Bloomberg reports that the chief executive role at Eskom, considered the most challenging job in corporate South Africa, is attracting interest from people who know how difficult it will be to turn the debt-ridden state utility around.
Phakamani Hadebe stepped down as CE of the state-owned power utility at the end of last month, and Chairman Jabu Mabuza has temporarily taken over that position until a permanent appointment is made. Applicants for a new permanent CE appointment are now being considered. Andy Calitz, the former CEO of LNG Canada, who started his career as an electrical engineer at Eskom and later held various senior posts at Royal Dutch Shell, confirmed that he has applied for the job, but declined to comment further. Dan Marokane, Eskom’s former head of group capital, has also applied, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation. Marokane declined to comment. Business leaders have apparently suggested to Eskom’s board that former CEOs Brian Dames and Jacob Maroga should also be considered for the post. Neither responded to a request for comment. Applications for the CEO role closed on 2 August. Mabuza last month said he would relinquish the CE post by the end of October.
- Read the full original of the above report by Paul Burkhardt, Antony Sguazzin and Loni Prinsloo at Fin24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page