Alistair Fairweather

So today is my last day at 24.com. I still can't quite believe it. I've spent seven years here - almost my entire working life so far, and I'm leaving with very mixed emotions.

On the one hand I am very sad to go. I love 24.com - both the company and many of the people. I've had the distinct privilege of working with some of the best and brightest the SA web industry has to offer.

On the other hand I am itching to get my teeth into my new position: Editorial & Social Media Manager on the newly formed Central Digital team at Media24 magazines. The portfolio includes power brands like You / Huisgenoot, Fair Lady, Go!, Men's Health and many, many more. I'm confident that the talented team I am joining can really move the needle for these brands, and make their digital presence a force to be reckoned with.

I remember my first day at 24.com, while it was still part of MWEB. It all started in late 2002, bright eyed and bushy tailed I bounced into an interview at MWEB for a content editor position. I didn't realise I was sitting opposite Chris Roper and Jean Barker otherwise I would have been more nervous.

Anyway, for some reason they gave me the job, despite the fact that Chris was under specific orders from HR: "No more pale males!" But it was my break and I took it and ran with it (sometimes in completely the wrong direction, but that's another story).

Since then I've had about nine different titles and done about twelve different jobs. I've moved from editorial to business to development and back again. I've certainly never been bored, but on the whole the joys have exceeded the frustrations.

And whatever frustrations there were, it was truly an honour to work alongside many of the people at 24.com. My mentors and bosses have included the likes of Matthew Buckland, Chris Roper and Elan Lohmann. 

People like JP Farinha, Karen Dempers, Tim Gregory and Adrian Frielinghaus have also had a huge influence on me over the years. I've also had some outstanding colleagues like Wendy Robb, Phillip Langley, Cathryn Reece, Charl Norman, Brad Voges, Stefano Sessa, Rifquah Abader, Jannie Momberg, Geoff Cohen, Deirdre Ingpen, Sam Wilson, Mike Brown, Grant Fourie and Michelle Coetzee - people whose passion has made coming to work worthwhile. There are literally too many of them to even list properly here.

But the people I am saddest to be leaving are my own team at 20FourLabs. From the community management team Ntokozo and Penny, to my hard working dev team - Ryan, Leon, Baka, Ronny, Marquin and Guy (you've been lobsterised!) - to my trusty scrum masters Rifquah and Sumayah. We've been through so much together, and I will always be grateful to you guys for everything you taught me, and for putting up with all my crap.

Ironically now that I'm leaving I'll have more time to blog (not that my new job is less hectic - it's just more about using tools than building them). So I'll be around, on Twitter, on Facebook and here on this blog. 

So stay in touch folks - I am going to miss you all.