TOP INTERNATIONAL executive Paul Edwards has been appointed as new CEO of the Johnnies Industrial Corporation (Johnnic), the group’s chairman, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced on Wednesday. Ramaphosa said that Edwards’ key task as CEO will be to accelerate Johnnics’ impetus in becoming the leading integrated media, entertainment and telecommunications group in Africa. Current CEO Vaughn Bray will be retiring during August following a handover period. Ramaphosa said that Edwards will be tasked with creating “significant value for shareholders while upholding its commitment to black economic empowerment.” In 1990 he joined M-Net as CE of Multichoice, its pay TV division and was responsible for launching its Africa service. He later joined Star TV in Hong Kong, with the task of launching its pay TV division, Star TV. In 1995 he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Measat Broadcast, a regional digital satellite TV business based in Malaysia, but targeting countries ranging from India to Taiwan.