BP Southern Africa (BPSA) announced on Friday the appointment of Gerard Derbesy as the company’s new chief executive officer.
“Derbesy is currently head of planning performance reporting for refining and marketing, a senior strategic role within BP and he will officially assume his new duties on September 1 2011.
“Derbesy will, however, be joining BPSA on August 1 to undertake a comprehensive management of change process with outgoing chief executive Sipho Maseko.”
The company added that Derbesy had graduated with a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Marseille and a doctorate in chemistry from McGill University, Montreal.
He had subsequently accumulated over 15 years of refining and marketing experience in a variety of roles in Continental Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States, with responsibility for areas including refining, commercial optimisation, supply and marketing.
The company said it had also appointed Priscillah Mabelane as chief financial officer.
She would join BPSA in September 2011.
“Mabelane brings with her a wealth of experience; she is a qualified chartered accountant and has held a number of senior positions in SA both in large businesses and as a partner at Ernst & Young. Most recently Mabelane has been the executive director of finance for Airports Company of South Africa.”
Alph Ngapo would be joining the company as chief operating officer in a newly-created position from August 1.
“Ngapo has an accounting degree from the University of South Africa and substantial experience in South African industry in a number of areas including operations, finance, sales and marketing. Most recently he has spent the last eight years with ArcelorMittal SA and is currently general manager for the Vereeniging Works where he has had full operational responsibility for the division, including its safety performance.”
These appointments followed the recent announcement of Thandi Orleyn as the company’s new chairperson and were in line with BP’s succession plan policy to achieve transformation in the industry.
“BP remains committed to ensuring transformation at all levels within the company and industry at large and will continue to make the appropriate and adequately-skilled appointments,” said Vuyi Raseroka, the company’s human resources director,
“We also have every confidence in these new appointees’ abilities to add to what is already a strong team at BP, capable of continuing to deliver and contribute to the company’s growth strategy and the country’s energy needs.” — I-Net Bridge
This despite the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) having let down South Africa in similar circumstances in the past.
“We received an apology from the NFF in which they stated their players, who are mainly based in Europe, felt playing in England instead of making a longer trip to South Africa was a more agreeable proposition,” Nematandani said.
“It’s hardly a satisfactory reason after you have already made a commitment, but I think it reflects the problems the NFF might have more than anything else.
“From Safa’s point of view, however, we would rather look forward instead of harping on the Nigeria issue and seeking to redress it through some form of compensation, or a complaint to Fifa.” — Sapa