Big shake-up at MultiChoice

Elias Masilela will become the new MultiChoice board of directors chair from 1 April 2024.

Masilela has been a long-standing independent member of the board and is also the chair of the board of Sanlam.

He was also a former board member of the South African Reserve Bank and the Government Employee Pension Fund.

He will replace Imtiaz Patel, who will step down from the role on 31 March 2024.

“Mr Patel is currently serving as a non-independent non-executive Chair. Given shareholder preference
for an independent Chair, it was always envisaged that Mr Patel would step down at the appropriate
time once a suitable replacement as independent chair had been identified,” MultiChoice said.

However, Patel will continue working with the group and remain involved on a consultancy basis until October 2028. MultiChoice said that he will continue to work on Showmax, SuperSport and other operational areas.

This follows a string of high-level executive changes at the company, such as Showmax CEO Yolisa Phahle’s resignation last week, as MyBroadband reported.

“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,” Group CEO Calvo Mawela said.

MultiChoice South Africa head Marc Jury became acting Showmax CEO on 1 September 2023, but Phahle will continue to work on a consultancy basis for a year and report to Jury.

Rendani Ramovha also took over the role of SuperSport CEO on 1 September, despite the plans for him to take over from 1 April 2024.

Collen Dlamini has also left his role as the lead on corporate affairs and stakeholder relations. He is now advising on legislative, regulatory and policy.

In addition, Keabetswe Modimoen has taken over Dlamini’s former role as Group Executive on Corporate Affairs and Stakeholder Relations.

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