Johannesburg, 03 May 2007
GijimaAst has announced that John Miller, CEO of the JSE-listed ICT services provider and systems integrator, will officially retire on 30 June 2007.
Miller's decision to retire is not unexpected... At 67 and already beyond the group's official retirement age, Miller was asked to stay on to complete the merger between selected businesses owned by Gijima Info Technologies Afrika and the AST Group of companies.
GijimaAst's board is confident the executive team in place, each of whom has been carefully selected, will continue executing the board's approved strategy for the group and will lead the company to greater heights, delivering value for shareholders, clients and staff.
The merger in May 2005, which created GijimaAst, brought a powerful, well-positioned, black economically empowered ICT services and solutions company to the market. Initially there was a fair amount of market scepticism, but within one year, the merged entity had already shown a return to profit.
"The results to date reflect good progress in the recovery of GijimaAst," says Miller. "We're also pleased with the improved service levels and client retention and growth of new business for the company. GijimaAst continues to strengthen its position from both a product and service perspective, and our industry-focused business units continue to be a major competitive advantage for the company.
"Our executive team's foresight was crucial to successfully merging Gijima and AST, and I am grateful for their contribution in returning the group to profitability. With this successfully bedded down and the opportunities ripe for the picking, I believe it is an opportune time to retire, secure in the knowledge that the company has at its helm some of the most talented young men and women who will lead the company to even greater heights," says Miller.
Miller has spent 35 years in senior, executive director and CEO positions in ICT companies, which include ICL, Unidata and Unisys. He left the Managing Director position in Unisys to join AST in October 2000 as Marketing Director. In January 2003, Miller took over as Chief Executive Officer of AST (now GijimaAst) and has been instrumental in turning around the company after some very turbulent times.
Of special note is GijimaAst's transformation in all elements of broad-based black economic empowerment and the achievement of an "AA Rating" from Empowerdex, the only listed ICT player with this rating.
"This achievement, plus the retention of key clients, key staff, the strengthening of the group's financial position and many more building blocks, are responsible for the resurgence and solidification of interest and support for GijimaAst among customers, shareholders, employees, the government and the public at large."
Miller acknowledges the contribution made by Robert Gumede in the restructuring and return to health of the company. "Without Robert and the former Gijima group's executive involvement, both from a financial and management contribution point of view, there would be no GijimaAst, and AST on its own would have floundered.
"Robert Gumede and I have enjoyed both a business relationship and sound friendship that goes back 11 years. When I was at Unisys, Robert and I were instrumental in creating The Marpless Consortium, which was awarded a very large system integration contract by the Department of Home Affairs in relation to the Hanis (Home Affairs National ID System), which is still ongoing," he says.
The group is evaluating both internal and external candidates to succeed Miller in the Chief Executive Officer position, and Miller will be involved in this selection process and the subsequent handover to the new incumbent.
Additionally, he has been offered a non-executive board position.
Robert Gumede, Executive Chairman, and the other members of the Board of Directors would like to express their sincere thanks for the leadership and contributions made by Miller, and his guidance in steering the old AST through difficult times and subsequently the merged GijimaAst.
"I have known John for over 11 years and he is one of the best salespersons and company executives that I have worked with. He understood and embraced the concept of 'client being queen' and got along with all and sundry, in particular with clients and employees. We are happy that John's talents will not be lost, as he will be invited to become a non-executive director," says Gumede.
Further announcements will be made in due course.
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