According to Ismail, the top team will focus their skills and experience on a number of key future-focused aspects within the media sales and marketing process. They aim to ensure a 'customer-centric, integrated product solution, packaged to meet client specific objectives'.

The key factors driving the repurposed structure are the need for agility, accessibility and creativity.

"South Africa's media sales environment is dealing with seismic changes brought about by COVID-19, the bleak economic outlook and lightning-fast technological developments and we want to ensure that our client-facing teams are geared to meet these challenges now and in the future," says Ismail.

Gayle Edmunds heads up the Ads24 Content hub as content editor. She is responsible for reinforcing the power of content and implementing co-created brand content strategies across the Media24 digital and print platforms.

Tian Liebenberg continues to lead business development inland and drive innovative advertising programmes across multiple platforms, with a focus on digital and television.

Samantha Africa is appointed as business development manager (coastal). In addition to delivering solutions to clients, she will oversee the digital support and implementation team.

Conrad Stanley (inland) and Leanne Loubser (coastal) are responsible for pamphlet business development and to ensure the growth and reach of distribution into Media24's news brand environment.

Pierrette Spadoni's business development portfolio includes government and careers and she is responsible for developing and implementing sales strategies for the government sector across Media24 news and digital platforms.

Ismael says that, in order to equip our sales force with an agile and a responsive service to clients, Ads24 has the following top team members:
  • Shane Jacobs (sales strategist): The role is to devise national and local business strategies for the group's news and digital channels.
  • Dalene Muller (commercial manager): Media intelligence providing insights, research and data in support of sales strategies, and
  • Marise van der Lith (head of marketing: The role focuses on developing a comprehensive communications programme in support of the sales team. In addition to positioning, Ads24 and Media24 brands as market leaders, she continues to promote the co-creation of integrated advertising solutions. 
This streamlined leadership team is firmly committed to ensuring easy access to their diverse skill sets and will work closely with clients to design individually tailored solutions that meet expectations, according to Ads24.  

"We support the group strategy of providing quality news journalism to all South Africans, irrespective of interest or cultural persuasion. Our commitment is to partner with our clients to develop and deliver multi-channel advertising solutions that support brands and deliver results," concludes Ismail.

For more information, visit www.ads24.co.za. You can also follow Ads24 on Twitter.