Yolisa Phahle has stepped down as CEO of African streamer Showmax. 

Showmax is 70% owned by African pay-TV giant MultiChoice Group and 30% by NBCUniversal.  Earlier this year, they partnered to relaunch Showmax. 

4. Showmax.Yolisa-Phahle

Yolisa Phahle, Showmax

MultiChoice South Africa CEO Marc Jury is taking over as interim CEO until a successor to Phahle is found. 

Phahle began the handover process to Jury on September 1 and will provide full-time advisory support to the exec for the next six months. 

After launching in South Africa eight years ago, Showmax has expanded to 44 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a diaspora service also currently available in more than 30 international markets worldwide. 

Read more: Natalya Tatarchuk: Making real-time more accessible 

From March 2024, Phahle will continue to consult for the group for 12 months, reporting to Jury.  

Phahle joined MultiChoice-owned M-Net in 2005 as general manager for Channel O and was later appointed channel director for MultiChoice’s local channels in South Africa, where she launched the Mzansi Magic portfolio of channels. She was named M-Net CEO in 2015 and appointed as CEO for Showmax in 2020. 

Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice Group CEO, said: “Having worked with me and the board to set the new direction, we wish her the very best of luck as she begins the new episode of her professional life.” 

Read more: Multichoice partners with Comcast to relaunch African streamer Showmax