Nick Grubb came to Rhodes in 1992, and immediately found a place, and a lifelong passion, at Rhodes Music Radio. Completing his BJourn in 1995, Grubb started his career in the Eastern Cape, firstly with the Eastern Cape News Agency in the then-Grahamstown (now Makhanda), and thereafter with Radio Algoa, where he took on the role of news editor.
In 2002 he moved to the SABC flagship station 5FM as programme manager, and thereafter filled the roles of programme strategist and New Media Manager: PCS with the SABC. Further experience was gained in brand development for Classic FM. Towards the end of 2009, with expertise accumulated in more than a decade of work in radio and new media, Grubb started Sussed Creative Solutions to help clients such as Nedbank, Rand Merchant Bank and Kagiso Media to identify, develop and re-purpose their content, and to then apply these new skills to relevant platforms and media in a changing media landscape, with the goal of becoming more effective and profitable.
In 2011, Grubb moved full-time to Kagiso Media, one of South Africa’s premiere audio and broadcasting businesses. As Chief Executive: Radio, Grubb is responsible for overseeing the group’s radio operations (which included two of South Africa’s largest independent stations, Jacaranda FM and East Coast Radio, and investment portfolios in a number of other stations). He also participates in strategic and operational development of the Kagiso Group as part of the KM Exco.
Grubb is a staunch believer in the future of the audio industry, and states: “I believe that the audio industry, with radio at the core, will remain relevant and successful. It will take digital innovation, collective industry initiatives, and continued commitment to really good programming created by really good people.” He gives back to the broadcasting industry as a volunteer with the Digital Audio Committee IAB and as deputy chair of the National Association of Broadcasters (South Africa) Exco. In 2022, the School of Journalism and Media Studies at his alma mater, Rhodes University, awarded him a JMS50 Alumni Award for flying the flag of audio and radio high, and remaining committed to the industry through thick and thin.