October - November 2013
MODERN QUARRYING
7
Kumba Iron Ore’s CEO
Norman Mbazima,
has received the Inter
national Association of
Business Communicators
(IABC) Excel Award for his
open, collaborative and
supportive approach
that has characterised
his years of leader-
ship within the
broader Anglo
A m e r i c a n
g r oup , a s
well as his unwavering faith in the ability of
good communications to guide, shape and
change the face of business.
The IABC Africa Excel Award is the high-
est individual distinction in business com-
munication awarded by the IABC Africa
Region. The award recognises a leader’s role
in supporting the effective and strategic use
of communication towards attaining organ-
isational goals and is traditionally given to
someone who is not an IABC member, but
who is a captain of industry and spends time
speaking with and listening to stakeholders
around the world.
“Despite operating within an indus-
try fraught with challenges – more so than
any other sector in South Africa – Norman
In late August this year, Sika proudly
opened its new Gauteng premises in
Isando, serving the greater Gauteng
Province area as well as Limpopo,
North West and Mpumalanga pro
vinces. The branch had outgrown its
previous premises and required a larger
warehouse.
The working environment has been
much improved with a systematic and
orderly warehouse, concrete laboratory
and a one-stop display of Sika’s range
of flooring products. There are also pri-
vate business/conference facilities with
Wi-Fi for customer use, in-house train-
ing facilities and a large seminar room.
Another motivating factor for the move
was the extra space required to accommo-
date the company’s new powder plant due
for completion in January 2014. This state-
of-the-art powder plant offers a production
Accolade for Kumba CEO
Mbazima is the kind of leader who not only
values connecting with employees, but who
feels comfortable and dedicates considerable
time to it,” explains Sophia Dower, regional
director for IABC Africa. “This was evident
in June this year at IABC’s International
Conference in New York, where Kumba Iron
Ore became the first South African company
ever to win four international IABC Gold Quill
Awards in the same year. This is not only
proof of hard work and commitment from
a dedicated communication team, but also
proof of superior leadership,” she adds.
Mbazima was appointed CEO of Anglo
American’s Kumba Iron Ore business in
September 2012. Before that, he held the
same position at Anglo American’s Thermal
Coal business where he managed the busi-
ness unit’s record operating profit in 2011
and improved safety performance. He is also
a member of the employment equity leader-
ship team and serves as chairperson of Anglo
American’s dedicated corporate social invest-
ment arm, the Chairman’s Fund. He further
serves as a member of the executive com-
mittee of Anglo American plc.
Previous winners include Dr Michael
Jordaan, CEO of First National Bank (2009),
Judge Mervyn King (2010), and Dr Theuns
Eloff, vice-chancellor of the NWU (2012).
Jan Jenish (left), CEO of Sika worldwide and Paul Schuler,
EMEA head (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region, officially
open the new premises.
capability of up to 20 000 tpa, which will
enable Sika to service South Africa’s border
countries as well. The new plant is set to pro-
vide liquid production by mid-2014.
Sika opens new Gauteng premises
