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The locally-listed printing and publishing concern announced, with immediate effect, the appointment of Mr Darlick E. Marandure, who has had close to two decades of experience in overseeing IT implementations and transformations in the US.
Zimpapers publishes The Herald, The Sunday Mail, The Chronicle, The Sunday News, The Manica Post, H-Metro, B-Metro and Umthunywa and Kwayedza. It recently established the radio station Star FM. The group also owns commercial printing giant, Natprint.
Mr Marandure would be tasked with overseeing the effective use of the group’s IT assets which now include new kid on the block, Star FM, launched last year and running on a fully-digitalised system.
In addition, the group has embarked on an effort to increase its digital footprint. Part of the new IT head’s task would be to introduce new digital offerings that would add value to the publishing firm, at the same time as providing new revenue streams.
“This strategic appointment represents a great leap forward and value addition in our efforts, as we strive to become an integrated media group, to push the frontiers of modern technology in closing the gap created by distance and space as we strive to deliver unparalleled media services to our customers to maintain our position as a leading player in the media industry,” said Zimpapers group chief executive, Mr Justin Mutasa.
“We feel humbled to have an individual of Mr Marandure’s calibre, extensive experience and qualifications at the centre of transforming the online aspects of our multiple delivery channels to keep pace with technological dynamics to ensure seamless convergence and increase our reach.
“We are confident this will help us in exploring new opportunities for growth. Mr Darlick Marandure joins a strong team of dedicated workers that have enabled us to maintain market dominance.”
Mr Marandure said his immediate task was to ensure that the company’s IT infrastructure is aligned with the enterprise-wide strategic goals and objectives.
“This would assist the publishing company in proactively meeting the needs of our readers and listeners as opposed to reactively having to deploy IT solutions and services to relieve symptoms.”
On social media, Mr Marandure said that Zimpapers would continue making concerted efforts to improve its presence on the various platforms ranging from online, mobile to print and radio.
ZIMPAPERS
“Steps are being taken as we speak to improve our online portfolio to bring them up to speed.”
He said Zimpapers was the only media house in the country currently offering mobile phone news by way of SMS or MMS, lending credence to the fact that the company is far ahead of “the chasing pack.”
Mr Marandure’s appointment comes at a time when the trends in the media industry are shifting towards alternative platforms where more users are now getting their news.
Approximately 40 percent of Zimpapers newspaper readers now get their news from mobile phones – making it imperative for the group to continue to cater for this growing audience. With over 20 years’ experience in IT and finance-related capacities, Mr Marandure started out his career in banking as a management trainee at Zimbank. Upon completion of the programme, an opportunity presented itself for him to further his studies in the US.
In the US, Mr Marandure spent over 12 years working for Mars Information Services where he held various roles in IT. One of his biggest accomplishments was leading the biggest technological transformation that Mars Inc. had undergone through a US$105 million programme to create a single technological platform for the new Mars Inc. to operate on after they acquired Wrigley’s and a few other smaller companies.
This included revamping the WAN and LAN networks with assistance from British Telecomms, consolidating Mars and Wrigley data centres and introduction of hosting of critical business applications on the cloud – to name a few of the programmes’ work streams.
The experience he accumulated from his time overseas is invaluable and he will be sharing it with his new team at Zimpapers Group.
He has held several roles in finance with organisations such as IBM in North Carolina, Pfizer and Schering Plough in New Jersey, USA.
Mr Marandure said his biggest take-away from working in the banking and pharmaceutical industries in the US was the importance of great customer service and the provision of quality products.
“Our customers expect to get both from us and the onus is on us as a business to continue to nurture that mutually beneficial relationship with our customers. Our success depends on it,” he said.
Mr Marandure holds a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Economics from the University of Zimbabwe where he graduated in 1993, a Master’s in Business Administration from Howard University in Washington DC, and a Master’s in Information Systems Management degree from Keller Graduate School in the USA, a degree which he was awarded with a distinction.
He is ITIL certified and is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), a certification held by less than half a million people across the world.
Being the business and technology visionary he is, Zimpapers believe that their digitalisation efforts will see the company soar to new heights as they penetrate other platforms with guidance from a central resource of Mr Marandure’s calibre and background.
Online Reporter