Clare O’Neil, general manager of SABC Television Sales, announced her resignation from the public broadcaster this morning. She will be taking over as managing director of research and data firm Telmar South Africa from February 2006. Jenny Potter, the outgoing head of Telmar SA, will be moving to the Telmar global office.
O’Neil has been the general manager of SABC Television Sales since September 2001, overseeing a staff complement of 70 to deliver on the largest advertising sales targets in South African media. In the financial year to March 2005 her division returned record revenues, coming in R280-million over the R1,7-billion budget for the 12 months.
‘I’ve had a fantastic four years at the SABC,” O’Neil told eMedia. ‘I’ve loved growing the TV business as a whole. This job opportunity [at Telmar] is difficult to turn down. It’s a long term opportunity and I will be working locally and internationally.
‘It’s also an opportunity for me to gear the industry up for day-after TV ratings and to run a company.”
Mark Jakins, chief executive of commercial enterprises at the SABC, praised O’Neil for consistently achieving ‘commercial revenues way beyond target” and for ensuring ‘market growth and loyalty to strengthen the SABC’s position as market leader.”
O’Neil will be officially leaving the SABC on December 15. Renee Koumaras has been appointed acting general manager of SABC Television Sales.
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