MultiChoice Botswana has announced the elevation of Stephanie Pillay from Managing Director to the position of Country Chief Executive Officer, a move that formalises her expanded leadership responsibilities after steering the company since 2022. The appointment reflects the organisation’s confidence in Pillay’s strategic direction, which has increasingly positioned the pay-TV operator as a catalyst for growth within Botswana’s creative economy.
Since joining MultiChoice Botswana, Pillay has pursued a dual mandate: maintaining the company’s position in the video entertainment market while deepening its contribution to local economic development. Under her leadership, the business has placed a deliberate emphasis on fostering the creative industries and creating employment pathways, particularly for young Batswana. Her approach has sought to transform MultiChoice’s presence from a commercial service provider into an institution with tangible social impact across communities .
The promotion comes at a time when Botswana’s creative sector is receiving heightened policy attention. Government has identified digital and creative industries among priority sectors under the twelfth National Development Plan (NDP 12) and the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BTEP), recognising their potential for economic diversification and employment generation. According to a parliamentary statement delivered in February 2026 by Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs Lesego Chombo, the government is reviewing youth development programmes to better align with these strategic sectors, emphasising the importance of supporting scalable industries with multiplier effects on the economy .
MultiChoice Botswana has been expanding its investment in local content production as part of this broader ecosystem. In April 2025, the company showcased several locally produced films—including Mokwalo, Buying a Cow and Khumo ya Dinaledi—which aired on Mzansi Magic, marking the first time non-South African content occupied the channel’s primetime 8pm slot. The programmes achieved strong television ratings, prompting the MultiChoice group to signal renewed interest in reinvesting in Botswana’s production capabilities . The company’s flagship skills development initiative, the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), continues to train young filmmakers, creating a pipeline of local talent equipped to produce content for regional and pan-African audiences .
Pillay’s leadership has also been evident in the company’s commercial strategy. In November 2025, MultiChoice Botswana announced a partnership with the Botswana Football Association as the official broadcast partner for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament. The company made the matches available on its entry-level DStv Access package, priced at P140 per month, and reduced the price of the HD decoder from P249 to P149, a move aimed at broadening accessibility during a period when household budgets face seasonal strain. The partnership included subsidising DStv subscriptions for the national team’s training camp, underscoring the company’s engagement with local sport as a unifying force .
Pillay, who is known within the organisation by the informal name Steph, joined MultiChoice Botswana after building a career within the broader MultiChoice group. Her appointment as CEO follows a pattern of leadership transitions within the company’s African operations. In Nigeria, Kemi Omotosho assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in January 2026, succeeding John Ugbe after his retirement. Omotosho had previously served as Regional Director for Southern Africa, a role that involved oversight across seven countries, before taking on the Nigerian portfolio . Pillay’s elevation reinforces continuity at the helm of the Botswana operation while aligning with the group’s broader emphasis on experienced internal leadership.
MultiChoice Botswana’s operational footprint includes close to 150 direct employees, supported by a network of accredited installers, sales agents and partnerships, including with Botswana Post. In the most recent financial year, the company’s direct contribution to Botswana’s gross domestic product exceeded US$3.6 million . Pillay’s expanded role as CEO is expected to build on this foundation, with a continued focus on deepening the company’s integration into the local economy and advancing its role in shaping the country’s creative and entertainment industries.
The company’s leadership confirmed the appointment in an internal announcement, celebrating Pillay’s trajectory since joining in 2022. Her tenure has been characterised by efforts to ensure that MultiChoice Botswana’s presence is “not only seen, but truly felt”—a reference to the company’s ambition to embed itself meaningfully within the social and economic fabric of the country .