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Altech Multimedia appoints Francois Stols as Managing Director


Johannesburg, 28 Aug 2015

Altech Multimedia, one of the world's foremost providers of services, systems and software solutions to the broadcast industry, has announced the appointment of Francois Stols as Managing Director. Stols replaces Danie du Toit, who will be relocating to Europe to pursue other interests.

Stols brings considerable experience to the role, having served the Altron Group in various capacities since 1979, most recently as Technology Executive at Altech Netstar, one of South Africa's leading vehicle tracking and recovery and fleet management businesses. Stols was instrumental in positioning Altech Netstar at the forefront of insurance and fleet management services through the introduction of leading global telematics systems technology into South Africa.

Stols will assume overall responsibility for Altech Multimedia's operations and strategy at the organisation's headquarters in Mount Edgecombe, KwaZulu-Natal.

Commenting on the appointment of Stols as his successor, Du Toit said Stols had proven himself to be an innovator with a strong track record in developing and acquiring new technologies.

"Francois knows the Altron Group well. He understands our culture of innovation and is thus well-suited to the role. In particular, Francois' connection to the Altech Multimedia stable, specifically Altech UEC, is extensive, owing to him having been closely involved with the organisation for many years. I have no doubt that under his leadership, Altech Multimedia will continue to deliver high-quality products and services to its customers."

Stols' association with UEC Technologies, a precursor to Altech UEC, dates back to 1987 when the company was a leading manufacturer of military defence components. In the 1990s, Stols was instrumental in founding UEC Commercial, a company focused on technology-driven ventures such as the design and manufacture of electricity prepaid meters and electronic toll road systems.

In 1994, under Stols' leadership, the company partnered with Irdeto and MultiChoice to develop the world's first Digital Satellite TV (DSTV) decoder, and in 1996, UEC Technologies sold off its other non-core businesses to focus exclusively on broadcast technology. To date, the organisation has manufactured in excess of 23 million set-top boxes, of which more than five million set-top boxes were manufactured in 2014 alone.

According to Stols, joining Altech Multimedia as Managing Director presents an exciting opportunity to drive innovation and ensure the organisation stays at the forefront of the latest digital technology. Stols paid tribute to Du Toit, whom he said led the organisation remarkably over the course of his tenure.

"Danie has performed superbly at Altech Multimedia. Under his leadership, the organisation won numerous accolades, including two at the 2014 Technology Top 100 awards, under the auspices of the Department of Science and Technology. It is also to his credit that Altech Multimedia continues to be recognised as a leading developer of digital technology for the global pay-TV industry."

During his tenure as Managing Director, Du Toit received the 2014 Altron Chairman's Award from Dr Bill Venter, himself an acclaimed innovator. Stols received recognition in 2014 when he was named the most innovative individual in the Altron Group by virtue of his involvement in emphasising an innovative approach towards the development of new technologies at Altech Netstar, together with his focus on the development of valuable intellectual property for the group.

Altron TMT

Altron TMT, incorporating the Altech and Bytes Technology Group businesses, is a high-technology telecommunications, multimedia and IT (TMT) solutions group focused on providing value-added products, services and solutions through the convergence of TMT, driven by market demand.

With an annual turnover of R19.4 billion and with more than 8 000 employees, Altron TMT is the largest, privately owned converged solutions provider on the African continent. The group has ongoing access to the latest technologies worldwide, while its own research and development programme actively encourages and promotes internal technology implementation.

Altech Multimedia

Altech Multimedia is a leading provider of products, professional services and competitive solutions to the digital broadcast and broadband industries. Altech Multimedia solutions include a number of innovative world-first applications that are currently deployed in several digital television networks around the world and, in addition to being device independent, Altech Multimedia offerings are available as either standalone or complementary solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing systems.

Through its subsidiaries, Altech Multimedia has a global footprint. Technical development and support centres exist in South Africa, India, China and Australia, with sales support offices in South Africa, Australia, India, Europe and the Middle East. Altech Multimedia boasts a blue-chip client base and an award-winning product portfolio as well as an enviable reputation among its partners and peers as one of the most technologically capable businesses in the industry.

Altech Multimedia's solutions and services offering includes systems integration and application development across multiple multimedia platforms, thus expanding its ambit beyond the well-established set-top box business.

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