Keizer steps down as CEO of Interactive Media Limited

Interactive Media Limited has announced the resignation of its chief executive officer (CEO), Clare Keizer, who will demit office at the end of this month.

Keizer, who is also the editor of the company’s flagship publications, the Midweek SEARCHLIGHT and the Weekend SEARCHLIGHT, said the decision to step away from the day-to-day operations of the newspaper was a difficult one.

“After 18 and a half years at this wonderful company, the decision to step down was undoubtedly one of the most challenging I’ve ever made. Yet, in the spirit of evolution and growth, I firmly believe it is the right time for both the company and me to embrace new opportunities. Change is never easy, but it is essential for progress, and I am confident that this decision will pave the way for a bright future for all involved.”

Over the past few days, Keizer has been speaking with shareholders and staff, informing them of her resignation and expressing gratitude for their support over the years.

She officially joined Interactive Media as CEO in June 2005, but prior to that, had been a member of the company’s board of directors. During the publication’s early years, she volunteered at the newspaper of which her mother, Norma Keizer, had been the first editor.

Under Clare’s leadership, SEARCHLIGHT experienced growth and expanded its reach and influence. She has also been able to stabilise the company while guiding it through the challenges the global newspaper publishing industry has been facing for the last decade.

Among her notable contributions was the introduction of digital newspaper subscriptions to cater mainly to the diaspora market, then in 2010, the Midweek edition was introduced. It is still published on Tuesdays as an e-paper. Furthermore, Keizer was also instrumental in spearheading the newspaper’s foray into ‘new media’, ensuring its continued growth and relevance in an ever-evolving media landscape.

“I am so proud of what a small group of Vincentians has been able to accomplish by working together over the last 29 years. Today, no other news source has firmer footprints in both the printed and digital formats in St Vincent and the Grenadines. In addition to being a dominant force in print, our website and social media platforms are among the more popular and best trusted for news about and from SVG.”

Keizer said the establishment of a multimedia unit in 2022 is something she is very happy about, and although it has been difficult for the small team to juggle its video work with producing two newspaper editions a week, they have made steady progress. Among the achievements of the video unit is the production of a documentary series on unsolved murders in SVG, the second episode of which will be broadcast on YouTube on December 30.

It was also under Keizer’s tenure that the company’s two community outreach initiatives were introduced. The Best of SVG, a people’s choice award, was held in 2017, 2018 and 2020 in an effort to celebrate excellence among the nation’s private sector. The Norma Keizer Scholarship Foundation, which was established in 2015 as part of the company’s 20th anniversary celebrations, has to date awarded 42 secondary and post-secondary education scholarships and bursaries.

Despite her shift away from the company’s day-to-day operations, Keizer will remain a member of the board of directors. Stepping into the role of interim editor is veteran journalist, Corletha Ollivierre who has a wealth of experience in the field, including as acting editor at SEARCHLIGHT.

Keizer expressed gratitude to the board of directors and shareholders for their support and unwavering confidence in her over the years. She also thanked the staff, advertisers, vendors, contributors, and loyal readers over the years and acknowledged the profound impact of their support on the newspaper’s success. She is appealing to all for that support to continue.

“Although I have resigned, I can never leave SEARCHLIGHT completely. The newspaper will always be part of me, and I wish the company all the very best as it goes forward.”