Barloworld Logistics has appointed Kamogelo Mmutlana as its Chief Executive Officer.
Mmutlana is a qualified industrial engineer with 21 years of senior business executive experience in operations and management in varied sectors including Logistics, Industrial, automotive, food services, hospitality and rail. His track record leading complex, blue-chip companies and driving innovation spans high profile businesses including Fedics Food Services, BMW SA and Super Group subsidiary SGE – where he was the Divisional CEO of Fleet Africa for nine years prior to joining Barloworld.
In his role as CEO, Mmutlana will be responsible for driving further growth in the logistics business aligned to the Barloworld Group-wide growth ambitions. Mmutlana says he was attracted to the group by its rich history, values and strong legacy within the South African commercial landscape.
“I also recognised the opportunity for a fresh start and a new challenge,” he adds, noting that it is always valuable to ‘test one’s mettle’ and to continue to learn and grow.
With regards to the immediate challenges on the horizon, Mmutlana says that the supply chain is a rapidly changing space with many new international players entering the fray. In response, he will be looking to ensure that Barloworld Logistics remains agile, innovative and responsive to both technological changes and evolving consumer needs. He points to the importance of Big Data and social media analytics, and the ability to effectively integrate social data into business operations.
“We will also be drawing on our quarterly supply chain foresight reports to inform our thinking and will be looking to continually test our capabilities and deepen our knowledge,” he says. “We will always be a growth-oriented organisation, both organically and through key acquisitions, and will invest in both technology and leading talent to ensure that we continue to deliver value to customers and shareholders.”
As a leader, he explains that his priority will be to quickly learn and understand what the business stands for and where true value creation lies. Given that Barloworld Logistics has a solid track record, his focus will be on strengthening existing systems and processes – not changing them.
“I have come in to be part and parcel of the team, as well as to be a leader,” he adds. “I want to ensure that I enhance and add value to this ecosystem and culture. Strengthening customer-centricity and delivering value to all stakeholders will be key priorities in the coming months.”
