Currently viewing: Our leadership / Next: Our strategy
Integrated Report 2020
Currently viewing: Our leadership / Next: Our strategy
Imperial has a well-constituted, diverse and active board, with experience and expertise relevant to the group's strategy and operating context. It provides rigorous oversight underpinned by best practice governance and control processes, and independent interrogation and strategic counsel through a frank and open relationship with executive management teams.
We are led by a team with deep experience, relevant skills and market credibility.
CHAIRMAN AND NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BCom (Acc), BCom (Hons), MCom
A stockbroker by training, Phumzile is the
executive chairman and co-founder of
Afropulse Group Proprietary Limited, an
investment and corporate advisory group.
Phumzile was appointed on 16 April 2018
by His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, the
President of the Republic of South Africa,
as one of four Special Investment Envoys
tasked with raising USD100 billion over a
five-year period.
Relevant skill set: strong business
acumen and experience, public sector
leadership and development, ESG,
stakeholder relations, communication,
diversity and board experience.
Other directorships: Mineworkers
Investment Company, Primedia Holdings,
Massmart Holdings Limited, Metrofile
Limited, among others.
LEAD INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BCom, CA(SA), Harvard Business School, INSEAD AMP
Graham has over 30 years' experience
in the financial services industry both in
South Africa and internationally. Graham
serves as a non-executive director of a
number of JSE listed companies.
Relevant skill set: strong business
acumen and experience, banking, M&A,
risk management, finance and board
experience.
Other directorships: Long4Life,
Motus Holdings Limited, Sun
International.
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BCom (Hons), HDip Tax, CA(SA)
Peter is the immediate past CEO of
RMB Holdings Limited (RMH) and
Rand Merchant Investment Holdings
(RMI). His early career was in the
financial services sector, first as a tax
consultant and later specialising in
corporate and structured finance with
UAL Merchant Bank. He joined Rand
Merchant Bank in 1992 as a structured
finance specialist and transferred to
RMB Holdings in 1997, where he was
appointed to the board in 1999.
Relevant skill set: strong business
acumen and knowledge, strategy,
finance, capital management and
board experience.
Other directorships: RMH, RMI,
OUTsurance, MMI.
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BCom (Hons), CA(SA)
Bridget is an experienced executive
and proven business leader with a
successful record in helping
businesses entrench sound financial
processes, transformation and
governance. In 2017, Bridget took on the
role of group CFO of Ubuntu-Botho
Investments. Prior to this, Bridget had an
extensive career at Deloitte where she
was an audit partner. In this role she led
multi-disciplinary engagement teams
servicing JSE listed clients in Africa,
Europe and America. Her client portfolio
included Imperial Holdings Limited as
well as other large listed corporations in
the manufacturing, logistics and retail
sectors.
Relevant skill set: auditing and controls,
finance and board experience.
Other directorships: A2X Markets,
International Women's Forum (South
Africa), Assupol Holdings.
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MBA
Dirk is a global logistics industry expert,
professional board member and investor.
He previously served as the CEO of
Cargolux Airlines International, on the
management board of Kuehne & Nagel
and as a non-executive director on the
board of Panalpina. In 2016, he founded
R&R International Aviation which offers
strategic advice in the fields of aviation,
logistics and ecommerce in China.
Relevant skill set: strong business
acumen and experience, strategy, global
logistics, ecommerce and board
experience.
Other directorships: DFDS, Skycell,
Instafreight, Log-hub, R&R International
Aviation.
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BCom (Hons), CA(SA), MBA
Roddy is a former managing director of
Old Mutual South Africa and Old Mutual
Life Assurance Company (SA), and the
former chairperson of Old Mutual Unit
Trusts, Old Mutual Specialised Finance
and Old Mutual Asset Managers (SA).
Relevant skill set: strong business
knowledge and acumen, leadership of
a large complex organisation, strategy,
financial services, ESG and board
experience.
Other directorships: Truworths
International, Trencor, UCT Foundation
Investment Committee.
GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
BCom (Acc) (Hons), CA(SA), CFA
Mohammed was appointed group CEO of
Imperial on 1 February 2019. He joined the
Imperial Group in 2009 and, prior to his
current role, served as the acting CEO of
Imperial Holdings in addition to his role as
group CFO. His previous roles at Imperial
included CEO of the Logistics African
Regions division and executive director
responsible for mergers and acquisitions,
strategy and investor relations for the
group. Prior to joining Imperial in 2009,
Mohammed worked in the corporate
finance and investment banking team at
Investec Bank and as an equity analyst for
Nedbank Securities.
GROUP CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
BCompt (Hons), CA(SA)
George is the group CFO of Imperial.
