Murray & Roberts group chief executive Brian Bruce said on Monday that the company has reorganised leadership responsibilities in the run-up to the Soccer World Cup 2010, adding that critical areas of the Gautrain project should be ready in time for the tournament.
He said Murray & Roberts had been preparing for some time, and after a very bullish statement by President Thabo Mbeki last week the company decided to announce its plans and key changes in project leadership around the event.
Bruce said high levels of corporate leadership will be needed on these projects, which will be hugely beneficial to the construction industry.
“From research done at the Olympics and World Cup, it is evident that the primary beneficiaries in the lead-up to these events are construction companies,” said Bruce.
“After the very bullish statement of President Mbeki last week, we have decided to also announce what we have been doing and that we have reorganised certain responsibilities as these projects require high levels of corporate leadership,” said Bruce.
“Gautrain is the biggest, and the critical areas like transport from the airport should be ready,” he added.
Murray & Roberts announced that group executive director Sean Flanagan will assume corporate responsibility for the delivery of designated major construction projects, particularly those associated with the World Cup. These include the infrastructure delivery and systems integration of the Gautrain project.
“Sean maintains his responsibility for corporate oversight of SADC [Southern African Development Community] mining contracting and RUC Australia,” the company announced on Monday.
Group executive director Keith Smith will assume corporate responsibility for the management oversight of all SADC building and construction companies as chairperson, relinquishing his current construction-materials responsibilities over the next six months.
It was also announced that Edwin Hewitt, a director of Murray & Roberts, will assume full executive responsibility for engineering companies Murray & Roberts MEI, Murray & Roberts Marine, Hall Longmore, Genrec and The UCW Partnership. The group said he will remain MD of the Foundries Group pending its disposal.
Malose Chaba, a director of Murray & Roberts and MD of services contractor Murray & Roberts Engineering Solutions, will continue to lead the group’s engagement of the largely private-sector industrial and minerals beneficiation markets. — I-Net Bridge