The Team

Mike Leahy - the "boss"

Mike's involvement with Media Manager goes back to the very beginning. It was he, as a media director of a major advertising agency, that saw the need for a media database with linked tools. He developed his ideas, and with backing from the IBIS/MRA company launched the service in 1993. When Nielsen bought back into South Africa shortly after, Mike took on the whole responsibility. Mike's background includes over 30 years in advertising, mostly in agencies. In 1987 he wrote the first text on media planning, entitled the Media Book. In three subsequent updates it became a prescribed work at various universities and media teaching institutions. Mike has taught for the Inst. of Marketing Management, the Advertising Media Association of SA and the SA Advertising Research Foundation. He is frequently called to talk on media matters at seminars, and writes about media matters extensively. Mike is married to Susan and they have two girls, which keep them on their toes!

Mary-Anne Papanicolaou - researcher

Mary-Anne worked for us in Johannesburg 1995 to 1997 and then Durban, that last outpost of the British Empire and year-long warmth, called. She rejoined in May 2007 and works from Durban by spending hours each day on the internet and phone. Mary-Anne is married to Munro and has two teenagers & a daughter who is a successful international IT consultant in the Gulf.

Patricia Mokoena - head of input

Media Manager could not function without Patricia, who makes sure all the data goes in without mistake. Patricia too has been with Media Manager since 1994 - after passing her matric in 1992 and spending a year at secretarial school.

Gary du Plessis - Support Cape Town

Mike envies Gary because he lives a crowd's roar from Newlands. To Gary the Newland's faithful just steal his parking bay! He is a designer with strong computer skills.