clients. This includes SEM, SEO, GEO, AEO and emerging search disciplines, alongside technical SEO, AI integration, measurement frameworks, attribution, analytics and performance reporting.
September 2019 — August 2023
Fibercore Solutions
General Manager
Oversaw marketing and digital platforms, bringing e-commerce, search and web performance under one measurable strategy.
December 2014 — September 2019
Internet Exchange
Sales and Operations Manager · Krugersdorp, South Africa
Managed sales and operations, with earlier responsibility for sales and marketing from 2008.
February 2010 — November 2014Grove Group
Business Development Manager · South Africa
Business development across IT services and technology solutions.
July 2007 — August 2008
- Masters in Business Administration (MBA)
- Postgraduate in Digital Marketing (CDME)
- LPI (LPIC 1, 2)
Winner — Gold Assegai · Search Marketing and PPC
Issued by DMA · Nov 2021
Associated with Flume Digital Marketing & PR
Since their inception, the Assegai Awards have striven to benchmark the South African Direct Marketing industry, to highlight best-in-class examples and encourage all players in the industry to work towards achieving greatness in their campaigns. The ultimate goal remains to keep raising the bar for the whole industry.
Learn moreLeader Award — Search Marketing and PPC
Issued by DMA Assegai Awards · Nov 2020
Associated with Flume Digital Marketing & PR
An Assegai Award does not give honours for extravagant production values, enormous budgets or big-name companies. Rather, it recognises breakthrough strategy, creative brilliance and outstanding results in all Direct Marketing media, from mail and print to digital, from mobile to broadcast.
Learn moreQualifier — Management of Innovation and Technology
Issued by Da Vinci Technology Top 100 Awards Programme · Nov 2013
Associated with Internet Exchange
The tt100 Business Innovation Awards programme was launched in 1991 to create awareness of the role of technology and innovation in South Africa. Since then the programme has evolved into one of the foremost business awards programmes in South Africa.
Learn moreFNB Rocci — Silver Award
Issued by Rocci · Nov 2012
Associated with Internet Exchange
Rocci and FNB seek to identify and acknowledge businesses that have achieved success and truly embody the spirit of enterprise.
Learn more