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THRIVE PERSONALITY Evert van der Veer, the head of Comedy Central Africa, knows that humour is big business orn in 1972 and the son and then later to channel manager of whose brands include Paramount Pictures, B of a Dutch doctor in what a Pan-European art channel. But this BET, VH1 and more. He began working was then called ZaÏre (now position was made redundant, so there on The Box, an urban music channel, and the Democratic Republic of weren’t any further opportunities. Luckily, rose through the ranks. Later, in his role as the Congo), Evert van der Veer moved a generous severance package left him free acquisition manager, he got to work with back to the Netherlands with his parents to pursue other interests. brands such as MTV and Comedy Central. when he was three. There he spent his ‘I wasn’t attached to anything or anyone, ‘Viacom is an amazing and transparent childhood and most of his adult life. so I travelled for a year,’ he says. ‘And when company,’ he says. ‘It’s different from other ‘I studied social psychology but never I got back to Amsterdam, I still had money companies I’ve worked for. If you work did anything with it,’ he says. ‘Then I left. Another dream I had was to have my hard and you have a goal, you can achieve had a holiday job as a scheduler – those own gallery, so I opened one in the city anything. You can try things sideways – are the guys who put the programmes centre. But I got into so much debt that for example, different jobs or other brands in order on television – and liked that.’ I had to go back to work!’ – because senior management empowers Thanks to his talent and hard work, That’s how Evert began his career at the people who work for them. You can Evert was promoted to senior scheduler Viacom, an American media conglomerate grow fast.’ 39 THRIVE PERSONALITY Indeed, as Evert continued to grow in you want to open a bakery, you should Viacom, he received more responsibility. rather start by putting someone in there COMEDY CENTRAL The company’s first launch of Comedy who knows how to make bread. Then you AFRICA Central outside the United States was in put someone in there who knows how to • Launched on 6 December 2011 • Africa’s only 24-hour comedy the UK (where it was called Paramount run a shop. So, with my programming and channel, reaching some 2.4 million Comedy). They later decided to expand acquisition background – knowing how viewers each month to Germany and rebranded The Box to to build a brand on various platforms – • The debut of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah was the highest rated Comedy Central in the Netherlands. he was right.’ show on Comedy Central Africa. When this happened, Evert became More than that, Evert found that the responsible for programming and new new job gave him a broader set of duties. Evert’s CAREER acquisitions for MTV and Comedy Central Instead of only being in charge of content, HIGHLIGHTS • Producing the Comedy Central in Amsterdam. ‘Then the territory grew his duties now encompassed marketing, Roast of Steve Hofmeyr in 2012 to include Scandinavia and Germany,’ public relations, digital, programming, (featuring Trevor Noah, Anele Mdoda, Casper De Vries, Robert Whitehead, he says, ‘and I became responsible for acquisitions, scheduling and more. ‘It’s a David Kau, Minki van der Westhuizen, the programming and acquisition in great job,’ he says. ‘Some things just don’t Shaleen Surtie Richards and stand-up genius John Vlismas), the first time all those regions. I realised that what I feel like work at all. Of course, there are a roast of such magnitude had been liked most about the job was launching always administrative and reporting parts produced outside the United States. new channels. So imagine a territory of the work that are maybe not so nice to • Creating last November’s Comedy Central International Comedy Festival where there is no Comedy Central. You do. But with this brand, we do so many (in partnership with Savanna Premium go there, you see what’s possible, you fun things.’ Cider), which featured comedians from the US including Jeff Ross, Aries talk to the operators, and then you sell As the largest producer of stand-up Spears and Hannibal Buress, as well the brand. You put a team together, you comedy on our continent, Comedy Central as locals Trevor Noah, Chris Forrest and John Vlismas, and Salvado, from put the programming schedule together, Africa pumps out an incredible wealth Uganda, Churchill, from Kenya, and you acquire programmes, and then it’s of content on a monthly basis. Besides Nigeria’s Basketmouth. there. I love that most.’ sending local comedians to international A few years later, Evert made the move festivals and hosting open-mic stand-up to London. It was there that he became competitions, Evert enjoys acquiring new rather than staying late at the office, he’s director of entertainment, content and programming for the channel. He says home for dinner at around 6:30 pm. This creative (emerging markets) at what was it’s more than a little satisfying to see the means he can put his sons to bed – the then known as MTV Networks. His job direct results in the form of ratings the boys are aged three and eight – between involved working with the vice-president following day, because he’s able to play 7:30 and 8 pm. And when that’s done, of entertainment to identify and shape the around with the content to make things there’s time to finish up some work or ‘It’s a greaT content vision, supervising programming work and drive those ratings up. respond to emails before calling it a day. COMPANY TO BE IN strategies, positioning statements, delivering ‘Above that, the atmosphere and energy ‘Working in broadcast media, the pace BECAUSE PEOPLE viewership goals, determining marketing in the office is great,’ he says. ‘People really never stops,’ he says. ‘But I try hard to strategies and overseeing budgets. want to work here. Young adults come to carve out weekends as non-work time, WORK HARD AND But at this stage, with him launching do internships with us, and the staff are especially if we have something planned PLAy hard’ channels as places far afield as Russia and motivated. Especially with our brands, as a family. Yes, I’m always on call, but South East Asia, he was travelling so much for example, the staff will attend parties sometimes I just need to turn my email that he was only home for as little as one like the MTV Awards and hang out with off, put my phone aside, and not think week a month. And when his wife became each other. It’s a great company to be in about work. And sometimes at home I pregnant with their second son, Evert because people work hard and play hard.’ just want to laugh with my wife about decided that it was time to find a place Still, the long hours can be challenging, some of the hilarious things that our to settle down. especially at a company that Evert describes children do. Because without comedy, ‘When you introduce a brand into an as ‘lean’. With teams that that aren’t big, what is life? It makes everything much emerging market, the last person the local how does he handle so much responsibility? more bearable.’ team hires is a brand head,’ he says. ‘We ‘I just work hard!’ he laughs. ‘But what hadn’t done that yet in Africa, so there was keeps me sane is going to the gym every Watch Comedy Central on DStv an opportunity to take on that position. morning for at least an hour. I release a lot (Channel 122) or get online and check ‘It’s funny, because I remember asking of stress in there, so I really need and enjoy out comedycentralafrica.com for a full my managing director Alex Okosi, who that part of my routine.’ programming schedule, competitions runs Viacom in Africa, why he thought Evert also makes sure he balances his and more information on your favourite I could do the job. And he said that if work and family life as best he can. So, comedy shows. Words: Eugene Yiga | Photography: 40 Gallo/GettyImages, Courtesy Images.

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