Media executive joins Lafarge board

Cement manufacturer Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe Limited (Lafarge) has appointed corporate guru Shepherd Shonhiwa as an independent non-executive director with effect from January.

This came as the company announced the resignation of David Cruttenden from the board of directors with effect from December 31, 2021. Cruttenden had served on the Lafarge board since April 2006.

Shonhiwa has chaired boards in South Africa which include Sunday Times Newspapers, Times Media Eastern Cape Newspapers, Dispatch Media and the Institute of Directors South Africa.

“He has served as an independent non-executive director on the boards of Metro Cash & Carry Ltd South Africa, Adcorp Holdings, Jaggers Wholesalers (Zimbabwe), Sunday World Newspapers, BDFM Publishers, Cimas (Zimbabwe) and Metcash Africa Ltd,” said Lafarge in a statement.

Shoniwa is independent non-executive chairman of Nedbank Zimbabwe Limited, Lidwala Consulting Engineers (SA) as well as independent non-executive director of National Tyre Services Zimbabwe Limited. Over the past 30 years, he held positions of chief operating officer Times Media Ltd, chief executive officer of Tepco Petroleum, managing director of Shell LPG Southern Africa, managing director of Egoli natural gas reticulation business, general manager of Ford Swaziland and director of TA Management Services Zimbabwe.

He also runs boutique consultancy in executive leadership coaching, corporate governance, board effectiveness and strategy advisory.

“He is a fellow of the Institute of directors South Africa and the Institute of Personnel Management of Zimbabwe,” the board added.

In December, Lafarge announced the appointment of Geoffrey Ndugwa as the chief executive officer with. Prior to the appointment, Ndugwa had been chief executive officer for Lafarge Malawi from December 2019 to November 2021.

The company recently resumed normal operations at its Zimbabwe plant in the capital after disruption last October following a roof collapse.-newsday