New Chairman At ZIFF
Changes at ZIFF with the announcement of a new Chair and CEO appointment.
ZIFF today announced that it has named Mahmoud Thabit Kombo to serve as the organization’s Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Kombo, a former Deputy Minister in the Zanzibar government was unanimously elected based on his track record in leading media and cultural organizations, as well as his strong executive and personal qualities. Kombo has a Master of Science degree and a post-graduate diploma in Artificial Intelligence from University of Sunderland. Mr. Kombo was previously Business Operations Manager with ZANTEL, one of the telecommunication companies providing both cellular and fixed line networking services in Tanzania.
"Our search for a new leader to move ZIFF to sustained success was focused and thorough, and Kombo came to our attention because of his strong execution skills, his proven leadership and we were impressed by his understanding of the role of culture in an organisation’s success and his personal integrity” said Fatma Alloo a founding member of ZIFF.
The ascent of Kombo completes the recent changes in ZIFF’s leadership with the stepping down of Prof Martin Mhando and the arrival of Prof Ikaweba Bunting as the new Festival Director and CEO of ZIFF. Two new members of the Board were also nominated. These are Prof Penina Mlama and Martin Mhando. Rose Sayore, Fatma Alloo, Hassan Mitawi, Issa Mlingoti, Joseph Castico and Omar Chande were re-elected to the board.
“These changes have been much awaited and promises to reposition ZIFF to serve as a platform through which to engage diverse audiences about the arts and culture of Africa and its Diaspora, while celebrating and exploring the influence of the rich and unique heritage of its peoples,” noted Professor Ika Bunting, the new CEO.
The next ZIFF will be held between 7th and 15 July 2012 under the theme “When Global Images meet in Zanzibar”.