Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. John Relihan to retire from Media24. New anchor for eNCA’s Africa 360. Yolandé-Louise van Rensburg joins In Context as a senior consultant. Hero staffs up. Vaal University of Technology appoints first-ever CFO. Garlicke & Bousfield director appointed to SASLAW. marcusbrewster secures Sunlight Happy SA PR campaign. Butter Knife PR to manage communications for RiCharge. Mark1 makes its mark with new website.
This week’s BIG move: John Relihan announces retirement
John Relihan, CEO of Media24 Magazines, will retire at the end of August to “pursue some of my other interests and to learn some new skills”. In an email to Media24 staff, Relihan said he still “fervently believed” in a future for magazines.
“Although magazine content on a paper ‘platform’ might present some interesting challenges in the future, the need for creditable, useful, entertaining, well-crafted words and images – static and active/animated – has not in any way diminished,” he said.
“For the past four years we have been working towards building a sustainable, profitable division. It has required unsettling structural changes and at times quite hard incisions. Thanks to your commitment and hard work, the results are there. The key building blocks are all in place.
“The Magazine Division has always aspired to be world class in every aspect of the business. I have had extensive contact with our peers across the world and can assure you that you are indeed world class and have all the skills and knowledge to prosper in the future,” he wrote.
“On a personal level you might ask: why now? The answer is quite simple. I need to adjust from the dictates of an Outlook calendar to one dictated by nature. Soon it will be Spring.”
Media24 will announce Relihan’s replacement “as soon as it is appropriate to do so”.
Who’s moved where
New anchor for eNCA’s Africa 360
Kwangu Liwewe is Africa 360’s new anchor, replacing Chris Maroleng who leaves South Africa’s independent 24-hour television news service, eNCA to take up a corporate position. Liwewe will anchor her first stint at the helm of the weekly current affairs show on Saturday.
“I am grateful and excited about this new opportunity. It’s a new chapter in my career, a step ahead so to speak. To be the ‘Face of Africa 360’ is exciting for me as both the team and I will have the opportunity to tell compelling African stories, with in depth interviews and analysis on African issues,” Liwewe said. “Hard work, determination and the Grace of God are key to achieving things deemed impossible.”
Zambian born Liwewe has over 15 years experience working for both print and broadcast media in Southern Africa, West Africa and the United Kingdom. She worked as a senior field producer, reporter, news bulletin anchor for eSat for the past six years and also as eNCA’s West Africa Bureau Chief based in Lagos, Nigeria.
She developed a keen interest in Africa’s social, political and economic issues at the tender age of eight when she got her first radio and started listening to BBC World Service.
Yolandé-Louise van Rensburg joins In Context as a senior consultant
In Context has announced that communication specialist, Yolandé-Louise van Rensburg, has joined the strategic business consultancy as a senior consultant.
“Having worked in a senior management capacity, where she shaped and lead the implementation of communication, branding and large-scale change initiatives at leading mining, insurance and financial services institutions, Yolandé brings first-hand experience to In Context’ strategic communication and engagement function,’ says Marí Lategan, founder and managing owner of In Context.
With a BA Communication degree, Van Rensburg has more than 15 years’ experience as a senior specialist in corporate communication, with specific skills in public relations, internal and external communication, change management, branding, and business strategy.
She has worked for companies such as Absa Bank, Capitec Bank, Anglo American and MMI Holdings and her personal highlights include being awarded the CEO’s award for excellence in communication and being a Gold Quill finalist in the annual International Association for Business Communicators (IABC) Awards.
Hero staffs up
Hero, a communications agency based in Cape Town and Johannesburg, has announced new staff appointments and promotions for some of its rising industry leaders.
Masa Kekana has been appointed as account executive of Hero in Cape Town. In her new role she will focus on client service and client acquisition. She will be responsible for managing the daily tasks to ensure client satisfaction.
Nathaniël Hamann has been appointed as mid-senior web developer of Hero in Johannesburg. His key role is to develop business implementation strategies and engage based on knowledge and experience with the World Wide Web applications to meet their client’s needs.
