Thabo Nkoane has been appointed as the new human resources director. Nkoane joins VWSA from AEL Mining Services and boasts extensive experience in the mining and manufacturing sectors in South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa. He holds an MBL and an honours degree in industrial psychology.
Nkoane replaces Percy Smith, who held the title of human resources director since 2008. Smith is retiring at the end of July after 30 years spent in service of VWSA.
The Board of Management has seen several changes in recent months. In December 2019, Rochelle Reddy took up the reins as the director for Sub Saharan Africa, a new position that oversees Volkswagen's interests in this region. Reddy has more than 15 years' experience in international strategy development, most of which was gained in emerging African markets.
In March 2020, the company also welcomed a new finance director, Gustavo Dozo. Prior to joining VWSA, Dozo was head of finance for Volkswagen Argentina, and he has spent over 22 years working for the Volkswagen Group. Dozo replaced Henning Jens, who has returned to Germany.
The board also welcomed Reverend Nomgando Matyumza as its newest independent non-executive board member in March 2020. Matyumza has extensive management experience, having held positions with South African Breweries, Transnet Pipelines and Eskom.
She has also served on the boards of several other organisations, including Transnet and WBHO. She currently serves on the boards of Standard Bank and Sasol. Matyumza is a chartered accountant and holds B.Compt Honours and LLB degrees. She is a presiding elder and pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
"VWSA is proud to welcome these new directors, and I am sure our business will benefit in many aspects from their knowledge and contributions," said VWSA chairman and managing director Thomas Schaefer. "I also want to thank Percy Smith for his decades of dedicated service and the impact he has made in the lives of our employees. I wish him all the best for his retirement."
