Top editor joins The Communications Firm

Max Gebhardt, the managing editor of Business Report, the country's largest daily financial newspaper, will be joining corporate communications outfit The Communications Firm (TCF) from 01 December, as its managing director.

Gebhardt, who has been a journalist for the last 10 years with a variety of news organisations, has been the managing editor of Business Report for the last three years and second-in-charge of the newspaper since the beginning of 2003.

Max has extensive experience in financial journalism and has been reporting on and analysing corporate South Africa for the last 9 years. His experience spans Business Day Television, the forerunner of Summit TV, the Mail & Guardian and the Saturday Star. At Business Report, Gebhardt was an integral part of the editorial management team and responsible for managing a staff complement of nearly 40 journalists.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of joining a dynamic black owned Company which is set to shake-up the corporate communications industry," Gebhardt said of his move. "The Communications Firm will offer me new opportunities to explore corporate business from a different angle and a chance to advise South African companies on how to best implement effective strategies in dealing with a fast paced and dynamically changing media world," he added.

"Max is a highly respected journalist who has excelled in both his journalistic and management duties at Business Report. With his strong financial reporting and analysis skills, he will add a tremendous amount of value to our company, especially in strengthening our investor relations offering," said Given Mkhari, CEO of The Communications Firm

The current Managing Director of The Communications Firm, Simphiwe Mdlalose will become the company's CEO, while Given Mkhari, will assume the role of Chairman.

The Communications Firm was established in 2000 and currently operates three internal business divisions namely, Corporate Communications, Branding and Design and Events Management. TCF is a 100% owned subsidiary of MSG Afrika Investments Holdings, a wholly black owned investment company. MSG is owned by Given Mkhari and Simphiwe Mdlalose. MSG's other interest include 30% of Galaxy Media, a media planning and buying agency and 26% of The Jupiter Drawing Room, South Africa's largest independent advertising agency.