Telkom exec moves to Media

By Kimberly Guest for Telkom
Johannesburg, 02 May 2007

Telkom's chief of corporate affairs, Mandla Ngcobo, has left the telecommunications giant to head subsidiary Telkom Media.

Ngcobo is the fourth senior executive to leave the company in the past two months in favour of a subsidiary. In March, the JSE- and New York Stock Exchange-listed fixed-line operator confirmed its chief technical officer Thami Msimango and chief sales and marketing officer Wally Beelders had left the company to join partly-owned Vodacom.

Last month, Justin Ramayia, an executive in Telkom SA's broadband office, was appointed as CEO of majority-held Nigerian telecoms operator, Multi-links.

Ex-CEO Papi Molotsane and non-executive director Lazarus Zim have also left the company.

Thursday's notice of Ngcobo's appointment as CEO of Telkom Media quoted acting-CEO Reuben September as saying the move emanated from Ngcobo's "solid, wide-ranging experience at Telkom".

Legal background

Prior to his 2005 appointment as chief corporate affairs officer, Ngcobo was Telkom's group legal executive. An admitted attorney of the High Court, Ngcobo had his own private practice in Durban and Johannesburg.

World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck says this legal background will be essential to Telkom Media's success.

"What [Ngcobo's appointment] points to is the regulatory battlefield that is going to pervade the TV side of the business for the first few years. I imagine this is more of a regulatory strategy than a business strategy," he explains.

Telkom says Telkom Media was created to explore various avenues in the information, communications and entertainment environment, including cable and satellite subscription broadcast television, online and content services.

Noting Ngcobo's ability to exercise "decisive leadership", September stated: "Telkom Media ultimately envisions becoming Africa's digital media provider of choice. Ngcobo has the requisite credentials to ably negotiate the challenges that lie ahead."

Ngcobo's position became effective on 1 April. Advocate Ouma Rasethaba will fill the position of chief of corporate affairs in an acting capacity.