Nomkhita Mona Joins Goodyear Board
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Nomkhita
Mona - the first black woman to be appointed on the board of Goodyear
in South Africa - aims to set the industry benchmark in the areas of
environmental sustainability, corporate governance, Black Economic
Empowerment and corporate social investment.
Mona, Chief Executive
Officer of the Uitenhage Despatch Development
Initiative (UDDI), has been recognised in both government and corporate
circles for her visionary leadership in a number of high-profile
positions in both the private and public sector - and is determined to
use her vast business management experience to build on Goodyear’s
successes.
“The economic downturn is one of the biggest challenges companies face.
But it is also an exciting time to be involved in a company like
Goodyear, in terms of identifying strategies that will lead to
competition and growth.”
Mona will serve as a non-executive member on the board of Goodyear Tyre
and Rubber Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
Deeply passionate about the environment, she is delighted her
appointment coincides with new legislation on tyre recycling. “The tyre
industry faces an enormous challenge globally to sustainably recycle
tyres in an environmentally friendly manner. In South Africa, new tyre
recycling regulations have recently come into force - and I am looking
forward to being part of the team that champions this.”
Mona believes enterprise development could be a major spin-off of tyre
recycling efforts. “I would like to see Goodyear being a leader in tyre
recycling.”
In terms of corporate governance, she takes the recommendations of the
recently-released King 3 report (The Report for Corporate Governance
for South Africa and the Code of Governance Principles) very seriously.
“People need to be very discerning about the board memberships they
accept, as they can be held liable for decisions taken at board level.”
She is also firmly focused on Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and
believes companies’ success depends on going above and beyond the
minimum compliance requirements set out by government. “For companies
to work well and successfully compete, BEE should be viewed as a
business imperative. I am impressed at the strides that have already
been made at Goodyear, and hope to build on these.”
In the area of corporate social investment, Mona believes spending in
this area should be channeled into “high-impact, high-level projects
that benefit the community around Goodyear”.
“I feel I can make a contribution to Goodyear’s initiatives because of
the models of both enterprise and community development I have used.”
Mona believes thriving companies adopt a four-fold approach that
focuses not just on financial success but also on environmental and
social issues, and the development of its people.
“As a board member, I know I will be learning as much as I will be
contributing - but I’m determined to make a difference. It’s a very
exciting prospect. Ultimately, my main objective will be to ensure that
Goodyear meets its own objectives.”
“Apart from her extensive experience, Nomkhita is a person of
integrity, which has been demonstrated by her involvement in local
development programmes. This places her in an excellent position to
serve on our board,” said Jean-Jacques Wiroth, Managing Director of
Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Holdings.
As Chief Executive Officer of the UDDI over the past two years, Mona
has successfully conceived and implemented a number of sustainable
economic development initiatives in Uitenhage
and Despatch.
These include the Tinarha Agricultural Tourism Initiative (TATI), a
R16,7-million commercial farming co-operative which has led to the
creation of 400 jobs, and the Greater Uitenhage Sewing Co-operative
(GUSCO), which is owned and run by 27 women who have in turn created
seven more jobs. They supply material shopping bags to a leading
national chain store, and have an annual turn-over of R1,9-million.
She is a firm believer in “ensuring money makes more money”. “A project
should not just rely on government handouts. In the Uitenhage and
Despatch area, which is depressed economically, I’m trying to introduce
models that suit the business environment and the community, and they
are starting to bear fruit, which is very exciting.”
Other top positions she has held include Chief Executive Officer of
Inkezo Land Company in Durban and Chief Executive Officer of the
Eastern Cape Tourism Board. Prior to this, she was the registrar of the
Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in
Mpumalanga.
The primary objective of Inkezo, which was supported by government at
ministerial level, was to pioneer and drive the land redistribution
programme for the sugar industry.
Mona, who holds an MBA from Rhodes University and a masters degree in
labour relations from Nelson
Mandela Metropolitan University, serves on
two other boards: the Wilderness Foundation of South Africa, where she
is also a trustee, and the Oliver
Foundation.
The latter is a UK-based foundation which raises funds for community
projects throughout the Eastern Cape, providing school uniforms, food
and sport facilities to children in the Red Location and accommodation
for the homeless.
She is married to medical doctor Sipiwo Mona. They have two daughters
Azola, 18 and Sibabalwe, 17 and a son Bongisisa, 14.
Port Elizabeth Budget Accommodation
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