James Smart, Oliver Mathenge Promoted In Fresh NMG Changes
The changes were unveiled following a meeting by the organisation chaired by the group’s Editorial Director Joe Ageyo.
Marvin Chege 
NTV news anchor James Smart was on Wednesday, April 5 promoted to the role of managing editor in newsroom production in changes announced by the Nation Media Group (NMG).
The reshuffling also saw the organisation's multimedia editor Oliver Mathenge appointed as the Managing Editor in charge of Audiences and Engagement.
The changes were unveiled following a meeting by the organisation chaired by the group’s Editorial Director Joe Ageyo.
Smart, a news anchor and host of the NTV show With All Due Respect (#WADR), will be tasked with ensuring that all content is produced in line with deadlines, having played a vital role in podcast production.
NTV journalist James Smart at his work desk posted on October 22, 2021. /FILE
"Bio update; humbled to take up a new role Nation Africa Managing Editor- Newsroom Production, our journey of making journalism that has a heart, a backbone and relevant for our times gathers pace," Smart celebrated on Twitter.
Mathenge, on his part, will lead the use of analytics, audience focus and insight sharing in the era of digital media.
"Today, I humbly take up a new role in the NMG newsroom as the Managing Editor (Audiences & Engagement). As we strive to give all our audiences the best journalism, I look forward to this new task of leading our teams' navigation through the new media landscape," he said after the appointment.
Mathenge has been a driving force behind the company's digital agenda, and his new role will see him act as the "chief evangelist" for the Group's new initiative.
The seasoned Multimedia Editor with 16 years of experience in communications and media, left Radio Africa Group in October 2021 for a stint at NMG, having spent nine years at the media house that owns some of Kenya's most popular radio stations. He served as Radio Africa Group’s digital editor, a promotion from the different roles he had at the group.
When he joined in 2012, he worked as the group’s Parliamentary Reports Editor/Chief Writer during the Presidency where he coordinated and supervised a team of four writers who reported on the Kenyan Parliamentary proceedings and business for The Star Newspaper. He also wrote about events that transpired within the Kenyan Presidency.
He was then promoted to group digital editor where he was in charge of online content development and publishing for Radio Africa Group’s outlets – The Star Newspaper, Mpasho, Classic 105, Kiss 100 and Radio Jambo.
Mathenge was also credited with leading the digital transition from the old website to the new Cosmos CMS platform, which comes packed with new digital elements aimed at improving the online reading experience.
His last spell at NMG was between July 2007-December 2012 as a news journalist where he developed news and news features for publication in the Daily Nation, Saturday Nation, Sunday Nation and Taifa Leo Newspapers.
He boasts of a 14-year career in communications - 10 of which have been in active political and current affairs journalism.
He has also been involved in corporate branding, communication, and marketing with proven results in the education and behaviour change communication sectors. Other than that, he is a blogger, poet and creative writer.
Other than Smart and Mathenge, other changes at the Twin Towers include Pamella Sitoni being appointed as Group Managing Editor, Elias Makori becoming Lead Editor for Sports and Integration Projects, Washington Gikunju serving as Managing Editor (Planning and Newsdesk), and Bernard Mwinzi being appointed as Managing Editor (Content Hubs).
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