Shobanjo, Insight's chief, stands down for Awosika
THE Chief Executive of Insight Communications, Biodun Shobanjo, has said that he would stand down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company at the end of December 2004.
Shobanjo's advertising career, spanning 33 years, started at the American-owned Grant Advertising, which he joined as an Account Executive Trainee in November 1971. He rose rapidly to becoming its Deputy Managing Director in 1976, the position he occupied until December 1976 when he left to co-found Insight Communications in January 1980.
Jimi Awosika, who has served his apprenticeship for 27 years, will replace Shobanjo.
In a statement Shobanjo signed on behalf of the Board of Insight Communications, he said: "I don't know of too many companies where continuity seems to have come as naturally as it has happened here. Jimi and I were the principal architects of this company. He has, as it were, been my understudy from the day I hired him at Grant Advertising some 27 years ago. Having taken Insight to where it is today, I believe the right thing to do is leave the day to day management of the company in the hands of a younger, more dynamic, more knowledgeable and extraordinary team of people, ably led by Awosika, to create a better company.
"Awosika is perhaps the most knowledgeable and intellectual powerhouse I have ever met in this business. An unassuming workaholic and communications expert. I, in particular and our Board are lucky to have him, and are confident of his capability of commencing an exciting new chapter in Insight's on-going business evolution. I will continue to serve as Vice Chairman of our Board, giving those vital supports required for entrenching our premium position in the market place.
"I also intend to devote my time in strategically partnering with all our clients as well as guiding and counselling those who drive our marketing communications and other businesses. In this regard, I am fascinated by what the likes of Sir Martin Sorrel of WPP and Maurice Levy of Publics Group are doing respectively. I intend to fashion my next moves after these two giants."
Awosika, a Mass Communications graduate of the University of Lagos, first worked at the news department of the then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, (now FRCN) and left as an Editor before commencing his career in Advertising in 1977, where he was recruited as an Account Executive (Trainee) at Grant Advertising by Shobanjo.
He later joined Shobanjo to found Insight.
