Dot Field, Vodacom's chief communications officer, has resigned with immediate effect, after 16 years of service, but she will continue as a consultant to Vodacom until April 2010.
A source within Vodacom says there was nothing sinister surrounding the resignation, but that Vodacom has a policy of accommodating its employees when they want to leave.
“It was my choice to leave,” Field says.
Field, 43, started as the events and promotions manager at Vodacom shortly after the company was founded by former CEO Alan Knott-Craig, in 1994. She was responsible for securing some of the early high-profile sponsorships such as for rugby, cricket and soccer. Previously, she held a similar position at distributor Panasonic Business Systems.
Her Vodacom career moved her into the public relations and corporate affairs roles, where she worked closely with Joan Joffe, who retired at the end of 2002. For a brief period, Mthobi Tyamzashe, chairman of the Vodacom Foundation, took over the role, before relinquishing it to Field.
Four years ago, Field was made Vodacom's chief communications officer and became even more closely associated as part of Knott-Craig's team of close advisers.
This team, which included current CEO Pieter Uys, steered Vodacom through some of its most turbulent years that were characterised by high growth in terms of subscriber numbers, revenue and its eventual split from 50% shareholder Telkom and its Johannesburg Stock Exchange listing.
“Probably the most challenging part of my career was the managing of the messaging around Alan's resignation and then Pieter's appointment as CEO, and then the issues surrounding the listing,” Field says.
She says crisis communications had become her forte and she thrived on the challenges that this brought - such as short turnaround times and thinking on her feet.
“I am a good spin doctor, but I always told the truth.”
Field says she will continue to pursue business interests in the communications/public relations field, although this will not necessarily be in the telecommunications sector.
In a prepared statement, Vodacom CEO Pieter Uys says: “Dot is well known for her excellent relationships with the media, is widely respected as a consummate communications professional and known as the voice and face of Vodacom. We have accepted her resignation in recognition of her need to pursue her own business interests."
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