Johnathan Paoli
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has announced the appointment of Michelle Phillips as Transnet’s group Chief Executive Officer and Nosipho Maphumulo as the group Chief Financial Officer.
Minister Gordhan made the appointment late on Wednesday and said that the recent appointments represented the steadfast commitment of the government to equip Transnet with a competent and experienced executive leadership team to drive the strategic interventions that the board has put in place as part of the Transnet recovery plan.
Phillips was previously the group chief executive of the company since the beginning of November last year and according to the Minister, there had been improvements in the performance of ports and rails.
Maphumulo has been described as a highly accomplished business leader, financial steward, operation strategist, change catalyst and trusted advisor offering extensive experience providing sound financial and commercial guidance in complex and demanding environments.
Her appointment follows that of Hlegiwe Makhathini, who had been acting CFO since November last year.
“We are confident that these appointments will provide Transnet with the strategic direction and the ability to execute on its ongoing reforms, including the implementation of the provision of the Freight Logistics Roadmap, which envisages the granting of access for private rail operators,” Gordhan said.
In addition, the appointment comes five months after the resignations of former group chief executive Portia Derby, and former CFO Nonkululeko Dlamini, following their departures after calls by the Association of SA Chambers for the board to be removed.
Business has welcomed Michelle Phillips as the right person for the job as CEO of troubled Transnet.
Anthony Clark, an independent analyst with Smalltalkdaily Research, speaking on behalf of the business sector, expressed his confidence in Phillips and said that based on her extraordinary performance in various roles over the last 18 months, she would be well prepared to take over the leadership of the belligerent SOE.
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