Independent News & Media (South Africa ) - top level appointments

Both will assume new group executive roles but will retain responsibility for their respective regions. They will join the board of INM SA, the main South African holding company.

Graeme King, Managing Director of Independent Newspapers KwaZulu Natal, has also been promoted to the main board.

These changes follow the appointment of Tony Howard as Chief Executive Officer and form part of the international management changes announced last week by Sir Anthony O'Reilly, Executive Chairman of Independent News & Media plc ("INM plc"). Ivan Fallon, formerly CEO of the South African group, has been appointed CEO of the UK operation.

Gavin O'Reilly, the Chief Operating Officer of INM plc who is currently in South Africa, said that Johnson and Howa were both seen as key members of a new generation of skilled, energetic and proven managers which Independent is nurturing around the world.

"Shaun, who has been with the company for twelve years, is one of the best known and widely respected former editors in South Africa with an international reputation as a wonderful writer and informed polemicist. He has earned his management spurs in Cape Town, where the operations have never been in better shape. His new role will include editorial synergies and efficiencies across the group, as well as serving as deputy to Tony Howard."

"Nazeem has had a meteoric rise since he joined the group as senior assistant editor of the Saturday Star six years ago. He has done a splendid job as Managing Director of Gauteng, during which time the circulations of all the titles under his control (The Star, Saturday Star, the Pretoria News and Diamond Fields Advertiser) have consistently recorded higher circulations at a time when the main competition has been suffering. His new role will involve group sales, new revenue streams and other group issues."

"With Graeme King running the KZN operation, and Grant Liversage as his CFO, Tony has a formidable team to help him run Independent's South African business."

Tony Howard, CEO-designate said: "Independent has made great progress on a number of fronts in the past five years, and I am confident that this team will continue to develop and grow the business in South Africa. In addition to 15 major titles, the operation now includes the joint venture Clear Channel Independent, the country's biggest outdoor advertising company. I look forward to the exciting things Independent can do in the future."