Naspers/MIH Group: Christian Unger Passes on CEO Function to Hein Pretorius

Naspers/MIH Group: Christian Unger Passes on CEO Function to Hein Pretorius

ZUG, Switzerland and AMSTERDAM, October 31/PRNewswire/ --

- Unger Newly Appointed CEO of Leading Swiss Media Group Ringier

- Group's Online Growth Perspective Remains Positive

- MIH Group - Hein Pretorius Takes up CEO Position From Christian Unger

Hein Pretorius, former COO and Business Development Director of MIH Group takes up the CEO position of MIH Internet BV from Christian Unger. The transition takes place in connection with the appointment of Christian Unger as the new CEO of the leading Swiss media group Ringier as per 1 January 2009. Pretorius assumes the function at once gaining responsibility for the entire European internet operations of South African media conglomerate Naspers (JSE:NPN), MIH's mother entity. The MIH Group incorporates renown brands such as market leading online auction platforms allegro.pl (Poland), ricardo.ch (Switzerland), as well as well-known internet brands such as gadugadu.pl, the leading instant messenger portal in Poland, or mail.ru, Russia's leading internet portal.

Former COO and Business Development Director of the MIH Group, Hein Pretorius, assumes leadership of Europe's internet operations of South African media group Naspers (JSE:NPN). " With Hein Pretorius I am pleased to appoint an experienced successor with great leadership and online expertise. He will continue to contribute to the development of Naspers' online portfolio," the departing CEO Christian Unger states. Unger was appointed CEO of leading Swiss media group Ringier, this week. He will assume this position as of 1 January 2009. " I am looking forward to this challenge, and I am confident that within the activities of Naspers and Ringier there are many interesting opportunities, especially since both companies are active in the dynamic media markets of Western and Eastern Europe" Christian Unger comments.

"This year we've added many Eastern Europe-based e-commerce brands to the portfolio. Our organic growth is also considerable," Hein Pretorius, the newly appointed CEO of MIH Internet BV is pleased to comment. He considers a corresponding growth rate of up to 60% next year as realistic. MIH Internet Europe includes the leading auction platforms allegro.pl (Poland) and ricardo.ch (Switzerland), as well as renown online brands such as gadugadu.pl (instant messaging, Poland), mail.ru (internet portal, Russia) and Aukro (Bulgaria, Czech Republic).

MIH Group is a multinational media company active in the electronic media segment, including pay-TV, internet, instant messaging and the distribution of the associated technologies. The MIH Group is part of the South African Naspers Group (JSE: NPN).

The European internet branch of the MIH Group, MIH Internet Europe, includes leading internet brands and online auction platforms such as allegro.pl (market leader in Poland) and ricardo.ch (market leader in Switzerland), Aukro (Bulgaria, Czech Republic) and QXL (Denmark, Norway), as well as leading online portals Gadu-Gadu (Poland) and mail.ru (Russia).

          Contact:          MIH Internet Europe,     Nicole Portmann,     Grafenauweg 11,     CH-6300 Zug,     Switzerland,     Tel: +41-41-769-34-34,     E-Mail: nicole.portmann@tradus.com .  

Source: Naspers Corporation

Contact: MIH Internet Europe, Nicole Portmann, Grafenauweg 11, CH-6300 Zug, Switzerland, Tel: +41-41-769-34-34, E-Mail: nicole.portmann@tradus.com

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Profile: International Entertainment