BusinessLive reports that newly appointed Eskom board member and Imperial Holdings CEO Mark Lamberti says he "deeply regrets" that he upset a senior black female staff member by calling her a "female employment equity" appointment in front of other managers.  

Imperial said it had not been Lamberti’s intention to "insult or demean" the former staff member in any way and he apologised "unreservedly".  The statement followed a North Gauteng High Court ruling that Lamberti had impaired the dignity of Adila Chowan‚ a highly qualified and experienced staff member, who had been employed at Imperial’s subsidiary‚ Associated Motor Holdings (AMH).  She was summarily suspended after she lodged the complaint and Lamberti was allegedly heavily involved in the subsequent disciplinary process.  Chowan was fired in September 2015 over allegations of misconduct and she brought a court application against Lamberti last year.  The court found that Chowan had proved she had suffered damages as a result of Lamberti and AMH’s conduct.  The judge said it was indisputable — based on AMH’s almost entirely white male senior management at the time of Chowan’s employment — that the company had "fared very badly in redressing the imbalances and wrongs of the past".

• Read this report by Karyn Maughan in full at BusinessLive

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