Michael Venter has been appointed as a mid web developer for Hero in Cape Town. His specialities and skill-set includes engagement and development of World Wide Web applications.
Vaal University of Technology appoints first-ever CFO
The Vaal University of Technology has announced the appointment of Les Coetzee to the newly created position of chief financial officer (CFO).
“The decision to create a new position of CFO in the institution was taken by management in order to strengthen the university’s financial position in terms of its corporate financial reporting, audit, treasury, tax and corporate governance,” says Mike Khuboni, executive director for Corporate Affairs at VUT.
The University is looking at developing business models that may generate alternative streams of income that would supplement traditional funding. Like in other universities, this position will help in addressing the challenges that has significant impact on the financial sustainability of the institution in the long term.
Garlicke & Bousfield director appointed to SASLAW
Sanelisiwe Nyasulu, a director in the labour department of Garlicke & Bousfield, has been appointed to the KwaZulu-Natal Chapter of the South African Society for Labour Law (SASLAW). SASLAW is a non-profit organisation that promotes the advancement of labour law as a legal and academic discipline, and facilitates collaboration between lawyers and other experts within the field.
Who’s won what
marcusbrewster secures Sunlight Happy SA PR campaign
Sunlight, part of the Unilever stable, has appointed integrated communications firm marcusbrewster to add PR value to the Sunlight Happy campaign.
One of South Africa’s most trusted household brands, Sunlight created a local video clip of US Grammy-winner Pharrell Williams’ hit song turned global YouTube phenomenon Happy. For everyone who shares the video, Sunlight has committed to donating R10 to the SA Ubuntu Foundation. Featuring a diverse group of South Africans, Happy South Africa is a civil movement powered by Sunlight and Mxit celebrating South Africa’s vibrancy, unity and joy through music and dance.
Partnering with digital agency Liquorice, PR’s role is “to stimulate organic views and social media shares through publicity about the Sunlight Happy SA fundraising initiative” says marcusbrewster account manager Saadiyah Hendricks
Comments agency chairman Marcus Brewster, “Sunlight Happy is another case study in the successful integration of digital and PR remits and demonstrates the merits of collaboration and inter-agency partnering. We are delighted that the added value that PR can bring will result in such a beneficent outcome for the SA Ubuntu foundation”.
Hashtag #ShareTheHappy
Butter Knife PR to manage communications for RiCharge
Cape Town based agency Butter Knife PR has been awarded the RiCharge account. Currently exporting to 12 countries, RiCharge manufactures and supplies mobile charging solutions. Butter Knife PR aims to highlight the practicality of the devices, which includes their latest offering, the Super Station. Current users of the charging stations are Old Mutual, ABSA and Red Bull to name a few.
Formed in March 2013, the award winning PR agency has secured accounts from the likes of Glenfiddich, Grant’s Hendrick’s Gin, iFix and the Cotton On Group.
“We greatly value our partnership with RiCharge and are extremely excited to work on their latest product. Their products are enormously innovative, and fill a gap in a big market. It is often the case that guests leave a restaurant, bar etc. when their battery dies. This will ensure that patrons stay longer, and stay connected,” says Butter Knife PR director, Leandi Jamneck.
Who’s making moves
Mark1 makes its mark with new website
South African digital media business, Mark 1, have launched their new website as part of their commitment to an expanded focus and service offering within the realms of digital marketing. Mark1 teamed up with the development and design talent at Wonderland Collective, to create a website that truly showcased Mark1’s capabilities and portfolio of work.
With an improved homepage design, sleek navigation and refreshed content, Mark1’s new website exists to help clients and prospective clients better understand the company’s services and operations.
“We used to have a quote on our site saying, “We are fresh and funky and that is why our clients love us’ and even though that is still very true, it was no longer true of our old site. We trust that our new site fits well with who we are. Once again thank you to the team and Wonderland Collective for their efficiency and patience.”
Mark 1 always keeps in mind that whilst technologies may change, client service should not, and the team is fully equipped to assist clientele with every niche aspect of their advertising campaigns.
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