Classic Business

Sikonathi Mantshantsha, spokesperson for Eskom

Nick Kunze, portfolio manager at Sanlam Private Wealth & David Oberholzer, equity analyst at Nitrogen Fund Managers

Owen Maubane, CEO of Senatla Capital & Gareth Leck, CEO Joe Public UnitedIn this weekly feature Michael Avery gets up close and personal with South Africa’s business and political economy leaders, to uncover what makes them tick, keeps them up at night and keeps them going through the Covid storm. This week Avery caught up with Owen Maubane, CEO of Senatla Capital and Gareth Leck, CEO Joe Public Unitet, to talk about a recently inked deal that sees Joe Public United become the largest black owned independent agency in the country.

CEO Kobus Verster

Raymond Parsons, from School of Business and Governance at North West University

"I see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished." "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."

The words, immortalised by US President Franklin Roosevelt during his second inaugural address on January 20th, 1937, find particular resonance in South Africa in 2020 as the country, which entered the global coronavirus pandemic on the back of two recession in as many years, looks to find inspiration for an economic recovery with its own New Deal.

Michael Avery sits down with Neale Hill, managing director of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, to talk about leadership lessons learned through this crisis.

Tourism and hospitality remains the sector most severely impacted by Covid 19 and the government’s regulations in response to curbing the spread of the virus. We are approaching the usually busy summer season, TERS has only been extended for a few more weeks, borders aren’t open, and insurers have started to come to the party, reluctantly for now. But tour operators are suffering. Events companies are battling to adapt. And SA's tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane believes many businesses in the sector won't survive the pandemic.

To mark the 150th episode of the Brandfather with Jeremy Sampson MD of Brand Finance Africa, Michael Avery announces a special webinar with Brand South Africa, partnering with Classic Business and Brand Finance Africa to bring you “Brands Beyond COVID-19” “I think its important for brands to understand how to preserve and retain value through the pandemic and into the future,” says Sampson. The webinar will look at the ranking of the Top 50 brands and will delve into what makes Standard Bank, Old Mutual and MTN such strong performers in the market. It will also look at the movement in the Top 50 and will take a look at the financial value erosion caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also give some pointers as to how brands can preserve and retain value through the pandemic and into the future. One of the special panel guests will be Andisa Ntsubane, interim chief marketing officer at Old Mutual.

Prof Adrian Puren, head of the Centre for HIV and STIs at NICD

Francis Marais, head of research at Glacier by Sanlam