Matthew Buckland
Matthew Buckland
Born
Matthew James Buckland

(1974-08-22)22 August 1974
South Africa
Died23 April 2019(2019-04-23) (aged 44)
EducationRhodes University
OccupationInternet entrepreneur
TitleFounder and MD of Creative Spark
Term2010–2019
Board member ofSilicon Cape Initiative
Creative Commons
OPA/DMMA/iAB
Cognition
Children2
Parent
AwardsSelected Fast Company Magazine's Most Creative People in Business (2015), Destiny Magazine: Power of 40: 40 entrepreneurs under 40 (2011), Top 100 "South Africa’s most influential media and advertising people" by The Annual (2009)
WebsiteCompany website
Memeburn.com/Burn Media
Personal weblog

Matthew Buckland (22 August 1974 – 23 April 2019)[1] was a South African Internet entrepreneur and businessman who founded and exited[2] digital agency and publisher Creative Spark, acquired in 2015 by UK firm M&C Saatchi PLC (LSE: SAA), the holding group of M&C Saatchi.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Buckland was also the founder of Burn Media, a suite of technology publishing brands which includes Memeburn, Ventureburn.com, Gearburn.com and others.

Buckland previously headed the online division of the Mail & Guardian, thereafter he started 20fourlabs at Naspers' news24.com,[10][11][12] the largest South African online news publisher, owned by Naspers.[13] While at the Mail & Guardian Buckland founded Thought Leader.

In 2015 he was selected as a "Master of Digital", sitting down with actor Idris Elba for a "Q&A Session".[14][15]

Buckland lived in Cape Town with his wife and two daughters.

Early life

Buckland studied journalism at Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.[16] He worked in London for the BBC's then-commercial web arm, beeb.com as a developer, and then a web development producer.[17] He then later worked as the Internet editor for prime-time TV show, Carte Blanche, before becoming Managing Director of Mail & Guardian's online division. He was the eldest son of Andrew Buckland and Janet Buckland, a prominent South African acting family.[18][19][20][21]

Entrepreneurship

Buckland co-founded Amatomu in 2007, and in 2010, Creative Spark[22] and Burn Media, which he funded himself after being unable to raise venture capital for it.[23] Five years later, in 2015, he sold a majority share in his company to the FTSE-listed agency, M&C Saatchi.[24] The deal included the sale of both the digital agency and the publishing arm, which owns titles such as Memeburn and Ventureburn.[25] He later retook control of the publishing arm when exiting his former company in 2018.[26] Ventureburn is a site that reports on the startup, entrepreneur and investor ecosystems in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.

He was the Master of Ceremonies[27] at the Silicon Cape Initiative launch event and was elected to its inaugural board. The Silicon Cape Initiative is a South African-based organization which aims to turn the Western Cape into a high-tech startup hub. Buckland credits this organisation for inspiring him to move out of the corporate world into entrepreneurship.[28]

In 2012, Buckland was recognised in the Power of 40: 40 Entrepreneurs Under 40 "Doing Interesting Things"[29]

In 2013 and 2014, he was a member of the Cape Town chapter of Entrepreneurs Organisation.[30][31]

Awards

Buckland’s industry accolades include:

Death

Buckland died in April 2019 of cancer. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.[32]

References

  1. ↑ Kekana, Mashadi (23 April 2019). "Digital pioneer Matthew Buckland dies". Mail & Guardian Online. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  2. ↑ Buckland exits Creative Spark, M&C Saatchi Group
  3. ↑ M&C Saatchi acquires SA’s Creative Spark (Fin24.com)
  4. ↑ Saatchi acquires Memeburn publisher (ItWeb)
  5. ↑ Creative Spark sold to M&C Saatchi (Moneyweb)
  6. ↑ BREAKING: Creative Spark acquired by M&C Saatchi PLC (Bizcommunity.com)
  7. ↑ Interview: Matthew Buckland on M&C Saatchi/Creative Spark deal (Marklives)
  8. ↑ M&C SAATCHI ACQUIRES MAJORITY STAKE IN DIGITAL AGENCY CREATIVE SPARK (HTXT)
  9. ↑ "Saatchi Acquires Creative Spark in South Africa (M&C Saatchi)". Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  10. ↑ Waal, Mandy de. "Matthew on the move". ITWeb Technology News. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  11. ↑ Staff Reporter. "300 Young South Africans: Technology (Part 2)". The M&G Online. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "SA online professionals do their own thing". Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  13. ↑ South Africa’s biggest websites
  14. ↑ The Oude Meester Tour, Day 2 – Cape Town
  15. ↑ Idris Elba tours SA for Oude Meester
  16. ↑ Matthew Buckland, Poynter.(Retrieved 16 January 2012)
  17. ↑ "BIO: Matthew Buckland". News24. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  18. ↑ On the stage – ANDREW BUCKLAND, BDFM, 2010
  19. ↑ Buckland's got a play date with obsession, IOL, 2015
  20. ↑ People of note – Women of Inspiration – Community Buckland Janet
  21. ↑ 200 Young South Africans: Arts and Culture
  22. ↑ Matthew Buckland to pursue creative spark'
  23. ↑ "Extraordinary life: Elon Musk". The M&G Online. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  24. ↑ Breaking: M&C Saatchi PLC acquires independent digital player Creative Spark
  25. ↑ Creative Spark sold to M&C Saatchi
  26. ↑ Burn Media to embark on aggressive growth after deal to go solo – Buckland
  27. ↑ "Enter the Silicon Cape | Matthew Buckland". matthewbuckland.com. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  28. ↑ The Unwavering Persistence of Entrepreneurs
  29. ↑ "Valuable lessons from a "chicken" entrepreneur | DESTINY Magazine". DESTINY Magazine. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  30. ↑ "The unwavering persistence of entrepreneurs | ventureburn". ventureburn.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013.Ventureburn.com
  31. ↑ High Octane, EO Blog
  32. ↑ "Condolences pour in for digital pioneer Matthew Buckland". News24. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
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