This is my last week at the Mail & Guardian Online, as of next week I will be managing the social media portfolio at Vodacom, the biggest South African mobile communications network.

During my 18-month stay at the M&G we have done some exciting work in the social media space – Amatomu.com, Amagama.com, News In Photos, The Guide, JobConnection, Thought Leader, Tech Leader, Sports Leader and the new M&G news site that went live to the public this week, as well as seven mobile sites and several internal projects like campus Times and the Teacher. I will be leaving something behind that I am very proud of and a platform I know will grow with the company for years to come. I was glad to be able to contribute to the innovative spirit of the company and I feel I have grown, personally and professionally as a result.

The M&G is currently looking for a replacement for me, so if you’re interested let me know by emailing me vincent [at] vincentmaher.com

Looking forward, my primary motivation for joining Vodacom is that I believe that mobile media is at a point the Web was in 1994, ready to explode. I want to continue being innovative and I think the birth of the 7th mass medium is a place I want to be. It will also mean that I will get exposure to some of the newest technologies, publishing formats and user trends.

At the same time, my colleague Matthew Buckland is also leaving and will be taking up a new position at 24.com. Working with Matthew has been incredibly rewarding, he is a great guy and one of the best business and strategic people in the online industry. I will miss working with him, as will everyone else in the company, but such is life and the M&G Online will continue to thrive because it is based on solid business principles – ultimately all of us are replaceable.

Matt and I would like to invite all our friends and colleagues to join us at Capital in Rosebank [cnr 7th and Keyes] at 5PM on Friday to celebrate our time at the M&G and to say farewell. No need to RSVP, just show up.