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New post office CEO appointed

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 20 Nov 2015
The embattled SAPO has endured industrial action, a financial crisis, and criminal charges against former board members.
The embattled SAPO has endured industrial action, a financial crisis, and criminal charges against former board members.

Mark Barnes has been appointed as the new CEO who will modernise and bring a turnaround strategy to the struggling South African Post Office (SAPO).

Cabinet has approved the appointment of Barnes, who was recommended by the SAPO board following a recruitment process.

Barnes is appointed for a five-year period, which starts on 15 January.

According to Who's Who Southern Africa, the 59-year-old Barnes is executive chairman at Purple Capital, and has over 25 years of experience in leadership positions in the local financial services market.

Telecoms minister Siyabonga Cwele welcomed Cabinet's decision and noted the new CEO will help address the main challenges faced by the SAPO.

"This stable leadership will help the board to implement the Strategic Turnaround Plan that was approved by Cabinet in June. 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," says Cwele.

SAPO has a large network that can be used as an access point to government services by communities, especially those in rural areas. The post office remains a crucial institution because in some communities it is the only financial services institution, says Cwele.

"We continue to engage National Treasury to find ways of investing in the post office. The Strategic Turnaround Plan needs to be funded, especially the revenue-generating aspects that include venturing into new services such as banking and electronic services. The board and management have done everything possible on the cost-cutting and cost-containment side."

The minister also urged the board and management to continue working with employees to ensure the Strategic Turnaround Plan is fully implemented.

The government entity is the distributing agent for set-top boxes when South Africa finally migrates from analogue to digital terrestrial television.

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