Telkom Media has appointed Connie Molusi as chairman, as the company forges ahead with its bid to strengthen its human resource capacity.
Telkom Media is a 66% subsidiary of fixed-line utility Telkom, which has committed to investing R7.5 billion in the new company.
Telkom Media is one of 17 companies applying to the Independent Communications Authority of SA for a commercial satellite and cable broadcasting licence.
The company says it is "developing a set of digital media businesses, which include pay-TV services via satellite and IPTV platforms, as well as a range of online content and ISP services".
"We believe that Connie Molusi's experience leading one of the country's largest media organisations, Johncom, makes him a brilliant candidate for the position, and we are very excited to have him on board," says CEO Mandla Ngcobo.
Molusi began his career as a journalist in the late 1980s, working for various national publications, before joining government where he stayed from 1995 to 2000.
In November 2000, Molusi joined Johnnic Communications as director of media, moving on to become CEO of publishing in April 2001 and group chief executive in March 2003.
Key positions
Molusi's appointment is the latest in a string of high-level placements at Telkom Media.
In an effort to beef up its skills, Ngcobo was recently appointed to the CEO position at Telkom Media, having previously been the chief of corporate affairs at Telkom.
Other key appointments include Setumo Mohapi, who took up the position of CTO last month, and Jimi Matthews as head of Telkom Media's newsroom. Matthews was previously head of e.tv and SABC TV news.
Telkom Media is aware that, while it may have telecoms technology insight, its does not have the necessary skills, says Telkom Media spokesman Chris van Zyl.
"That is why the company is recruiting the skills that it will need to drive the company forward. Appointments are not only being made at executive level."
From a content perspective, IPTV is a new field and the people who join Telkom Media do so because it is at the cutting-edge of media developments, he adds.
"Telkom Media may not have a licence yet, but you have to understand that some of the services we will offer, like online services, will not need a licence," Van Zyl says. He adds that this is one of the drivers behind the current recruitment campaign.
Telkom Media will make an oral submission before the Independent Communications Authority of SA on Tuesday next week.
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