Co- Founder Michael Djaba, is the Chief Creative Officer at CEM Media Group.
Michael is responsible for managing and directing the creative team, the company output across all genres – be it features, premium scripted series or unscripted – and innovative release strategies to theatres, broadcast, cable, digital and emerging platforms worldwide.
A multi-hyphenate media executive with over 15 years experience, Michael has not only executive produced multi-million dollar world class programming such as the “World B Boy Championship” which was hosted by LL COOL J and seen in over 14 countries, but also movies like “And Then There Was You” starring Garcelle Beauvais, along with “Northern Affair” starring award winning actress Joselyn Dumas.
Michael started out making tea at the BBC in London, and worked his way up to becoming producer and director at LWT whilst lensing sleek visuals for Grammy winning artists Estelle & Mobb Deep. He subsequently co-founded one of the UK’s first urban TV channels on BSKYB with a staff of 90, brokering international distribution and acquisition deals with the likes of SONY PICTURES on titles such as THE BOONDOCKS. His international experience across production, sales and distribution along with his penchant for championing African stories led to iFACTORYlive Africa being set up and becoming one of the leading producers and distributors of premium content across the continent with notable clients such as M-Net, eTV, Startimes and Fox Networks Africa.
He has been invited to speak at international events such as the Cannes film festival by Babylon A European development initiative whilst his first-rate, talent-management skills have led to award winning actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde being named one of the TIME 100 most influential in 2013.
His repertoire includes creating & executive producing a diverse array of award winning lifestyle programming and movies that have contributed to changing the face of African television internationally. At any given time one or more of his programmes can be seen in 46 countries across the African continent and 10 million homes across the UK.
Michael graduated from Harvard Business School’s prestigious Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports program. For Michael, “Cynthia and Eric is a perfect fit. The invaluable business acumen they bring is in line with my vision of creating an independent, multi-cultural and world-class film & TV company with global reach and influence.”
