French media giant Canal+ has officially taken control of MultiChoice Group following the completion of its mandatory takeover offer. All regulatory approvals have been secured, making the acquisition unconditional and setting the stage for a major leadership and structural overhaul of the African broadcasting heavyweight.
With the integration process now underway, Canal+ has announced a series of executive and board-level changes. David Mignot has been appointed CEO of the newly combined Canal+ Africa operations, which include MultiChoice. Nicolas Dandoy takes over as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), while Canal+ Group CEO Maxime Saada assumes the role of Executive Chairman.
MultiChoice’s outgoing CEO, Calvo Mawela, will remain involved as Chairman of Canal+’s African operations. Similarly, former CFO Timothy Jacobs will stay on in a senior financial role within the larger group.
To facilitate the transition, MultiChoice has restructured its board to reflect Canal+’s influence while retaining independent oversight. The board now includes a majority of independent non-executive directors alongside newly appointed Canal+ executives. This balance aims to ensure governance continuity and strategic renewal during the integration phase.
Effective 22 September 2025, the new MultiChoice board comprises:
- Maxime Saada – Executive Chairman
- David Mignot – CEO
- Nicolas Dandoy – CFO
- Jacques du Puy – Executive
- Elias Masilela – Lead Independent Director
- Kgomotso Moroka, Louisa Stephens, Deborah Klein, and James du Preez – Independent Non-Executive Directors
Canal+ now owns 46.0% of MultiChoice’s issued shares (excluding treasury shares), with an additional 2.2% already tendered. This gives Canal+ effective control of the group. Any further acceptances will increase its stake.
The acquisition represents the largest transaction in Canal+’s history and positions the combined entity as a global media and entertainment force. Together, the group will serve over 40 million subscribers across nearly 70 countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia, supported by a workforce of around 17,000 employees.
Canal+ and MultiChoice have pledged to maintain support for local content production and small businesses in South Africa. Commitments include continued investment in general entertainment and sports programming, especially content developed by historically disadvantaged creators.
While operational changes are expected, existing subscription and billing arrangements will remain unchanged for MultiChoice customers. Canal+ is expected to unveil a detailed strategic roadmap for the group in early 2026.
