Executive Team
Shanaaz Nel
CEO of Media Host
Shanaaz Nel
CEO of Media Host
With her vast and unique experience in Africa, Media Host Group CEO, Shanaaz Nel is the driving force behind building the group’s reach across the continent with her ambition to build a globally-recognised enterprise with its footprint firmly grounded in Africa.
She was founder and CEO of Professional Evaluation and Research (Pty) Ltd. (PEAR), South Africa’s first black woman-owned media monitoring company.
She started her career as a senior media analyst before branching out into social development and activism for several years. In 2014, Shanaaz was recognised as one of South Africa’s Top 100 Young South Africans by the Mail & Guardian for her ongoing contribution to civil society initiatives and environmental activism.
Shanaaz holds a BA Communications: Audio Visual Production Management and BA Communication and Media Studies from Rand Afrikaans University.
Dr Jaco Pienaar
CCO of Media Host
Dr Jaco Pienaar
Chief Communications Officer of Media Host
Dr Jaco Pienaar is a knowledge management expert, thought leader and speaker with extensive expertise in the mass media analysis space.
As the former Chief Knowledge Officer of Professional Evaluation and Research (Pty) Ltd. (PEAR), Jaco was the brains behind PEAR’s analytics methodologies.
His work has supported marketing, communications and public relations efforts for leading multi-national companies, government and the country’s top educational institutions.
He holds a BA (Information Science) from Rand Afrikaans University, BA HONS (Information Science) Cum Laude from University of Johannesburg, MA (Information Science) from University of Johannesburg, and a PhD in Information and Knowledge Management, with a focus on intellectual capital, systems thinking, and mass media measurement. He is also an Advisory Board member for the Department of Information and Knowledge Management at the University of Johannesburg and a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Gert Scheepers
CIO of Media Host
Gert Scheepers
CIO of Media Host
Gert Scheepers is an accomplished developer and software engineer credited with helping develop and implement key systems for Professional Evaluation and Research (Pty) Ltd. (PEAR) and other enterprises.
He initially studied electrical engineering at Technikon Pretoria, and later completed a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology Management at UNISA.
He began his career as a field technician, and later project supervisor at CEB Maintenance, entering the media monitoring field as an IT Manager at Newsclip Media Monitoring in 2006. He then worked alongside Charl Nel as they taught themselves how to develop software and built PEAR’s systems.
He later went on to work as a technical consultant at Bankserv and software engineer and manager at WeBuyCars, where he developed lead management, buying, contract generation, stock control processes and software from the ground up.
Charl Nel
COO of Media Host
Charl Nel
Chief Operating Officer of Media Host
Specialising in fields ranging from electronics through to analytics and AI, Charl Nel is the multi-faceted technical brain behind the technologies deployed by Professional Evaluation and Research (Pty) Ltd. (PEAR).
Charl was the Chief Information Officer of PEAR, and spearheaded the design and implementation of PEAR’s IT infrastructure. He was also a key contributor in the development of core business functions and frameworks that has set PEAR’s technological contributions apart from the rest of the industry.
With proficiency in technical and mathematical fields and over 14 years’ experience in media monitoring processes, production and business administration, Charl initially studied electronics and began his career at Telkom, later working for a satellite GPS technology firm. He moved into media monitoring, where he met the team who would later co-found PEAR.
He completed an IT degree and followed this with Post Graduate Diplomas in Data Science and in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.
Management Team
Rokunda Nemauluma
Production Manager
Rokunda Nemauluma
Production Manager
Rokunda is an experienced project manager with a demonstrated history in the technology, software engineering and media industries. As the production manager for Media Host, Rokunda oversees all aspects of production. His keen eye for detail and solutions-driven approach ensures the production team runs efficiently and services are delivered to clients on time. Rokunda holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UNISA and a Diploma in Media Studies.
Patson Musiiwa
Senior Media Analyst
Patson Musiiwa
Senior Media Analyst
Patson is an experienced researcher and analyst with more than 10 years of experience. Before joining PEAR in 2015, Patson was a researcher at Genex Insights, researching consumer behaviour to inform client strategies. He has worked on multiple accounts across diverse sectors, including government, sports, FMCG and finance. As a senior media analyst for Media Host, he is responsible for delivering a broad range of analysis and reporting services to clients. He holds a BSc in Environmental Management and a Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management and Finance.
Samantha Isaacs
HR Manager
Samantha Isaacs
HR Manager
Samantha is responsible for the Human Resources function at Media Host. She nurtures and grows the talent within the organisation and ensures that all labour practices are adhered to. With skills development a key internal value, Samantha brings her passion to the business creating a vibrant working environment for employees and promoting Media Host as a top employer within the media industry. Samantha started her career as a data clerk for RNA Distribution before realising her passion for people.
Wayne Sukhu
Broadcast Manager
Wayne Sukhu
Broadcast Manager
Wayne brings more than 13 years of experience in broadcast media monitoring and data analysis to Media Host. Having joined PEAR as branch manager in 2016, he has a broad understanding of the media landscape and monitoring environment. In his current role, Wayne is responsible for all aspects of broadcast monitoring. As Broadcast Manager, he oversees the broadcast function holistically across the group to ensure that broadcast services are delivered on time and monitoring teams operate efficiently.
