Denel’s new chief executive, Shaun Liebenberg, will this week move into the state arms manufacturer’s top office, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
He was supposed to take the reigns on June 1, but with the agreement of outgoing CE Victor Moche, the date has been advanced, Denel said.
Liebenberg said when his appointment was announced on April 15, a handing-over period of six weeks was envisaged.
”It is to Victor’s credit that we sorted through all the important issues in this large enterprise within a relatively short period of time and that he is now able to effectively focus on his future endeavours.”
Liebenberg said he was satisfied that most of the objectives he set for himself and the Grintek Group have been achieved.
He was chief executive of Grintek for the last year.
As a result, by arrangement with Grintek chairperson Zoli Kunene, he could now dedicate the balance of the month to attend to pressing issues at Denel.
”It is still early days, but in discussions with the Minister of Public Enterprises [Alec Erwin] and the Denel board of directors we agreed on a set period to craft a strategic plan for Denel.”
Liebenberg said his immediate top priorities were to ”to bring stability into the organisation and ensure clear direction for all stakeholders”.
It is understood this largely entails setting goals for the various businesses within Denel in order to determine which should be profitable, which should be subsidised (and by whom) and which should be closed.
Liebenberg is also said to be keen to tie down with various players exactly what is expected of him and Denel — and to report back which of these expectations can be met.
In leaving office, Victor Moche said he faced serious challenges when he joined Denel.
These included a lack of skills development, an ageing workforce and some restructuring and transformation issues.
”Organised labour alerted us to allegations of corruption and mismanagement which we tackled, whilst laying a solid foundation for a comprehensive skills development programme and transformation,” Moche said. – Sapa