Derek van Dam, eNCA's Chief Meteorologist is leaving the channel for CNNI, where he will be based at the "World's Weather Headquarters" in Atlanta.
Derek joined the then eNews Channel from US Network NBC's small town Michigan Affiliate, WPBN, to virtually rebuild eNews' weather department. He was initially infamous for butchering names of South African towns with his strong American accent to the point where the channel even made on air promos asking viewers to see him as he improves.
Now, six years later, the man that basically revolutionised tv weather in South Africa is leaving. Before he arrived, the weather person was just the nerdy guy doing the weather in front of a greenscreen. But since coming to South Africa, he has redifined that role as he became a greater 'celebrity' than any other weather guy in the country, often receiving star status at awards shows and other glamorous events, something never before seen for a weather guy (or even a news reader in that case).
He also introduced the touchscreen (along with new graphics) to the weather report, something that initially was rejected due to the simplicity and ease of understanding of the SABC's weather graphics, but eventually they changed it as well.
He now joins CNN where he will be based in Atlanta as part of CNN's efforts to refocus its Atlanta bureau as the centre of its global operations, shrinking the role of its other bureaus, most notably CNN Hong Kong.
He posted the message below to his Facebook fan page just moments ago:
To the People of South Africa,
It is with mixed emotions that I write this letter to you this afternoon. Today is the start of a fresh adventure for my new fiancé and I. Today also marks the slow closure of my greatest life chapter thus far. You have welcomed me into your homes for nearly 6 ½ years and I will be forever grateful that you entrusted me with that privilege.
I have accepted a position at CNN International based in the United States and, along with my fiancé, will be making the “big move” to the other side of the pond. It breaks my heart to finally have to say those words to you, but I couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds.
The memories I have made in this country have been endless. I can’t thank you enough for opening your arms and embracing me as one of your own. What an honour! Most importantly, thank you for blessing me with the finest woman this country has to offer. I am truly lucky to say that I will marry the woman of my dreams. And to think, I only had to travel across the world to find her!
I don’t intend to turn this memo into a political message, but since I have your attention I want to say a few things. I have been in South Africa for 2 general elections. I have seen your democracy flourish and I have witnessed a country bounding with endless opportunities. Above all, your strength lies in your unity as a nation and I challenge every one of you to maintain this forward momentum; to see past your difficult history and to focus on building a country free from racism, corruption, crime and hatred.
It is so difficult for me to leave this country of which I have grown to love. But as my mother always taught me, "don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened." This is not a "goodbye" South Africa; it's a "see you later.” Oh yeah, and "have a good one!"
Yours in Good Weather and Bad,
Derek Van Dam
@WXmanvandam
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Below is the press release from etv:
It is with great sadness and tremendous gratitude that eNCA announces the departure of weather anchor Derek Van Dam. Van Dam has decided to return to his home country, the United States, where he will be joining CNN International.
He joined eNCA in 2008 and helped set up the weather service for the 24-hour news channel on DStv channel 403. Previously, Van Dam worked for NBC in Michigan before being requested to come to South Africa by Head of News Patrick Conroy to set up a local weather division.
“At the time we needed someone with his level of broadcasting experience to help us get started. Six years later and we have an entire department of meteorologists and climatologists producing round-the-clock weather updates,” says Conroy.
“Derek has done the job we asked him to do. We are greatly indebted to him and we know South Africa will miss him too. He became one of us” he adds.
Derek Van Dam says he is leaving to be closer to friends and family in the US and take up a post with CNN International in Atlanta. However he is expected to be a regular visitor to our shores after he proposed to his long-term South African girlfriend, Tara Hossack, this weekend. Van Dam proposed at the finish line of the Comrades Marathon after he and Hossack completed the race together.
Says Derek Van Dam, “Living and working in South Africa has been a tremendous honour for me. I will be forever grateful to my colleagues at eNCA for the experiences and knowledge that we shared together as well as the tremendous support from the countless South Africans who welcomed me into their homes every night on TV.”
“I have also been granted permanent residence, so I plan to spend a lot of time in South Africa in the future, “says Van Dam. He adds: “I have mixed emotions about leaving the country of which I have grown to love. But as my mother always taught me, ‘don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened’. This is not a goodbye South Africa rather it is a ‘see you later, and have a good one!’“
eNCA’s climatologist, Candice McKechnie, will be the acting head of eNCA’s weather for the time being. Van Dam is due to leave for the US in July.
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