The University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) yesterday launched its quarterly magazine, Acumen, which aims to provide organisations and leaders with the robust business insight, debate and in-depth content required to manage effectively in dynamic emerging markets.

Professor Nick Binedell, dean of GIBS, said: “South Africa is a developing economy and looking ahead it seems most likely that we are going to go through another extraordinary phase of our development. The capacity to lead and change an organisation during that period will be central.
“GIBS aims to equip entrepreneurs and general managers with the necessary business skills for these exciting, uncertain and challenging times. Over and above the teaching of business, however, GIBS also fills a developmental role. Acumen aims to assist in the debate, to sharpen the saw, to engage, to provoke and to have dialogue about issues affecting business and society.”

The editor of Acumen, Chris Gibbons, brings three decades of business, management and journalism experience to the magazine. Gibbons currently presents the The Mid Day Report, which is simulcast on Talk Radio 702 and 567 Cape Talk. He also edits the magazine, Directorship, on behalf of the SA Institute of Directors.

Wag the Dog Publishers is GIBS’s official publishing partner, with the former managing production, distribution and advertising sales. The publisher has in-house marketing and design teams. 

Howard Fox, GIBS’ marketing director, said that Acumen is part of a broader strategy that will take GIBS’ marketing strategy into the future. “This is part of our plan to ensure that the GIBS brand continues to grow and to further raise the school’s visibility across the many media opportunities that traditional and new media provide. We look forward to our continued engagement with South African business and to keep our purpose top of mind: ‘to significantly improve the competitive performance of individuals and organisations through business education’,” Fox said.

Wag the Dog Publishers confirmed that there will be a print run of 12 000 copies. You can find your copy of the magazine at CNA and at GIBS itself from August 2012.

To view photos of the event click here