David Mignot has been named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Canal+’s African division, coinciding with significant restructuring within MultiChoice’s leadership following Canal+’s $3.17 billion acquisition of the company.
In this reshuffle, Nicolas Dandoy assumes the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Canal+ group, while Maxime Saada takes on the position of executive chairman overseeing the merged entity. Jacques du Puy joins the new board as an africa-summit-2023-affordable-housing-opportunities/” title=”Unlocking Affordable Housing: Nola Adetola, … of Veritasi Homes, Speaks at Financial Times … Summit 2023″>executive director.
This transition marks the departure of Calvo Mawela as CEO, although he will remain involved as chairman of Canal+’s African operations. Timothy Jacobs will also step down from his CFO role at MultiChoice South Africa to assume a senior finance position within the combined organization.
Canal+ emphasized that these leadership adjustments aim to strike a balance between maintaining local market expertise and leveraging global insights as the two companies integrate.
The composition of the revamped MultiChoice board now reflects a blend of independent directors alongside Canal+ appointees, ensuring diverse governance.
The newly formed board features Maxime Saada (Executive Chairman), David Mignot (CEO), Nicolas Dandoy (CFO), and Jacques du Puy (Executive Director). Independent non-executive members include Elias Masilela (lead independent director), Kgomotso Moroka, Louisa Stephens, Deborah Klein, and James du Preez.
Following the acquisition, Canal+ holds a direct stake of 200,030,591 MultiChoice shares, equating to 46.0% of issued shares excluding treasury stock. Additionally, 9,767,641 shares (2.2% of issued shares) have been acquired through the Canal+ offer.
The company noted that further share acceptances would increase its ownership percentage. Both Canal+ and MultiChoice confirmed that customer terms and subscriptions will remain unaffected by the acquisition.
A comprehensive strategic update is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2026, outlining future plans for the merged entity.
Key Insights on the MultiChoice Board Restructuring
- This leadership overhaul follows the successful completion of Canal+’s mandatory offer to acquire MultiChoice, marking the largest acquisition in Canal+’s history and expanding its footprint as a global media and entertainment powerhouse with a strong presence in Africa.
- Combined, Canal+ and MultiChoice will serve over 40 million subscribers across approximately 70 countries spanning Asia, Europe, and Africa, employing around 17,000 people.
- The new board structure is designed to ensure a smooth transition while injecting international expertise and fresh perspectives into the company’s governance.
- These board changes were ratified in line with MultiChoice’s memorandum of incorporation and took effect immediately.
- The previous MultiChoice board members officially resigned on Monday, 22 September 2025.
In line with regulatory and public interest commitments related to the acquisition, Canal+ and the expanded group have pledged the following initiatives in South Africa:
- Support for enterprises owned by historically disadvantaged individuals, as well as small, micro, and medium-sized businesses within the local audiovisual sector.
- Investment in South African general entertainment and local sports programming.
Advantages of the MultiChoice and Canal+ Merger
According to Canal+, the merger will enhance content distribution capabilities and streamline streaming services across the combined platforms.
Showmax and DStv will serve as the primary channels for delivering the integrated content and distribution strategy.
Canal+ highlighted the opportunity to merge its extensive global content library and production expertise with MultiChoice’s strong local market presence. Both companies are committed to achieving operational efficiencies while complying with regional broadcasting regulations.
The new leadership team is tasked with driving a revitalized commercial strategy focused on sustainable growth and enhanced service delivery for African audiences.
Canal+ reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with partners, regulators, and industry stakeholders throughout the integration process. A detailed strategic roadmap, including product development, content investment, and operational milestones, will be unveiled in early 2026.
0 Comments