Kanthan Pillay
Srikanthan Velayudam Pillay
CEO of YFM
Born 15-09-1961
in Durban
South Africa
Multi-skilled with extensive experience in Media and Information Technology at senior management level with strong business and creative skills. Media experience includes newspapers and magazines, radio and television through journalism, marketing, corporate communications, and business management. IT experience includes academic applied research and business environments.
Business Address
Professional details
Current Position(s)
Founder / Principal |
Johannesburg | 2006 -
present
Consulting and Project Management
Nqabile Recorporations is a consultancy combining strong technical knowledge with enterprise-level conceptual skills providing independent strategic advice and support to public and private sector entities.
Government, Public Administration and Defence
Heading a media and technology consultancy specialising in independent strategic advice and support to public and private sector entities whose interests require them to impact on decision makers and public debate and opinion.
Flagship project was coordinating media relations for Africa Aerospace and Defence 2006, the continent’s biggest aerospace, maritime, and defence expo in Cape Town (contracted to Department of Defence, Armscor, AMD, and the Commercial Aviation Association of South Africa).
Designed and implemented a national distributed editorial production system for Mafube Publishing (Enterprise Magazine).
Designed and implemented an open source call centre solution for Kenako Investments.
Designed and implemented an interactive learning facility for Yfm’s Y Academy learnership programme
Currently providing secure communications and web server infrastructure to select clients including TSI, Ibululu Management Consultants, IPS Security Services.
Previous Position(s)
Head: Africa Operations |
e.tv
2004 - 2005
Broadcast Media, Multimedia and Film
South Africa’s first private free-to-air TV channel attained profitability and is looking to expansion outside of the country into English-speaking Africa in partnership with like-minded players. Reporting to the Chief Executive, the initial phase consisted of research and feasibility studies, site inspections (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria), and drawing up of preliminary business plans which have received board approval. Implementation of East Africa phase is expected to commence in May 2005. Implementation of West Africa phase is expected to commence in June 2005. Project completion was expected December 2005.
Executive Producer: News |
e.tv
2001 - 2004
Broadcast Media, Multimedia and Film
* Assumed responsibility for the country’s first independent free-to-air television news service shortly after the September 11 terror attacks upon the United States. During five months of sole responsibility for news, reporting to the Channel Director there was rapid increase in viewership with ratings more than doubling to overtake the state broadcaster’s English bulletins.
* In September 2002, created and ran the e.tv Journalism Learnership programme which saw 14 students with tertiary qualifications aspiring to be television reporters being trained in all aspects of television news production. The programme curriculum was designed in terms of the NQF standards drawn up by the MAPPP SETA and was repeated in the 2003-2004 year.
Head: Corporate Affairs |
e.tv
1999 - 2001
Broadcast Media, Multimedia and Film
Joined South Africa’s first private free-to-air television channel a year after its inception, with a mandate to instil public and advertiser confidence in the business.
* Established a crack publicity team producing press material of a high enough standard for entertainment journalists to use unedited in their own publications.
* Conceptualised, designed, and produced a publication “e 24/7” for insertion in major newspapers (including The Star and Beeld) as a vehicle for entrenching public awareness of the channel.
* Assumed responsibility for the company website, redesigned and incorporated that operation into the publicity department workflow with significant cost savings.
* In December 2000, headed up the team installing a real-time 3D graphics system for news production (VizRT) and successfully implemented this in time for the country’s first hour-long daily primetime newscast in February 2001.
Managing Editor |
Cape Times
1997 - 1999
Publishing, Printing and Print Media
The Managing Editor had specific responsibility for all operational aspects of the publication including budgets and financial control, staffing, training, liaison with advertising and circulation. Initiated and implemented financial controls which resulted in the paper attaining profitability for the first time in more than ten years. Shared responsibilities included editing the paper on a rotating roster with the Editor and the Deputy Editor, writing editorials, and working towards a shared vision of the Cape Times as a newspaper that is world-class but proudly South African. In January 1999, successfully initiated an ambitious restructuring programme to flatten hierarchy so as to encourage greater participation of previously disadvantaged staffers in decision making processes.
Publishing, Printing and Print Media
Positioned on the Executive Committee and reporting to the Managing Director, this new position focussed on exploring and/or creating new revenue streams outside of core business. Responsibilities included managing a magazine division which successfully launched three new titles into the soccer fanzine niche market, representing Independent Newspapers at Independent Broadcasting Authority licence application hearings which saw the successful launch of South Africa’s first new independent commercial FM radio station – Kaya FM, and overall responsibility for Independent’s corporate social investment division. Appointed by Independent Newspapers Holdings to the board of Kaya FM and of Penta Publications – publishers of an award-winning range of magazines including Tribute, De Kat, Living Africa, Keeping Track, and Big Screen. From July through September 1997, appointed to a high-level five person task team to redefine the company’s flagship newspaper, The Star, for the 21st Century.
