New CEO for SAPO
Mark Barnes, the Executive Chairman of the Purple Group, has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Post Office (SAPO). South Africa’s Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Dr Siyabonga Cwele, said in an official statement: “This appointment will help us address one of the two main challenges faced by the Post Office, that of creating leadership stability.
“This stable leadership will help the board to implement the strategic turnaround plan that was approved by cabinet in June this year. In August, cabinet approved the appointment of the current board. I believe the board is capable and needs an equally capable management team to turn the Post Office around.”
Barnes will take up his new role on 15 January and his appointment is for five years, according to local sources. On 30 October, Trevor Ndlazi – who is SAPO’s Group Executive: Strategy and Sustainability – was appointed as Acting Group CEO for three months.
Barnes is a well-known figure in South Africa’s corporate world, having previously worked at Standard Bank, Capital Alliance and Brait.
