Bigen’s transformation journey continues in earnest
Press Office: Bigen Group
The Bigen Group (which consists of Bigen Africa Group Holdings [BAGH] based in South Africa and Bigen Global Limited based in Mauritius) has announced the appointment of Dr Snowy Khoza as Group CEO, effective from 16 July 2019 to 31 September 2021, when a new CEO will be appointed. Dr Khoza, the former CEO of BAGH, became Executive Chairperson of the Group when Bigen shareholders expanded their African footprint and established Bigen Global in Mauritius in 2016.
Dr McLean Sibanda, patent attorney, engineer by qualification and also an internationally respected innovation promoter and former CEO of the Innovation Hub, is now regional MD of Bigen Global. Bigen Global subsidiaries are in East Africa with Kenya as a port of entry, in West African with Ghana as port of entry and has offices in Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia.
Dr Mthandazo Ngwenya has been appointed as Managing Director of Bigen’s newly established Development Advisory and Impact Division, which also supports its Africa expansion drive. Dr Ngwenya, a public international lawyer, financial management expert and former MD of Intellecap in Kenya, oversees Bigen’s international development programme across the continent.
The BAGH shareholders have also approved the appointments of four independent non-executive directors:
- Mr Kelepile Dintwe as independent non-executive chairman of the board. He is an engineering professional with an extensive 20-year background in the mining industry, where he has held various senior management roles in engineering, business strategy and planning, investor relations, operations management and sustainability and government relations. Part of his hands-on experience includes a three-year secondment to Ghana as a vice-president for sustainability and stakeholder relations for AngloGold Ashanti.
- Prof Francis Peterson, a qualified metallurgical and chemical engineer and rector and vice-chancellor of the University of the Free State. He will chair the board’s human capital and remuneration committee.
- Ms Lulama Tlakula, an astute business woman and investment banker experienced in corporate and project finance. She will chair the audit, risk and IT committee.
- Mr Martin Kuscus, an accomplished businessman and former CEO of SABS with a broad knowledge in board governance, having chaired a number of international boards such as the Council for International Standards Organisation (ISO) in Geneve. He will chair the social and ethics committee of the BAGH board.
The shareholders of Bigen Global Limited have appointed Mr Richard Arlove, CEO of Ocorion Services Africa and Asia based in Mauritius, as chairman of the board, which consists of independent non-executive directors Mr Asnath Sultunti and Mr Gaetan Michel Siew Hew Sam, based in Mauritius.
The joint boards of Bigen remain resolute in maintaining their transformation, indigenisation and inclusivity agenda within the Group with purpose, probity and partnership values.
The journey continues for Bigen’s greater role in infrastructure development on the African continent. Bigen’s strategic focus in water and sanitation, health, transportation and logistics, energy, agriculture and real estate made it to be recognised as one of the most resilient, respected and responsible infrastructure development organisations on the continent. The Bigen sectors were specifically chosen to contribute, with the rest of its partners, to improve the quality of life in Africa. Its technical, socio-economic, environmental, institutional and financial service skills have differentiated Bigen to be one of the leading infrastructure development organisations on the continent mainly because of its commitment to supporting countries to deliver their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in these sectors.
“Our doing good while doing business approach lives in us as we create jobs, reduce poverty, empower women and youth, build entrepreneurs and educate communities. Our numerous industry recognitions received over the past nine years speak better of who we are. We are also excited about the greater funded infrastructure development and maintenance opportunities that are coming on the continent. Indeed, as a Group we will continue to transform ourselves to be one of the major contributors in the infrastructure development space on the continent for many years to come,” Dr Khoza explained.