In line with CRF International’s global corporate strategy, CRF South Africa has made three strategic management appointments.
CRF South Africa announced that Johann Labuschagne, Samantha Crous and Leizel Brown are joining the team as of February 2007.
New general manager, Johann Labuschagne brings a wealth of local and international management experience to CRF SA. Labushagne worked abroad for some 13 years and his extensive experience has been gained in various managerial roles for international pharmaceutical companies, managing brands such as Pharmaton. He was the international brand manager for Pharmaton. in both Switzerland and Germany before taking a position as business unit head with the company in the Netherlands. In this position, Labushagne was responsible for the successful implementation of corporate brand strategy in the various countries. He is a graduate of the IMM Graduate School of Marketing, and has extensive experience in brand management, strategy, marketing research, communication and public relations.
Samantha Crous joins CRF International as CRF SA’s publishing manager after a three year stint with Top Companies Publishing and Events (TopCo Media). She joined TopCo in 2004 as Editor for Top Women in Business & Government. After the first successful edition of the publication was launched, Crous’s portfolio grew to include editorship of the widely successful, Impumelelo: SA’s Top Empowerment Companies and SA’s Top National Companies (Top 300). Sam was also part of the dynamic team responsible for bringing the Impumelelo Empowerment awards and Top Women in Business & Government awards to the market. She holds a BA degree in politics and journalism (Rhodes University), and brings her considerable experience in the areas of corporate research and communications, along with comprehensive expertise in the areas of trade and investment, and gender and black economic empowerment to CRF.
“My goal is to ensure that CRF’s products provide South African companies with those tools that effectively assist them in assessing and communicating their strategies, successes and brand messages in dynamic, progressive ways that add real value to staff, customers and shareholders, not to mention the bottom-line,” says Crous.
Leizel Brown joins CRF South Africa as production manager for all titles and projects. Brown hails from publishing company New Holland Publishing where she was an editor for the international travel division managing titles such as Outdoor Survival, Top Islands of the World and Great Horse Treks of the World. She was also involved in projects such as National Geographic African Adventure Atlas and Dorling Kindersley’s Street Guide to Turkey. In 2004, she received New Holland’s High Achiever Award and later moved into production, where she held the position of production manager for two years.
Leizel aims to streamline CRF South Africa’s production processes and continue to build solid and long-lasting relationships with clients.
