The SABC’s group executive of commercial enterprises, has paid personal tribute to media man Gordon Patterson, tragically shot dead in a botched hijacking at his home late last week.
Nomsa Philiso told The Media Online that on a personal level, “Gordon embraced and believed in me from the day that we met”.
“He constantly acknowledged and reassured me that I was on the right track; this meant a lot coming from a legend like him. He was patient in articulating his point across (and would even draw pictures to illustrate his point,” she said.
“His frankness and sincerity was a refreshing trait indeed. I will miss bouncing things off him and just knowing that he is a phone call away.”
The public broadcaster, in a statement on Friday, expressed condolences to the family, colleagues, and friends of Patterson. “With more than 25 years of experience in the media advertising industry, Mr Patterson was regarded as an industry doyen – an independent and deep thinker described by media owners in MOST Awards research as a man with integrity, vision and willingness to be open to new ideas,” it said.
Philiso added, “Gordon was a man who believed in the contribution and role of the public broadcaster unreservedly. He always availed himself to assist and craft mechanisms that would assist both industry and the public broadcaster as the preferred platform for effective advertisements”.
The SABC acknowledged Patterson’s “enormous contribution to the media advertising industry during his illustrious career”.
