Set to migrate into linking broadcasting assets and digital entries to acquire in-depth understanding of its audiences, Kagiso Media has a new chief innovation officer: Vincent Maher who is backed with 18 years of work experience in the online industry remarkably in social media. Previously, Maher was the co-founder of Motribe, a mobile community specialist of which, when it was acquired by Mxit, Maher took the role of chief product officer where he managed the social network’s migration from feature phones to smartphones. Kagiso Media has several radio assets, including East Coast Radio and Jacaranda FM, as well as new media firm Gloo, property and geospatial data company Knowledge Factory, and a majority stake in Urban Brew. It is now set to migrate into linking its broadcasting assets and digital entries to acquire an in-depth understanding of its audiences. Thus, the new development of Kigiso Media is granting Vincent Maher the post. Maher’s role as chief innovation officer would help facilitate the development of new and innovative concepts, new product analysis in the mobile and apps space while maintaining technical standards across the groups. According to Maher, the zone in which audiences, media and technology collide is where one would find the best chance to innovate and create authentic new media. “I am looking forward to getting right into the thick of it at Kagiso Media,” he said. Backed with experience since 1996, Maher’s CV states that he has held position of strategist at Mail & Guardian Online and co-founder of Amatomu.com, the blog search engine and aggregator. In addition, he has worked as the director of the New Media Lab at Rhodes University School of Journalism & Media Studies and as digital commerce and multimedia director at VWV Interactive. In all, Kagiso Media noted that in Maher’s role, would be responsible for the rapid growth of The Grid, Vodacom’s location-based social network and instant messaging platform.
