MacLeod, a former employee of TMG, returned to South Africa in 2014 after almost 12 years at the Financial Times in London, where she helped shape and execute their digital strategy.

She leaves her current position as Media24’s GM Digital Publishing to join TMG.

Andrew Gill, MD Times Media, says MacLeod’s appointment is significant given the demand for digital expertise in a highly competitive media environment.

“MacLeod is familiar with the challenges of taking widely recognised print businesses, and evolving them into lucrative digital-first operations. The intellectual capital she brings is completely aligned to TMG’s expansion strategy, and our goal to become SA’s leading provider of news and entertainment through digital innovation. She is also no stranger to the culture of a newsroom,” says Gill.  

MacLeod’s early career includes reporting at the Daily Dispatch, later becoming managing editor at Business Day.

She joined the Financial Times in 2003, working in production roles and as a commissioning editor on special reports. She led a number of newsroom change projects as the chief production editor, before becoming managing editor in 2010.

MacLeod’s appointment as head of Operations for FT.com saw her manage the strategic, technological and operational requirements of Financial Times’ successful digital businesses, including the website, tablets and mobile.

“Seventy percent of the Financial Times’ total paying audience now comes from digital subscriptions. I have no doubt that TMG’s business will soon be moving in moving in the same direction,” says MacLeod.

TMG CEO Andrew Bonamour says: “MacLeod will drive the ‘digital-first’ needs of our business without sacrificing editorial integrity or advertising revenues. It is a very exciting time to be part of the media industry in South Africa, and we are intent on ensuring TMG remains a relevant market leader.”

In 2012, MacLeod was awarded the Woman in Business of the Year Award from the SA Chamber of Commerce in the UK.

Times Media has also announced the appointment of two other executives: Philani Mgwaba as Group Executive, Editorial and Vernon Matzopolous as head of Broadcast.

Mgwaba was the founding editor of Independent's biggest newspaper, Isolezwe, and played a leading role in the launch of its Sunday edition, Isolezwe ngeSonto. Mgwaba has also edited the Pretoria News, the Sunday Tribune and The Mercury, where he started his journalism career as a cub reporter 24 years ago. He has also been appointed to the Times Media (Pty) Ltd board.

Matzopolous joined TMG in 1995 to run South Africa’s first daily business news show, Business Day Tonight and launched Summit TV on Multichoice, which is now known as Business Day TV on DStv, Channel 412. Matzopolouss expanded the television business further in 2005, with the launch of the Home Channel and Ignition TV.

Matzopolous will be responsible for TMG’s South African TV channels, TV production business Ochre, the South African radio assets Rise and Vuma, and will also support Times Media’s broadcast investments in Kenya and Ghana.

For more information on the Times Media Group, visit www.timesmedia.co.za.