BIHL lets women run the show
Botswana Insurance Holdings Limited (BIHL), the country’s principal diversified insurance and asset management group, has lined up all its most powerful positions with women, from Chief Executive to board chairperson, Business Trends has observed.
All indications are that starting next year, at least three most powerful and influential posts will be occupied by women. As a matter of fact, BIHL Chairperson is Batsho Dambe-Groth. As the BIHL Chairperson, Groth is the main lady when it comes to drafting, approval and execution of the group’s strategy.
BIHL is insurance and asset management behemoth. The company, which is owned in majority by Sanlam, is a market leader in many respects. Its wholly owned subsidiary - Botswana Life - controls more than 70 percent of the industry.
Come April 2016, current Botswana Life boss, Catherine Lesetedi-Letegele will walk across the block at Fairgrounds offices, to assume the BIHL top post on the other side.She will be replacing Malawian-man Gaffar Hassam. Hassam is leaving for a much more challenging and rewarding position as group executive at Sanlam Emerging Markets (SEM). As BIHL boss, Letegele will most likely be the most powerful corporate lady in Botswana’s private sector.
Apart from the mouthwatering perks that come with the post, Letegele will be leading a BSE-quoted business, which has a market value of P4, 2 billion. The group is now 40 years old, and it has promised to continue to lead the pack.
BIHL has investments across the economy through its several subsidiaries. At BIFM, the group’s asset management subsidiary, Neo Bogatsu has just received the nod to lead the multibillion Pula Company. It is an early Christmas present for her. She assumed the top post on the 1st December 2015.
As the Chief Executive of this company, Bogatsu is the go to lady for above normal rate return on investments for products such as unit trusts, savings, assets management and capital market investments in the country.
Bogatsu will be heading a trailblazing business with asset under its management totaling P20, 5 billion as of June 2015. In yet another development, which will add to the growing list of women in top posts at BIHL and its subsidiaries, Bilkiss Moorad has been roped in to deputise outgoing Botswana Life boss, Letegele. The post is new at the company.
Moorad, an insurance stalwart is likely to head the company when Letelege bids the firm goodbye early next year, sources have said. Moorad is a former manager at Zurich Insurance company.