Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa is proud to announce the appointment of Shelley Walters, Founder and CEO of The Sales Counsel, a B2B sales performance firm, as its newest Friend of the Brand. The partnership marks a significant evolution in the long-running influencer programme, expanding its reach from lifestyle, sport, and entertainment into the B2B commercial leadership space.
Walters took delivery of a Mercedes-Benz Vito Mixto Select and over the next 12 months, the vehicle will accompany her across South Africa’s business corridors, to executive boardrooms, keynote stages, and commercial events, serving as a highly visible symbol of performance and precision in the corporate sector.
“This partnership extends the Friend of the Brand programme into a new and commercially significant space,” says Reandren Thulkanam, General Manager at Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa.
“Shelley Walters brings our brand directly into South Africa’s corporate boardrooms and fleet-facing environments, spaces that traditional lifestyle partnerships cannot reach. By aligning with The Sales Counsel, we are underscoring Mercedes-Benz Vans’ commitment to getting behind South African small businesses and supporting the economic growth they drive.”
Walters is one of South Africa’s most respected voices in B2B sales leadership and revenue performance. With over 25 years of global experience, she has addressed more than 20,000 delegates across five continents and holds a place in the Professional Speakers Association of South Africa (PSASA) Hall of Fame.
“When Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa approached me about the Friend of the Brand partnership, I was surprised and deeply honoured,” says Walters. “But the more I reflected on it, the more the alignment made sense. We are both in the business of precision, performance, and forward momentum. At The Sales Counsel, we always talk about how we turn pipeline into revenue, revenue into jobs, and jobs into a stronger economy. Now, we get to drive that commercial success literally, in a Mercedes-Benz. It is incredibly exciting to see Mercedes-Benz Vans aligning so strongly with the small and medium enterprises that are the lifeblood of our economy.”
The Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz Vito Mixto Select
The choice of the Vito Mixto Select reflects the mobile, active nature of Walters’ work. Designed for comfort, style, and flexibility, the Vito Mixto will serve as a working asset as Walters engages with South Africa’s corporate landscape.
A Milestone Year
The partnership launches at a pivotal moment for The Sales Counsel, which celebrates its tenth anniversary in September 2026. Since its founding in 2016, the B2B sales performance firm has grown by over 700%, working with major enterprises including the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Discovery, and Samsung to build robust sales disciplines and turn pipeline into revenue.
