It has been a long journey in the field of public relations and communications for the ace novelist cum journalist, Toni Kan, having attained the peak of his career at Nigeria’s biggest telecom service provider, Glo Nigeria Limited.
As an image maker, Toni was (and still is) the quintessential Harold Burson who was dubbed “the most influential PR figure” of the 19th century by PRWeek, one of UK’s largest independent magazines.
Burson’s eponymous firm was acquired by WPP in 2000. But that didn’t stop him from coming into the office every day, even into his 90s. But his outstanding quality was that he imbibed discipline as his watchword all through his career.
Like Burson, Anthony Kan Onwordi, popularly known as Toni Kan has earned respect for himself, both from his former employer (Glo Nigeria Ltd.) and its teeming clients across the globe for keeping a level head during his stint as the company’s image maker.
It is said that “Meticulous planning will enable everything a man does to appear spontaneous.” In the case of Toni, the spontaneity of his career at the helms of Glo was not just exalted but earned a lot of goodwill and increased the company’s clientele services which translated to high financial returns. He was able to achieve this within nine months as head of the Public Relations department.
Toni Kan studied English literature at the University of Jos and earned an M.A in English literature at the University of Lagos in 1999, graduating at the top of his class.
He is the author of over 20 books and short stories, including Nights of a Creaking Bed which is noted for exploring themes of African sexuality.
With robust experience in public relations and an extensive multi-disciplinary career across banking, telecoms, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals, among others, Toni deserves a rose.