William Gambiza appointed HCCL Holdings’ substantive CEO

HWANGE Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) Holdings Group has appointed Mr William Gambiza as substantive Chief Executive Officer of the diversified company with business interests in Mining, Real Estate, Health Care, Agriculture, Energy and Financial Services, effective 7 November 2024.

The appointment is an expression of utmost confidence in William’s value-oriented and people-centred leadership and expectations of a renewed thrust of Rebuilding Hwange through the Scheme of Reconstruction centred around Corporate Restructuring and Turnaround.

He brings a wealth of experience, visionary leadership and a proven track record of success. Since the introduction of the Business Improvement Programme (BIP) under his leadership of the company on acting capacity, the organization has achieved significant milestones in several business priority areas namely ESG and Sustainability, Market Growth and Customer Value, Corporate Development, Operational Efficiency and Financial Performance, Digitalization and Automation, Community Engagement, Talent Management, Supply Chain Management, and Resuscitation of Business relationships with Capital Markets.

He is expected to provide strategic leadership in the current Scheme of Reconstruction whose focus is on value creation and preservation for shareholders, employees as well business and social partners.

Through his contribution in the USD 20 million turnaround strategy, HCCL is experiencing positive results in a number of areas namely: ESG, sales, cost efficiencies, revenues, profits, employee productivity, plant efficiencies, among other focus areas.

Under William’s guidance, the group has managed to commence the resuscitation of the USD $ 8.2 million coke oven battery project, building of a USD $3.2 million wash plant, USD $1 million plant recapitalisation, construction of a USD $3 million HESCO conveyor project, acquisition of USD $800 000 operational utility vehicles and Toyota Quantum Intensive Care Ambulances for Hwange Medical Company, among other projects.

In support of corporate development, HCCL entered into a USD$50 million Value Accretive JV partnership with Zhong Jian Investments (ZJI) to develop a world class underground mine – the ZimHwange Coal Mining Company from which operational synergies are anticipated namely revenue, cost and financial synergies.

HCCL also introduced the Hwange Khula Fund focused on transforming the lives of employees and locals through provision of affordable SME finance solutions. This facility has enabled beneficiaries to establish income generating projects and improve their homes. The company believes the move does not only support retirement planning for its employees but also promotes economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation in the region. In support of creating thriving communities and empowerment, the company also introduced community-based breeding programs which have enabled locals to earn a living through their participation in the value chain of HCCL’s Agribusiness unit.

HCCL Holdings is motioning towards being a fully integrated and diversified holding company that shall continuously contribute towards the country’s Vision 2030 aspirations of an upper middle-income economy.

William is a Seasoned Mining Investment Banker with over 18 years of experience in Mineral Asset Management and Investment Banking. He has held several senior positions in the mining industry, as well as in the mining finance sector.

Prior to joining HCCL Holdings, Mr Gambiza worked as a Mining Investment Fund Manager for Fidelity Printers and as a Chief Investments Officer (Metals and Mining) for Unchartered Group.

He joined HCCL Holdings in November 2023 as an Executive Consultant – Business Restructuring and Development and was appointed Acting Managing Director in February 2024 before his substantive appointment as Chief Executive Officer on 7 November 2024.

Mr Gambiza began his career as a mining engineer with HCCL after which he worked for other mining companies including Zambezi Gas and Marange Resources as the Mining Manager before migrating into the mining related corporate finance and investment management space.

He is a holder of a BSc Honours Degree in Mining Engineering, MSc (Eng) in Financial Valuation of Mineral Assets, MSc in Strategic Management, Investment Banking Analyst (IBA) Programme, and Certified Business Valuation Analyst (CVA). He is currently studying towards a PhD in Mineral Economics and Capital Markets.-herald