After completing a post-graduate degree in finance, Niel started his own business, in 2009. It was an agency specialized in delivering digital services, focusing specifically on open source web development and marketing automation solutions to clients. The business grew a healthy client base and was acquired by Wunderman in 2017 as part of the group’s Technology business growth ambitions.

Following the group’s rebrand to Wunderman Thompson, Niel was leading the Client Service and Commercial operations for the Wunderman Thompson Technology South Africa. In 2020 Niel took the reigns as MD of the business and leads a team that works on both SA-based and global clients. The SA team collaborates with global teams on large platform, martech and dev solution projects on an ongoing basis, and has built a solid reputation with a number of Global Clients and across the Wunderman Thompson & WPP Networks.

The WTT SA team has also taken the lead in the WT network, as the Global Drupal and Acquia Centre of Excellence.