by Thinus Ferreira
MultiChoice staffers - especially those at Showmax - at shocked at the latest top executive changes the Randburg-based pay-TV operator announced internally late on Friday, which include Showmax CEO Yolisa Phahle stepping down and MultiChoice SA boss Marc Jury now also taking on this responsibility.
MultiChoice insiders are wondering about, and pointing to, what seems like a growing and ongoing lack of leadership and executive succession planning inside MultiChoice City - with especially Yolisa Phahle's exit as Showmax boss raising fears and anxiety levels since the relaunch of MultiChoice's video streamer set for mere months from now in partnership with Comcast's NBCUniversal and Europe's Sky pay-TV division.
News about Yolisa Phahle's exit as Showmax CEO first started circulating last week on Thursday, with MultiChoice staffers who got told in an internal memo on Friday evening.
Collen Dlamini, who was MultiChoice group executive for corporate affairs but who has now been replaced in this position, didn't respond to media queries made about this last week.
TVwithThinus first asked MultiChoice on Thursday evening about Yolisa Phahle stepping down as Showmax CEO and her resignation. Collen Dlamini on Friday morning told TVwithThinus "to give me an hour and I will get back to you" but didn't.
On Friday afternoon when called again, Collen Dlamini asked for an emailed media query to again be sent and said he would "respond in writing" but never did.
Laura Cooke, Showmax publicist, didn't return calls and didn't respond with answers to a media query around Yolisa Phahle's resignation.
As TVwithThinus reported on Friday, besides MultiChoice SA CEO Marc Jury immediately taking over oversight of Showmax as well from 1 September and Yolisa Phahle providing "advisory support" for a period of 6 months, Collen Dlamini has been replaced by Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng as MultiChoice's new group executive for corporate affairs and stakeholder relations, reporting to MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela.
Besides being group exec for corporate affairs, Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng will continue to oversee stakeholder management and regulatory functions for the rest of Africa outside of South Africa.
MultiChoice has also moved up its sport prince to be, Rendani Ramovha's full-time appointment as new SuperSport CEO. Rendani Ramovha who would only have started full-time in the position from 2024 is now SuperSport CEO since 1 September.
Below is the full internal memo MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela sent out to staffers on Friday evening:
"I am pleased to announce the following leadership changes effective 1st September 2023.
In what could be characterised as the end of an era defined by a solid career and almost two decades with the Group, it is with mixed emotions to announce that our Showmax CEO, Yolisa Phahle, is making her way into the next chapter of her career.
Discussions have been underway with an understanding that she will be entering the retirement phase of her career in the near future, thus the need for a seamless transition.
Knowing the void that would be left by this seasoned executive, we have been planning a smooth and seamless transition with Yoli for a while. After careful deliberations, we have concluded that Yoli will start a handover process wherein Showmax will report to Marc Jury from 1st September, with Yoli providing full time advisory support to Marc for a period of six months.
From March 2024, Yoli will continue to consult to the Group for a period of 12 months and reporting into Marc. This means that Marc will run Showmax and our South African operations as we continue our search for a new Showmax CEO.
Yoli will be remembered for her unparalleled work since joining M-Net in 2005 as General Manager for Channel O, and later being appointed Channel Director for Local channels SA where she launched the Mzansi Magic portfolio of channels.
Due to her distinguished work, Yoli was appointed M-Net CEO in 2015. In 2020 Yoli was appointed as CEO for Showmax and having worked with me and the board to set the new direction we wish her the very best of luck as she begins the new episode of her professional life.
Chief Executive Officer for SuperSport
We are pleased to follow up on the initial announcement made earlier this year regarding Rendani Ramovha’s appointment as SuperSport CEO.
On this note please be informed that Rendani will assume his new role from 1st September 2023, reporting to Marc in the interim to ensure a seamless handover of strategic relationships with sporting bodies.
In his current role as Head of Marketing and Commercial, Rendani has led some exciting initiatives within SuperSport including SuperSport Schools, Super Picks (BetKing and SuperSport partnership) and the SA20 Cricket league.
Group Executive Corporate Affairs and Stakeholder Relations
In order to enhance our Group’s positioning in the industry, and to cement the stakeholder-centric posture of our platform vision, we have decided to make changes in the Corporate Affairs division.
These changes will form part of the broader process of reviewing and repositioning the division going forward.
Collen Dlamini will step out of the role and provide advisory services on legislative, regulatory and policy effective from 1st September. We wish Collen well in his future endeavors and thank him for his contribution over the years- most notably his role in positioning MultiChoice as the platform of choice as well as his key role in various internal and external programmes.
I am pleased to announce Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng as the new Group Executive Corporate Affairs and Stakeholder Relations, reporting to me. He will continue to oversee the Rest of Africa Stakeholder management and Regulatory functions.
In his current Corporate Affairs and Stakeholder Relations role within MAH, Kea has in a short space of time proven himself by assisting the business to navigate complex stakeholder issues and forging meaningful partnerships across the continent.
Kea, who is a former Sunday Times award-winning journalist, brings a wealth of experience from both the private and public sectors where he held senior corporate governance, corporate citizenship and public affairs roles across the African continent.
He holds a PhD in Managerial Sciences from Durban University of Technology, a Senior Executive Fellows programme at Harvard University- and completed an Executive Development Programme at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
We wish Rendani, Marc and Kea the best as they take on their new responsibilities and gratitude goes to Tex Teixeira who has been diligently holding the fort on the SuperSport front. We look forward to their contributions as we pivot our bold content ambition to fruition.
Regards, Calvo"
