JSE-listed technology group Altech is looking internally for a new chief operating officer. This follows the short-lived tenure of former Telkom acting group CEO Jeffrey Hedberg in the role.
“We want to make the right appointment and ensure it is the right appointment,” says Altech CEO Craig Venter. “This will probably be an internal as opposed to external appointment, mainly because of the cultural side of Altech.”
Venter says he has a strong management team surrounding him. These managers “understand the culture” of the group and understand the “need to meet targets and deliver on the bottom line”.
The new appointment will be made in the next six to 12 months, he says. Looking within Altech for a new chief operating officer is the “least risky approach”.
Hedberg, who was appointed to the role in April 2011 amid much fanfare from Venter, left the group just nine months later. It’s understood Hedberg, who is a previous CEO of mobile operator Cell C, had been promised he would be appointed as Altech CEO but it became clear that Venter was not going to move on to a new role, possibly at Altech parent Altron, in the short term.
Until a new chief operating officer is appointed, chief financial officer John Carstens has assumed half of the group operational management role on an acting basis. Venter and corporate services executive Johan Klein are looking after the other half of the group. — (c) 2012 NewsCentral Media
