Brewing a fine career
THE LOCAL unit of the world’s second largest brewer, SABMiller, is turning to Westville mom Shobna Persadh, pictured, to polish its corporate image.
South African Breweries has promoted the marketing veteran as its national corporate affairs manager with effect from October 1. Until then, she will continue to be the East Coast region corporate affairs manager, a post she has held for a decade.
Persadh, who began her career in shopping centre management when she helped launch the Chatsworth Shopping Centre in 1987, is relishing the opportunity that comes with her new job.
It may entail investing longer hours at the office and overseeing more responsibility, but the mother of three is not one to shy away from a hard day’s work.
She said more travelling would be in store for her.
“But I am also looking forward to working with an exceptional team of talented individuals, both at the central office and in the rest of the country. I am thrilled, energised and invigorated by this new challenge,” she told POST.
Persadh, who set up her own marketing consultancy following 10 years of trail-blazing success in retail property management, also enjoyed a stint on radio.
After that she joined the then Technikon Natal as director of marketing and retained this portfolio after the merger with ML Sultan, which formed the Durban University of Technology.
“I took on a similar role at the Mangosuthu Technikon in Durban,” she told POST.
During her journey to the top, she received numerous accolades including two Young Achiever Awards for making an outstanding contribution to her community, and an award from the Public Relations Institute of South Africa for outstanding leadership.
She was also awarded one of two annual scholarships in the world by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and as a result visited Stanford University and the University of California.
Another exchange programme took her to Spelman College in Atlanta.
After a combined 17 years in retail and education she was headhunted by SAB in 2006.
In the process she became the regional custodian of business strategy, regulatory, legislative and stakeholder engagement, corporate reputation, communication, corporate social investment, sustainable development, enterprise development and reduction of alcohol harm issues.
Persadh’s work has seen her broaden her experience and travel to international partners in places including Budapest, Colombia and London. She served as the first chairwoman of the SAB Employee Share Scheme Trust and is a trustee on the SAB Provident Fund Board. Persadh has an MBA and is a member of the Marketing Association of SA.
When she is not climbing the corporate ladder, she enjoys spending quality time with her family. “I enjoy reading, playing chess, dancing and watching Bollywood movies.”