First female MD for Engen Namibia

A BCom graduate (University of the North), Hamunyela completed a range of management training programmes during her ensuing working life - at the University of Stellenbosch. During her time at Nedloans, she further completed an MBA programme at the Maastricht School of Management, focusing on corporate strategy.

"My appointment was based on my all-round management and leadership skills and deep academic and professional immersion in the management of a wide range of functional areas." she says.

Enter a new growth phase

Hamunyela takes the helm at an exciting, more competitive time in the development of the Namibian market, in which the company will shift gears to enter a new phase of growth.

"All credit must go to the Engen Namibia team for maintaining excellent growth over the past five years, during which market share has grown from 25% to roughly 35%," she says. "But in a more competitive environment of late, we will have to work smartly to defend our market position and increase shareholder value."

Use resources efficiently

"We can only achieve our objectives if we use our resources more efficiently and remain one step ahead of the competition," she says. "We are well positioned in terms of our existing business network, but to make sure continued business growth doesn't take place unsupported, we must find greater efficiencies in our supply chain and human resources. If we live our values, our people will be admirably equipped to carry out their duties in a competitive environment."

Engen plans to, in addition, step up engagement of its dealer network, and lead the further development of the Namibian convenience market. In a heavily price-regulated market, the company will also continue engaging actively with government on margin-affecting issues.