Adeyeye Joseph, award-winning editor, appointed MD of PUNCH

The board of directors of Punch Nigeria Limited has appointed Adeyeye Joseph, an award-winning editor, as its managing director.

The board appointed Joseph following a notice of retirement by Ademola Osinubi, the current editor-in-chief of the newspaper.

While Osinubi will be officially retiring from the services of the newspaper on April 30, Joseph’s appointment takes effect on May 1.

Osinubi was a former editor of the PUNCH, Saturday PUNCH and Sunday PUNCH before he was appointed managing director of the newspaper.

According to the newspaper, the company became Nigeria’s most-widely read brand, while its newspapers, reporters and editors won local and international journalism awards.

In a speech delivered by Osinubi at a board’s meeting, the newspaper quoted him as saying that “there can’t be a better choice than Joseph as my successor at this period in the life of our newspaper company”.

“He is a highly ethical professional with a deep understanding and knowledge of print and digital journalism. He has shown a proven commitment to higher levels of relevance and all-round growth,” he said.

“I am thankful to God for the unique privilege to have served the company in this role and at a time it posted a tremendous growth trajectory in relevance, capacities and prosperity for all stakeholders.”

Joseph, the new MD, has won the Nigeria Media Merit Awards, Diamond Awards for Media Excellence and the DAME Informed Commentary prize.

He joined The PUNCH in 2005 after a sterling career at THISDAY where he rose to the position of chief correspondent.

Joseph holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University and a master’s degree in Digital Journalism (distinction) from the Middlesex University, United Kingdom.

He is an alumnus of the general management programme of Cranfield University, UK. Joseph is a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Institute of Directors of Nigeria.

The new MD described his appointment as a “rare privilege”.

“I am grateful to God for this rare privilege. I’m also grateful to the board for the confidence reposed in me,” he was quoted as saying by The PUNCH.

“I am honoured to succeed Mr Osinubi, whose track record of outstanding accomplishments is nonpareil in the industry.

“It is a time of great uncertainty for print and digital newspapers but as Sun Tzu wrote, ‘in the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity’. I intend to make my stewardship a period of relentless search for opportunities to grow our platforms, audience and revenue, and to create sustainable value for all our critical stakeholders.”