Standard Group Boss Tom Japanni Quits After 11 Years

Seasoned media personality and General Manager of Standard Media Group's radio stations Tom Japanni has resigned from the Mombasa Road-based media house after 11 years.

Speaking to Viral Tea, a source aware of happenings at the century-old media house revealed that Japanni handed in his resignation after taking a 10-day sick leave.

Japanni further took to his social media pages to reveal that he was calling it quits, having been in charge of the radio division where he handled radio stations such as Radio Maisha, Spice FM and Vybez Radio.

Inside the studios at Spice FM. /TOM JAPANNI

“It's a wrap. Prepping for a new season. A new calling,” he stated, though not revealing his next move.

Japanni has been the Head of Radio at Standard Group for 11 years after taking up the role in February 2013.

Before joining Standard Group, Japanni had worked as a senior producer at British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) from 2003 to 2013.

There, he was in charge of the production of a 30-minute weekly Youth magazine program on Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights.

He began at the Communications department of the Catholic Church in Mombasa where his doors opened for him to further his studies.

"I wrote articles, recorded and edited programs, and did anything and everything that could allow me to be referred to as a journalist. Then I landed my first real broadcast job as a Presenter at the pioneer FM Radio station at the Coast–Baraka FM.

"After 3 very intense years of going on air and invaluable training at Baraka FM, I joined the BBC World Service, where I stayed for 10 years. These were 10 years spent travelling the world, especially the African continent," Japanni revealed in a previous interview with TUKO.co.ke

Japanni, who is credited with the success of Radio Maisha, has a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Media Studies from Shimo la Tewa School, Tangaza University, London Metropolitan.

Standard Group has recently faced all manner of troubles ranging from internal politics to financial difficulties that have seen their employees go for months without their salaries.

In addition, the media house has been hit with rampant poaching of its star performers by its rivals from Claudia Naisabwa to Jimmy Mbogoh, Jasmine Wambui, Mwangi Maina, Billy Miya, Linda Oriaso, Hassan Kauleni, Mbaruk Mwalimu, Emmanuel Mwashumbe, Fred Indimuli, and Beatrice Maganga, among many others.