Business Botswana is reportedly close to identifying a suitable candidate to replace outgoing Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Maria Machailo-Ellis, who has left the organisation to take up a position at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in the Bureau of Employers’ Activities.
Reports indicate that the hunt for the new CEO is at an advanced stage as the potential candidates have been shortlisted after going through screening and interviews recently. Sunday Standard can reveal that the list of potential candidates include a local academic who holds a Phd, a former Managing Director of a reputable local property company, a current member of the Business Botswana Council as well as a number of local business gurus.
“We believe that the process and procedure has enabled Business Botswana to have a large pool of candidates to select from, based on their business acumen and experience,” said a source.
The Business Botswana top post became vacant beginning of October this year when Machailo-Ellis got a job in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in South Africa, where she will be in charge of employers activities in 10 (ten) countries in Southern Africa amongst them Botswana, South Africa and Rwanda. A number of Business Botswana affiliates have expressed hope that the transformation taking place at the organisation has come at the right time as it will give members value.
“This is not only about changing the name of the organisation from BOCCIM to Business Botswana, but also about changing the culture of handling matters,” they said.
Machailo-Ellis spearheaded the change of name and logo, saying the move was aimed at ensuring brand reinforcement in order to keep up with emerging business trends. She further said the rebranding will create a long term impression that will complement the new services that the organization will offer to its members. Business Botswana recently recognised Machailo-Ellis’s career move, saying she will continue to drive the cause of the private sector in Botswana and the region. The organisation further said the move could not have come at a better time as the SADC region has just revised both its regional integration and industrialisation strategies.
“The role of the regional private sector is critical in the roll out of these two strategies. With Machailo-Ellis at the helm of initiatives that will support the capacity of business, it is indeed good timing,” Business Botswana stated.
