Johannesburg - IBM South Africa, a branch of the international technology company, said late last week it had appointed a South African to head up the company in line with IBM's commitment to developing local talent.
A year ago IBM was criticised locally by industry speakers for a lack of commitment to its empowerment objectives.
At the time five black IBM employees had resigned; four of those were at executive level, and four were involved in black economic empowerment initiatives. Internal and external IBM sources said the executives left after being disillusioned with IBM's empowerment exercises.
However, Dennis Hearon, the outgoing country manager of IBM South Africa, said the loss of key people had been hard but that IBM's priorities were still in place.
Hearon worked an extra six months after his original contract in South Africa and kept his promise of ensuring that a South African national would take the helm of the local chapter.
Mark Harris will succeed him as the new general manager. Hearon had at one point feared IBM would have to hire talent from outside of the company to take on the leadership role.
Harris had been the operations director for the company, and been with IBM for 19 years.
Harris' appointment was effective immediately and Hearon said he would remain in South Africa for a handover period.
Harris said he was looking forward to the challenge of taking the top spot and to continuing Hearon's initiatives, which would include trying to maintain IBM's position in the local marketplace.
Hearon believed the company was in good hands, having worked with Harris throughout his term in South Africa.
He said IBM South Africa would be well positioned to provide customers with the best business solutions and services to help South Africa compete successfully in the e-business era of the global economy.