BPSA hires first black female CE
BP SOUTHERN Africa (BPSA) yesterday appointed chartered accountant, Priscillah Mabelane, as its new chief executive.
Mabelane is the first woman in the history of the country’s oil industry to head a multinational company, marking a significant milestone in the organisation and industry’s transformation journey.
She will take the helm on September 1, exactly six years after joining the organisation in 2011 as chief financial officer (CFO). BPSA said Mabelane had more than 20 years of service in a number of key leadership positions, and brought a “wealth of worldclass experience and expertise” to her new role.
Prior to joining BP, Mabelane held various executive roles in a number of large South African companies.
She worked at Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) as CFO, Ernst & Young where she was a tax director, and at Eskom, where she held various roles in finance, tax and general management.
BPSA chairperson, Thandi Orleyn, thanked outgoing chief executive Daniel Odogwu, who was at the helm for three-and -a-half years, and welcomed Mabelane.
“We are confident Priscillah will be a strong leader for our business,” Orleyn said.
“Priscillah’s appointment reinforces BPSA’s pioneering role and strength of commitment to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce that will breed creativity and ensure we meet, even exceed, customer expectations.”
Mabelane’s appointment closely follows two recent female senior executive appointments to the BPSA leadership team: Kelebogile Tseladimitlwa as human resources director, and Prinisha Khoosal as commercial integration manager, in 2016. – ANA