Latest news with #Foxton
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Dick Foxton: A man who made influence personal
Dick Foxton thrived on human connection, proving old-school charm could still trump modern tech in building bridges. I am now at an age where I get irrationally enraged at the lack of human interaction in much that I used to rely upon real people for. From opening bank accounts to submitting tax returns, making bookings, even checking in for flights; there's an app for that. It's tedious, time consuming and strange the first time you have to do it, none of which are happy places for the 60 and over. But if you push through, it's amazing how easy they are. As the millennials and the alphabet soup generations that follow will tell you, it's all intuitive, you just have to find the time – and the urge – to play around with the new tech, like using a TV remote for the first time when your kids leave home and you're trying to navigate from your wife's streaming service to the Boks on SuperSport in time for the anthems, without throwing the remote out the window. ALSO READ: Meet Thuli Madonsela's 'heart protector' Life's faster, easier and cheaper with technology, but it is also depersonalised, a lesson that was driven home on Friday afternoon at Dick Foxton's funeral in Johannesburg. The 82 year old, who literally walked with kings but never lost the common touch – and fell in love with Thuli Madonsela – was the first of the real lobbyists, bringing business, politics and media together, using nothing more than a 25-year-old Nokia 6210. Foxton's magic sauce was the personal touch. He kept in contact using the Jurassic methodology of voice calls and breaking bread around a table, getting people who might sometimes have been at loggerheads because they didn't understand one another's positions to find common ground. Foxton was inordinately successful at what he did, by any metric. ALSO READ: VBS Bank: 'Let us not condemn without evidence,' says Madonsela He was living proof of the adage that if you do something you love, you'll never work a day in your life. The fact that no-one has ever come close to matching him in the 50 years he ran his one-man company, that literally was not much more than a PA, a driver and a fax machine and, latterly, e-mail (but never from himself) – speaks volumes to his acumen, his work ethic and probably the constitution of a dray horse. Unlike Canute and the waves, Foxton actually managed to turn back technology with humanity. In the words of one of his granddaughters on Friday, he was probably SA's first proper influencer. RIP, Dick. NOW READ: 'Ramaphosa has set gold standard in ethical and purposeful leadership': Thuli Madonsela
RNZ News
01-07-2025
- RNZ News
Six-month-old baby found with critical injuries in Foxton
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon An investigation is under way after a six-month-old baby was found with critical injuries in Foxton. Senior Sergeant Michael Deegan told RNZ the baby was found with critical injuries at a Foxton Beach house on Sunday. "Emergency services were called to the Seabury Avenue house at around 5.30am that day. "The baby was initially transported to Palmerston North Hospital before being airlifted to Starship Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition." Police were working to establish how the baby boy came to be injured, including a scene examination at the Foxton Beach house, where a guard was currently in place. "Seabury Avenue residents can expect to see a continued police presence in the coming days, as we conduct the scene examination and speak to neighbours as part of our enquiries," Deegan said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
TimesLIVE
25-06-2025
- General
- TimesLIVE
Thuli Madonsela's spouse, ex PR exec Richard Edward Foxton, has died at 82
Experienced PR executive and spouse of former public protector Thuli Madonsela, Richard Edward Foxton, affectionately known as Dick or "Mr Foxton", has died at the age of 82. He passed away peacefully in his bed, the Thuli Madonsela Foundation announced in a statement. Foxton was a father, grandfather and founder of the South African communications firm Foxton Communicating. He was also a founding patron of the Thuli Madonsela Foundation. Beyond his professional success, the foundation remembered him as a devoted family man who was a deeply religious Christian. "He was a proud father and a loving grandfather to nine grandchildren, all of whom were a central part of his life. "His life partner, Madonsela, was his steadfast companion in personal and professional matters, and together they were a symbol of mutual respect, love and integrity. "Foxton's impact on South Africa's business and political landscape, his commitment to social change and his deep love for his family and faith will not be forgotten. His warmth, kindness, huge personality and boundless generosity touched the lives of many, and his contributions will continue to resonate for years to come. "His passing leaves an irreplaceable void, but his influence will live on in the lives he touched and the work he pioneered." A memorial service will be held at the Rosebank Catholic Church on Friday at 2pm, followed by a celebration of his life at the Bryanston Country Club.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Inside Idemia's Noida nerve centre
Photo/TNN Typical global capability centres (GCCs) focus on delivering services to support global operations. Here's one with a difference. French identity and security solutions provider Idemia's India operations not only support services, but also manufactures payment and connectivity products including payment cards, subscriber identity module (SIM) cards for smartphones, and chips that go into security and payment devices globally. These are chips embedded on credit, debit and other payment cards, and even driving licences. The GCC supports internal operations such as HR and finance, it plays a crucial role in R&D, and delivers comprehensive support to global customers across banking, fintech, telecom, utilities, public services, security agencies, and more. Matthew Foxton, regional president at Idemia, says they established the GCC at Noida in 2004, when there were no similar centres focused on chip card development. 'We created an indigenous operating system for SIM cards, driving licenses and vehicle registration certificates. This has now matured and India is a global hub for us for services, R&D and manufacturing,' he says. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo There are around 5,000 employees in India, and the centre is the company's largest hub outside Europe. Around 1,500 of the employees are in three manufacturing units in Noida, located at the Noida Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Idemia also has a service centre in Mumbai. Within the Noida SEZ, three facilities churn out SIM cards, chips embedded in payment cards, biometric devices and handheld scanners that are used across global markets – by global telcos, airports, banks, fintech companies and even gover nment agencies. Customers include the likes of Westpac Banking Corporation, Amex, HSBC, Boeing, SK Telecom, Deutsche Telecom, and KT Corporation. Noida also has a unit that's into packaging chips directly from wafers. Quantum cryptography research The GCC is also a global research hub, driving innovation in post-quantum cryptography or PQC, facial recognition, eSIMs, and more. PQC is the development of cryptographic algorithms that are resistant to attacks by quantum computers. In 2024, Idemia entered into a collaboration with IIT Hyderabad to develop solutions to future-proof digital security against quantum-enabled cyber threats. 'Post-quantum cryptography is about developing encryption standards that can withstand quantum computing attacks. And India is at the centre of this effort,' says Foxton. The team here is also working to perfect AI-driven security solutions like face recognition algorithms. The effort is to recognise faces even if the person is wearing a mask. This ability to integrate both high-tech research and handson production has made Idemia India indispensable to the company's global ambitions. The India GCC, Foxton says, plays a strategic role in powering global innovation and product roadmap. 'Our India centre contributes across our entire product portfolio – from mobile SIMs and green payment cards (ecofriendly, made from recycled materials) to biometric access devices and border control systems,' he says. At least 10 innovators from the India team have been granted patents for their work in security and identity domains. Foxton says that as AI and quantum computing reshape digital security, the India team is expected to play a pivotal role in defining what's next in security. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
NZ Herald
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Whanganui's Richie Faavesi wins Best Debut at NZ International Comedy Festival
It took a while for Richie Faavesi to realise he won a major prize at this year's NZ International Comedy Festival. The Whanganui comedian, with Foxton's Opeti Vaka, performed two sold-out Auckland shows in May as Double Up and won the Best Debut award. Faavesi said the pair had
