Derek De La Harpe has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of Wilderness Holdings with effect from 8 April 2010 following the resignation of Karen Mitchley to pursue other interests. Mitchley will remain with the company to assist with the February 2010 end of year audit and hand-over process, which she will be consulting on a project by project basis.
Derek De La Harpe is a Chartered Accountant (Zimbabwe) with thirty years’ experience in southern and eastern Africa. He spent eighteen years with the then Price Waterhouse, the last eight as a partner in charge of the firm’s practice specialising in tourism and environmental consulting. He then spent eight years as the CEO of The Malilangwe Trust, a Zimbabwean NGO working in wildlife conservation and rural development, and with a high profile tourism operation. He has spent the last four years working as a management consultant in southern and eastern Africa, south-east Asia and Central America, specialising in the tourism development and wildlife conservation interface.
Jochen Zeitz, CEO of Puma and Robert Polet, President and CEO of the Gucci Group, have been appointed to the board with effect from 8 April 2010.
Jochen Zeitz is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PUMA AG. After beginning his professional career with Colgate-Palmolive in New York and Hamburg, he joined Puma in 1990. In 1993 he was appointed CEO and Chairman of the Board of Management. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors of Harley Davidson since 2007.
Jochen Zeitz discovered his interest in the African continent many years ago. He speaks six languages, including Swahili. In 2008, he founded the Zeitz Foundation for Intercultural Ecosphere Safety to support creative and innovative sustainable projects that balance conservation, community development, culture, and commerce, promoting an inclusive, holistic paradigm of conservation that enhances livelihoods and fosters intercultural dialogue.
Robert Polet is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of Gucci Group. He joined Gucci Group in 2004 after a 26-year career at Unilever, bringing considerable global management experience and a deep knowledge of the development of consumer brands in a multicultural environment.
Mike Ness has resigned as Non-Executive Director with effect from 8 April 2010.
