Respected former editor Thabo Leshilo recently joined the Fleishman-Hillard team as a Director. Thabo brings with him a wealth of knowledge of the media industry and business environment gained over two decades as a reporter, editor and columnist
He has held several key editorial positions during his illustrious career – including being transport editor, news editor, night editor and assistant editor at Business Report. He is a past winner of the coveted Sanlam Business Journalist of the Year Award – in the small business and RDP section.
Thabo has edited Pretoria News, Sunday World in 2002, Business Times and Sowetan. He is credited with the successful re-launch of Sowetan in 2004, which had suffered a huge loss in circulation.
He was awarded the Nieman Fellow in Journalism at Harvard for 2008/9. On his return from Harvard, Thabo was appointed the first public editor of Avusa Media’s eight newspapers.
Leshilo has served on the board of the SA Press Association and is a board member of the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism. He has a Bachelor of Administration degree from the University of Limpopo.
“While Fleishman-Hillard is one of the few global agencies having invested in South Africa we believe very firmly in being locally relevant. To this end we could not wish for someone with better local business and media understanding.
“Thabo is well-placed to strategically advise our portfolio of blue chip clients,” says Kevin Welman, Managing Director of Fleishman-Hillard South Africa.
“I have been here only one week but can already attest to the level of passion the team have for their clients. It feels good to be part of this team,” says Leshilo.
