Sun Microsystems sub-Saharan Africa regional director Vito Bonafede has resigned. He has been with the organisation for four years, and was appointed regional director in early 2004.
Bonafede, whose tenure at Sun will finish on 31 March 2008, is leaving to pursue his own interests in the automotive industry.
"I've had a wonderful four years with Sun. I think we, as a team, have made a big difference to the company's market growth, and that Sun has a fantastic team to go forward with. An opportunity has come up to start my own business, in the parts side of the automotive industry, and it is an opportunity I cannot afford not to take. I've always wanted to have my own business; I'm now going to put myself at risk and do it."
Tom Pegrume will replace Bonafede at regional level, with immediate effect. Pegrume will be based in Dubai, and will be responsible for SA, as well as the rest of the sub-Saharan region.
Bonafede says his operational responsibility at Sun ends in early January, and he will spend the last three months of his time with the company trying to get Sun SA compliant with local BEE codes, including equity control, employment equity, procurement and social responsibility.
"I will be replaced here in the South African office by a black CEO, who will be responsible for Sun SA," he adds. Bonafede says the process of hiring a black CEO has already started.
ITWeb understands that Sun SA's efforts to meet local BEE requirements have met with some resistance from its head office in the past.
According to a statement released by the company earlier today: "Sun SA, under Pegrume's leadership, will appoint a country manager to lead the local operation and to take it to full BBBEE compliance, including equity ownership. This position will be filled as soon as possible.
"Sun Microsystems is committed to meeting fully the requirements of BBBEE in SA. This re-organisation is further indication that we are serious about taking the steps necessary to meet these commitments," Pegrume is quoted as saying in the statement.
EMEA changes
Sun has also announced it is re-organising its operations in the developing markets of Africa, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.
"Countries in these three geographies will form one market unit to be named EMMA (Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa), to be headed by Steve Furniss, who has been named VP for the new region, with immediate effect.
"Furniss is a 10-year Sun veteran and was previously EMEA chief of operations for Sun's global sales and services organisation," the company's statement said. "Sun's operations in Russia, the former CIS countries and central Europe, previously part of the company's Southern and Eastern EMEA region, will become part of its Central and Northern Europe region."
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