T-Systems SA appoints acting CEO

26.09.2005
Von Theo Boshoff

T-Systems SA has announced the appointment of Mardia van der Walt-Korsten as acting CEO of its SA operation.

Van der Walt-Korsten previously held the position of deputy CEO, but has now taken full responsibility for heading up the local operation, following the departure of Wolfgang Jakob.

Van der Walt-Korsten says Jakob?s departure follows his decision to pursue other interests. She notes, however, that he has not taken up a position at another company, but that the move is rather to act in a wider sociopolitical role, to unite countries and business.

Van der Walt-Korsten notes that Jakob has, for example, been appointed as business ambassador to SA for Hamburg, as part of a Private Public Partnership (PPP) initiative.

Van der Walt-Korsten has been with T-Systems for eight years and was appointed Deputy CEO in February this year. At the time, she also donned the hat of sales director for the local subsidiary. ?I will still be involved in the sales director position, but have split the role and appointed a new person, Joe Patel, to focus on the public sector sales and services management. I will be involved in private sector sales management,? she says.

Regarding her focus in the new role, she comments: ?Over the last few months my focus was on re-engineering and reforming T-Systems in SA, in line with T-Systems International?s process of change, which kicked off 18 months ago. This will continue, as the last of the changes are only reaching our shores now.?

?Growth and new business is also a major factor for me at present, and hence I have changed the go-to-market model, going with a more focused approach. We have realized that we cannot be everything to everyone,? she says.

Van der Walt-Korsten also notes that the retention of customers will be another focus for her and the company.

Regarding her appointment in only an acting position, Van der Walt-Korsten says: ?Obviously the CEO position is a very important one, and you cannot just make quick decisions in this regard.? She also says that, because the company is a multinational organization, the approval and appointment of such an important position takes a bit longer.

Van der Walt-Korsten says that she is a possible candidate, and optimistically says that, because the local arena is so distinctive, a local appointment is highly likely.