Rapid Blue, a BBC Studios-backed South African production company, has named Ziyanda Ngcaba as its next CEO, as Duncan Irvine prepares to step down after almost 30 years in the position.
Ngcaba, who joined Rapid Blue in 2020 as executive producer and business director, will take over as CEO on April 1. She was promoted to MD last year, after the departure of Kee-Leen Irvine, who co-founded the company with Duncan Irvine in 1993.
“It is an enormous honour for me to take the helm and steer this ship,” Ngcaba says. “I am eager to carry ahead Irvine’s values, creative ambitions, and passion for high-quality entertainment.”
“We are thrilled to continue to build Rapid Blue productions, as the company has produced several great shows. We have a solid creative team (with over 100 years of combined expertise in the industry) who are critical to the company’s future success. We’ll keep working on fantastic projects that I can’t wait for audiences in South Africa and throughout the world to experience, “Ngcaba concluded.
Rapid Blue’s slate includes local versions of Come Dine with Me, Celebrity Game Night, Family Feud, and the 10-part original series Homegrown Tastes South Africa.
Rapid Blue also facilitated Nigeria shoots for Warner Bros’ Bob Hearts Abishola, which was renewed for a fourth season by CBS in the United States, and produced the second season of Africa’s Business Heroes, the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic programme in Africa to support entrepreneurs.
Mmabatho Kau was also named the company’s head of scripted towards the end of last year.
Ngcaba has over 20 years of experience in the television industry, having worked on scripted programmes such as Rhythm City, Scandal, and Imbewu at eMedia Investments and the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
Irvine announced that he is starting a new company that would provide content development, packaging, and funding solutions to brands, broadcasters, and production companies.
