Just days after finalizing its landmark acquisition of South Africa’s MultiChoice Group, French media conglomerate Canal+ has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of its leadership structure across its African operations. The move marks a significant shift in the continent’s media landscape, placing MultiChoice under foreign ownership for the first time in its history.
The newly integrated entity, which spans all African markets including French-speaking territories, will be led by David Mignot as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Africa. Former MultiChoice Group CEO Calvo Mawela has been appointed Chairman of Canal+ Africa, signaling continuity and strategic alignment between the two legacy businesses.
In a sweeping reorganization, Canal+ has announced a new executive team drawn equally from both Canal+ and MultiChoice, representing seven nationalities. The management structure is now divided into three core divisions: Operations (TV and Fibre), Content, and Corporate Functions.
Key Executive Appointments:
Leadership & Operations
- David Mignot – CEO, Africa
- Nicolas Dandoy – Chief Financial Officer, Africa
- Aziz Diallo – CEO, Pay TV French-speaking Africa
- Byron du Plessis – CEO, Pay TV South Africa
- Fhulufhelo “Fhulu” Badugela – CEO, Pay TV Rest of Africa
- Jean-François Duboy – CEO, GVA (Fibre Business)
- Hennie Visser – Director, Business Operations, Africa
- Fahmeeda Cassim-Surtee – CEO, Advertising and Media Sales, Africa
Content Division
- Fabrice Faux – Director, Sport & General Entertainment (French-speaking Africa)
- Nomsa Philiso – Director, General Entertainment (English & Portuguese-speaking Africa)
- Rendani Ramovha – Director, Sport (English & Portuguese-speaking Africa)
Corporate Functions
- Clément Hellich-Praquin – General Secretary, Africa
- Jean-Christophe Ramos – Director, Public Affairs (French-speaking Africa)
- Keabetswe “Kea” Modimoeng – Director, Public Affairs (English & Portuguese-speaking Africa)
- Michel Sibony – Chief Value Officer, Africa
- Karim Bouzid – Director, Integration, Africa
- Hala Saab – Director, Brand and Communication, Africa
- Sabelo Mawali – Chief Technology Officer, Africa
- Tshepi Malatjie – Director, Human Resources, Africa
Additional Senior Roles
- Steven Budlender – Legal Affairs, English-speaking Africa
- Timothy Jacobs – Finance Synergies, Africa
This new structure reflects Canal+’s ambition to build a pan-African media powerhouse capable of competing with global streaming giants, while maintaining strong local content expertise and regional relevance.
The reorganization also underscores the scale of transformation underway at MultiChoice, which has faced mounting pressure from subscriber churn and intensifying competition in its core markets. By integrating leadership and streamlining operations, Canal+ aims to unlock synergies and drive innovation across the continent.
