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BL Premium reports that Naspers chair Koos Bekker has moved to allay fears that the sudden resignation of the group’s CEO, Bob van Dijk, points to a falling out between him and the board.
He said the appointment of an interim CEO was meant to avoid Van Dijk becoming a lame duck boss once a decision to part ways had been arrived at. On Monday, Naspers and its international unit Prosus announced the exit of Van Dijk, who led the two companies, with immediate effect. Ervin Tu, the chief investment officer, took over on an interim basis. During an investor call, Bekker pointed out that the average tenure for a CEO of Van Dijk’s stature was about seven years, whereas the Dutchman was nearing a decade atop the Cape Town group. Also a former group CEO, Bekker said the move was “a mutual and amicable decision” and the board and Van Dijk agreed that it was time for a fresh perspective. Van Dijk “has been in charge for a full decade. In discussions between him and the board, we felt now is the good time for a handover. When you decide on a transition, it’s best to execute that immediately,” Bekker said. He added: “The moment you announce that there will be a transition and there will be a search [for a new CEO] that will take a few months, the incumbent simply loses all power. That is how companies work.” Van Dijk had been at the helm of the technology investment group for almost 10 years. He will stay on as an adviser to the group for 12 months.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mudiwa Gavaza at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
- See too, Bob van Dijk out as Naspers and Prosus CEO by 'mutual' agreement, at Fin24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page