Xolani Mbambo

Xolani Mbambo, a seasoned executive, was appointed the group chief executive officer of Grindrod Limited, a transport and logistics company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, on 1 January 2023. Xolani is also a director of various businesses in which Grindrod has a shareholding including the chairperson of Maputo Port Development Company.

Xolani completed his primary education at Kwa- Ngcolosi, outside Hillcrest, where he grew up. The area which is home to the famous Inanda Dam which is a stage two finish for the Dusi canoe marathon held annually in February. He then matriculated at uMqhawe High School. Xolani secured a bursary to continue his studies at the University of Natal in Durban, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in education and a postgraduate diploma in accounting.

His studies did not end there as Xolani went on to become a qualified chartered accountant and completed the Advanced Management Programme from Harvard Business School. He is known for his integrity and ability to translate strategic themes into actionable strategic and business plans. Xolani was nominated for the 2020 Chief Financial Officer Awards.

VARIOUS ROLES
Coming from humble beginnings, Xolani commented that his first informal job was as a gardener in the suburb of Manor Gardens, a walking distance from the same university he would later attend. His first formal job was when he secured employment as an article clerk at Coopers and Lybrand, now known as PwC.

Prior to joining Grindrod in March 2013, Xolani spent over a decade in the mining industry in various roles spanning accounting and finance, mining project execution, mining business performance analysis (iron ore, coal, and manganese), and coal marketing. During this time, he worked in Anglo American’s offices in Johannesburg and London, its then mining operation in Mpumalanga, and its gas exploration office in Gaborone.

Having worked as Grindrod’s Freight Services CFO since 2013, Xolani accepted a group financial director role in September 2018. Transitioning from the group financial director role of Grindrod Limited to CEO involved working in the operations at the coal face, which was crucial in understanding the business. In February 2021, he returned to Freight Services to assume the CEO responsibilities and two years later assumed the role of CEO of Grindrod Limited group. Given Xolani’s various roles in Grindrod, it is unsurprising that the accomplishment that makes him the proudest is his appointment as Grindrod Limited’s first African CEO.

Xolani says his purpose in this position is aligned to that of the company he now leads. He explained, “The purpose, particularly for Grindrod Limited is to promote Africa’s trade with the world and to touch the lives of the communities in which we operate. That is what drives us. And I am hoping that is what drives all our employees and colleagues throughout the organisation.”


HARD WORK PAYS OFF
Reflecting on the best advice he has ever received and how it has influenced his journey, Xolani is quick to respond with the words: “Hard work pays off.” Xolani has taken this advice to heart, which has steered his career well, noting that he has been acknowledged for his many efforts and dedication over the years.

Reflecting on what he recognises in successful people, he said they have a positive attitude. They are continuously looking for solutions and ways to improve their work. This attitude impacts every- thing in their lives, both on a personal front and in the work environment. “You can’t teach attitude and work ethic,” he explains.

While Xolani has faced several challenges over the years, the biggest challenge he has ever overcome was undoubtably the impact of Covid-19 in 2020. He commented that navigating the effects of Covid-19 was very challenging from a business perspective. “Operational closures due to Covid- restrictions had the potential to negatively impact job security for our colleagues. So, to navigate this crisis, we, together with the management team, implemented various cost containment and cash preservation measures to ensure that the business survived the impact of Covid-19,” explained Xolani.

CLARITY OF PURPOSE
Xolani added, “What I’ve realised is that in all these challenges, the clarity of purpose and strategy combined with the culture of recognition for high performance is what really keeps the team motivated.”

Speaking of who or what inspires him, Xolani says that it is undoubtedly a ‘who’, as he has been inspired by his mother throughout his life.

“My mother single-handedly raised three of us and provided us with the best education she could afford. She made excellent choices for me at my younger age, and my two sisters’ education and progress in our careers. Unfortunately, one of my sisters passed on.”

POSITIVE IMPACT
Commenting on his vision for Grindrod in the next five years, Xolani is enthusiastic about the company’s future growth.

He said, “Actually, it would be very fulfilling for me to see Grindrod becoming the largest listed company in KwaZulu-Natal and achieving this through its purpose of promoting Africa’s trade with the world.” In addition, Xolani said, “Success is not only about profits. We must uplift communities in and around our operations and make a difference in society.”

In his concluding comment, Xolani says that his motto echoes the advice that he values: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”