TV47 Chief Executive Officer Abubakar Abdullahi has left the station citing personal reasons and the need to pursue other interests. In a note to the staff members, Abdullahi termed the opportunity to serve the station as CEO as a “lifetime honour”.
It has emerged that Mr Abdullahi, who held the position of CEO in acting capacity for four years, resigned after being offered what he saw as a junior position. According to an insider, with the recent launch of Radio 47 Cape Media, which runs both TV 47 and Radio 47, re-organised its management team and redeployed Abdullahi to the new position of Head of Radio.
It is understood that Abdullahi, who doubled as TV presenter, rejected the new appointment. “Abubakar Abdullahi was made head of radio,” said someone familiar with Cape Media operations, “But he refused to sign the appointment letter, even though this was a more substantive role than acting. So management let him go.”
Abdullahi certainly saw this as a demotion from CEO, the highest position in the company where controlled entire operations. The fact that he had not been confirmed as CEO while acting for four years may point to not-so-good relations with the ownership.
As head of radio, Abullahi’s focus would have narrowed to the growing the newly launched Radio 47, leaving him with little, if any, influence on management and TV programming.
In his resignation letter, Abdullahi put on a brave face and adopted a conciliatory tone, praising the company and his colleagues. “It has been a lifetime honour and privilege to serve as your chief editor and subsequently as your Chief Executive Officer for the last four years,” he said.
“When I took over the leadership of the company we deeply love, I made a commitment that we will fight for our spot in Kenya’s competitive media landscape. I am proud that we have made tremendous progress together. We were ranked the fastest-growing TV in Kenya and our numbers continue to grow.”
He explained that the heart of his philosophy has been to create a humane company that puts the interest of its staff members first. “I am also proud of the caring community we became. However. I have for personal reasons decided to leave the company and pursue other interests. You have offered me the support I needed to execute my mandate and I thank you all for that while requesting that you grant the same to my successor,” he added.
Cape Media, which runs TV47 television station, appointed Mr Abdullahi to replace Eugene Anangwe who resigned in June 2020.
A free to air television station, TV47 is currently enjoying fast growth in a fairly crowded broadcast industry. It was launched in June 2019 with head offices in Nairobi under the slogan, Untold Stories. It delivers educational news and entertainment across the country with a presence on DStv, Signet, Bamba and StarTimes platforms.
Read >> Citizen TV Presenter Francis Gachuri Lands Govt Job
See Also >> From Royal to TV47: The Making Of Kenya’s Fast-Growing TV Station
Leave a comment