View this email in your browser Digital media innovator Mohamed Nanabhay joins MDIF as Deputy CEO   New York, October 1, 2015: South African digital media practitioner, entrepreneur and strategist Mohamed Nanabhay today joins US-based Media Development Investment Fund as Deputy CEO. Nanabhay, a digital entrepreneur who as Head of Online at Al Jazeera English led the team that produced award-winning coverage of the Arab Spring in 2011, has stepped off the not-for-profit investment fund’s Board of Directors to take on the executive role. “I am delighted to be joining MDIF’s team,” Nanabhay said. “The combination of a meaningful mission, fascinating challenges, and outstanding people is incredibly motivating. I’m looking forward to using my experiences to help news businesses – and MDIF – innovate and thrive in difficult environments.” Nanabhay has been involved in developing online companies since 1995 as a practitioner, angel investor and mentor. He has co-founded businesses as diverse as a web analytics platform and a listings and community website, and his angel investments include the travel intelligence site Skift. “Mohamed’s record as a leading innovator in digital news, a successful founder of digital media and technology companies, an experienced investor in tech start-ups, and an internationally recognized expert on digital media strategy and policy make him an ideal person to help lead MDIF into the future,” said Harlan Mandel, MDIF CEO. “As part of Mohamed’s leadership role, he will take the lead in driving our digital investment strategy and, from his base in South Africa, further develop our growing African portfolio and expand our efforts in the Middle East. I can’t think of a better person to lead these crucial elements of our business.” During his eight years at Al Jazeera, Nanabhay worked through various roles in the organisation. He started up their New Media division, served as an advisor and executive to the Director-General, and finally went on to lead Online at Al Jazeera English. He was named a Creative Commons Pioneer by BusinessWeek, member of the Board of Directors of Global Voices Online and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Social Media. MDIF is a not-for-profit investment fund, providing debt and equity financing to independent media businesses in countries with a history of media oppression. Since 1995 it has invested more than $133 million in 38 countries and, with a current portfolio of $41 million, has returned more than $31 million to investors. For more information contact: Peter Whitehead, Director of Communications peter.whitehead@mdif.org Tel: +44 7793050670 Media Development Investment Fund 37 West 20th Street, Suite 801 New York, NY 10011, USA Phone: 1 (212) 807 1304 www.mdif.org