New publisher for specialist magazines

Kobus Louwrens, former general manager of East Africa Magazines in Kenya, has been appointed as publisher of the Specialist Magazines business unit. Specialist Magazines publish the iconic Landbouweekblad, as well as the publications FarmingSA and SA Jagter/Hunter (in a joint venture) and SA's premier agri website, landbou.com.

Jean du Preez, who assumed the position of publisher after the retirement of Danie Smith, will resume his duties as editorial director for this business unit. At the same time, Jacques Claassen, former managing editor of FarmingSA, has been promoted to editor: brand extensions for the unit.

Kobus, a graduate of the journalism school at Stellenbosch University, is completing his MBA from the US Business School. He started his career as a journalist at Die Burger and prior to joining East Africa Magazines he was the publisher of Breede River Media and Overberg Media, home to several of Media24 Newspapers' community newspapers.