George joined Imperial in 2005 and held
various executive positions in subsequent
years. He was also closely involved with the
creation of the African Regions division and
his expertise in integrating acquisitions and
establishing controls contributed to the
evolution of the division from a collection of
relatively small transport businesses to the
significant business it is today. Prior to
joining Imperial, George was the financial
director of Imperilog Limited. George is a
director of various group subsidiaries (both
local and international), chairs the divisional
FRRCs and is a trustee of the South African
Provident Fund.
| Race diversity | Board tenure | |
 |
 |
|
| Black women | <3 years | |
| Black men | 3 to 9 years | |
| White men | >9 years |
Our executive committee consists of an experienced leadership team who collaborate to deliver the group strategy and create value through the day-to-day operations of the group.
GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
BCom (Acc) (Hons), CA(SA), CFA
Mohammed was appointed group CEO of
Imperial on 1 February 2019. He joined the
Imperial Group in 2009 and, prior to his
current role, served as the acting CEO of
Imperial Holdings in addition to his role as
group CFO. His previous roles at Imperial
included CEO of the Logistics African
Regions division and executive director
responsible for mergers and acquisitions,
strategy and investor relations for the
group. Prior to joining Imperial in 2009,
Mohammed worked in the corporate
finance and investment banking team at
Investec Bank and as an equity analyst for
Nedbank Securities.
GROUP CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
BCompt (Hons), CA(SA)
George is the group CFO of Imperial.
George joined Imperial in 2005 and held
various executive positions in subsequent
years. He was also closely involved with the
creation of the African Regions division and
his expertise in integrating acquisitions and
establishing controls contributed to the
evolution of the division from a collection of
relatively small transport businesses to the
significant business it is today. Prior to
joining Imperial, George was the financial
director of Imperilog Limited. George is a
director of various group subsidiaries (both
local and international), chairs the divisional
FRRCs and is a trustee of the South African
Provident Fund.
CEO: Logistics International
MBA (Logistics)
Effective July 2020, Hakan serves as the CEO of the Logistics International business. Previously, he was the CEO of Imperial International BV & Co KG. Prior to this, Hakan was chief commercial officer at CEVA Logistics. He has also held senior management positions at Panalpina (executive vice-president strategic business development), at the TOLL Group (managing director Europe and Middle East) and at Kuehne & Nagel (senior vice-president global business development).
CEO: Logistics Africa
Mtech (Met Eng), IMP (MIT, USA), MDP (UP)
Effective July 2020, Edwin is the CEO of the Logistics Africa business. This follows his appointment as CEO of Logistics South Africa in March 2020. He has an exceptional reputation for translating strategy into operational excellence and for simplifying organisational complexity. Most recently, he played a key role in driving the effective closure of our CPG business - ensuring that the impact on our people and clients was minimised in the process. Edwin has led companies such as DAWN and Capital Africa Steel as CEO, and also served as the chief restructuring officer of PPC and group executive director of Murray & Roberts.
Chief corporate affairs and investor relations officer
BA (Communication Science), Financial Management (cert)
Esha is responsible for investor relations, internal and stakeholder communications, brand positioning, sustainability and ESG for the group. She is also the chairman of Imperial's Global Women's Forum. Prior to this, Esha served as the group head of investor relations and media spokesperson for Imperial Holdings Limited. Esha's previous roles include the head of investor relations at Kumba Iron Ore Limited, a subsidiary of the Anglo American plc group, and investor relations officer and media spokesperson for Harmony Gold Mining Company. She currently serves as a director and trustee of the Imperial and Motus Community Trust and the Unjani Clinics NPC. Esha is also a founding member and director of the Investor Relations Society of South Africa.
Chief digital officer
BEng (Hons) (Industrial), BCom (Hons) Logistics
Cobus is responsible for orchestrating the group's digital evolution that includes disruptive venture investments, digitisation benefiting client engagement and operations excellence, and the development of new digital value propositions. Before joining Imperial in 2009, Cobus co-founded Volition which he led to evolve into Resolve to underpin the Lead Logistics Provider business within Imperial. Prior to that, Cobus was logistics director of Cadbury South Africa.
CEO: Market Access
Effective July 2020, Johan serves as the CEO of
Imperial's Market Access business. Integral to our
‘Gateway to Africa' strategy, Johan guides this
business across the globe as it works to facilitate
trade flows into and out of Africa. His extensive
experience in navigating the complex African
continent – and proven success in developing
and implementing market access solutions and
value-add logistics – sees him well placed as a
strategic partner to multinational clients wanting
to enter and grow in emerging economies.
Johan previously served as CEO of the African
Regions – growing the business from humble
beginnings to the go-to strategic partner in Africa
to brand owners looking for unique consumer
and healthcare market access and logistics
solutions. He initially joined the group with the
acquisition of Broco in 2004 – a business of which
he was joint founder and managing director.
Chief people officer
BA (Psychology/English), MBA
Steve is responsible for driving our cultural transformation and people-related and human resource initiatives - and for developing and implementing integrated, world-class people policies and practices. An experienced global business leader, Steve has held numerous senior executive positions in large corporations in the US, Europe and Africa. He worked for SABMiller for 20 years in human resources, corporate strategy and senior general management. Prior to SAB, Steve worked in the mining industry for Anglo American and De Beers for 10 years in the fields of labour relations and human resources.