Naspers names new MultiChoice management team in Africa

South African conglomerate Naspers has named a new leadership team for soon-to-be spun-off pay TV arm MultiChoice under a new CEO, Calvo Mawela.

Mawela will take over as CEO of the new group, which encompasses MultiChoice South Africa, MultiChoice Africa, OTT TV arm Showmax Africa and content security specialist Irdeto, from November 1. He is currently group executive, regulator and policy affairs at MultiChoice.

Imtiaz Patel, currently Naspers Video Entertainment, will become executive chairman of MultiChoice Group at the same time. Patel has served as head of Naspers’ entertainment arm since 2015, having previously been Group CEO of MultiChoice South Africa.

Further appointments to the management team include Tim Jacobs as chief financial officer and Brand de Villiers as group chief operating officer.

Naspers unveiled plans to spin off MultiChoice in September, with a listing on the Johannesburg stock exchange in the first half of next year and the unbundling of Naspers’ shares in the entertainment outfit to shareholders.

Naspers CEO Bob van Dijk said: “This announcement marks a significant step for the MultiChoice Group as they journey towards a stand-alone business. I am confident that through the leadership of Imtiaz and Calvo, MultiChoice Group will continue on its growth trajectory and unlock even more value for its shareholders.”

Mawela said: “I am incredibly excited to lead our team of highly capable executives through this new and exciting chapter for our company. Our leadership team is diverse, experienced and well-positioned to grow our position as the leading entertainment company on the African continent. There are significant growth opportunities for MultiChoice Group in Africa. The combination of MultiChoice’s reach, Showmax and DStv Now’s cutting-edge internet television service, alongside Irdeto’s 360 security suite will provide a unique offering.”