EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

SABC appoints Enver Groenewald as its first Chief Commercial Officer

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2025

He will oversee advertising and sponsorship sales, as well as alternative revenue streams, partnerships and commercial opportunities.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has appointed well-known marketing industry personality Enver Groenewald as Chief Commercial Officer, effective from 1 October 2025.

The introduction of the Chief Commercial Officer role marks a significant evolution in the Corporation’s strategic approach to revenue generation.

Photo: LinkedIn

“This executive role replaces the former Group Executive: Sales portfolio and reflects the SABC’s determination to broaden and integrate all aspects of its commercial operations in line with the organisation’s five-year strategy to build long-term financial sustainability,” the SABC states.

 

Groenewald will oversee not only advertising and sponsorship sales, but also television licence fee collections, alternative revenue streams, partnerships, and new commercial opportunities.

Holistic approach to driving revenue growth

“This consolidated mandate ensures a holistic approach to driving revenue growth and future-fit business practices that can secure the SABC’s role as a sustainable public broadcaster,” the broadcaster explains.

 

Comments Nomsa Chabeli, Group CEO: “The appointment of a Chief Commercial Officer signals a new chapter in the way we approach revenue generation. This is not just a title change; it is a strategic shift to ensure every commercial lever works together in delivering value for the Corporation and for our stakeholders.”

 

Groenewald brings more than two decades of leadership experience across media, advertising, classical marketing and digital transformation in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

He has held senior executive roles such as Africa Director for Media, Marketing Capabilities, and Digital Transformation at Unilever; Group Chief Executive Officer at Ogilvy South Africa; Chief Executive Officer at Interbrand Southern Africa; General Manager: Revenue at Avusa (now Arena Holdings); and Chief Executive Officer of Ochre Media.

“I am honoured to join the SABC at such a pivotal time in its journey,” says Groenewald. “The new Chief Commercial Officer mandate provides a powerful platform to reimagine how we deliver value to our audiences, our clients, and the country at large. I look forward to working with the team to unlock the full commercial potential of the SABC and to help secure its sustainability for the future.”

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