Industry sources report that the departures of senior executives from MultiChoice, the African pay-TV giant, have not diminished and resumed in 2021, with two more executives departing in the last few weeks. Calvo Mawela, Group CEO, revealed in an email to employees on Thursday that MultiChoice Africa Holdings (MAH) CEO Brand De Villiers is leaving the company to pursue other business interests.
De Villiers, a Chartered Accountant, has worked for MultiChoice for nearly six years. In December 2015, he joined the firm as Strategy and New Business Director, and in January 2017, he was named MAH CEO. Starting August 1, De Villiers will be succeeded by Fhulu Badugela, the current Director of MultiChoice Africa Southern Region.
BMA sources have also learned that Natasha Matos-Hemingway, the company’s MultiChoice Connected Video Chief Marketing Officer, is leaving after less than two years. Matos-Hemingway joined MultiChoice in October 2019 after nine years at Microsoft and Google in various positions.
Following the departure of three other senior executives from MultiChoice in 2020, the company’s leadership team has changed yet again. In August, the departure of Chief Strategy Officer Max Krudop followed the resignation of MultiChoice Connected Video CEO Nicklas Ekdahl in July.
Mark Rayner, the CEO of MultiChoice South Africa, left shortly after following 14 years with the broadcaster. Richard Boorman, the head of communications for MultiChoice Connected Video, resigned in the same year.
It’s unclear what’s causing the sudden flurry of resignations. However, it’s been alleged that MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela’s managerial style and strategic orientation were the roots of the problem.
