Cover story
Introducing Njombo Lekula, MD PPC Cement RSA and Botswana When away from work, I enjoy playing golf, doing landscaping and home renovations. My wife (Noxolo) and I have two children, Ntsako and Gabriella.
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Can you walk us through your role as the MD and how you have stamped your authority?
My current role is to oversee and provide strategic guidance and direct PPC’s Cement and Materials Operations in South Africa, as well as in Botswana (operations and commercial). My main focus has been to optimise and enhance operational output, whilst delivering business growth and profitability. This includes capacity expansion and optimisation, exploiting strategic synergies and exploring various alternative fuel and energy projects in the region. I’m a firm believer in always looking for a win-win solution in every interaction I have. If you or the other party feel like there is only one winner, then it was not a good engagement. A win-win solution guarantees longevity. If an interaction or engagement does not offer a win-win situation, it is one-sided and bound to fail. I believe in a transformative management style, and so I wouldn’t say I have “stamped my authority”.
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Njombo Lekula
Q
Can you give us some background on your career and some information on yourself away from work
I am a Chemical Engineer by profession and hold a Master’s degree in business administration from the University of Stellenbosch Business School. I began my career on the technical side of the PPC business 32 years ago, but soon discovered a love of – and affinity for – the operational side of things. I have held a number of leadership roles within PPC across various divisions, including overseeing the International division of PPC as Managing Director of PPC Zimbabwe from 2013. In 2017, I took over as MD of South Africa and Botswana.
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PPC is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year. What is it like working for such an illustrious brand?
I’ve been in the business for 32 years (I just missed the other 98 years). It has been an honour and really challenging, yet exciting journey. PPC has provided me with great opportunities in my career, with my greatest opportunity being taking up the role as Managing Director in our Zimbabwe operations in
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Concrete Trends Issue 1 2022
9
