KZN entrepreneur gets top post

Durban - KwaZulu-Natal entrepreneur Clive Manci, 38, has been appointed president of the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Manci, a former president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry and deputy president of the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci), was appointed to the new position during the national chamber’s annual conference in Joburg last week.

He became the youngest president of the Durban Chamber in 2009 and is former chairman of the North Coast development agency, Enterprise iLembe. He has a number of business interests and is also co-founder and executive chairman of Oteo Capital.

Reacting to his appointment, Manci said: “Undoubtedly, I am appreciative of the expressed confidence in my leadership. It is indeed a daunting task, but the vision is clear and Sacci is a strong organisation, with sound management.”

Sacci CEO Neren Rau said Manci was possibly the chamber’s youngest president, but that the strength of his leadership on the organisation’s board over the years had seen him rise to its most senior position.

“Clive has been one of the top three officers serving Sacci’s board in recent years and has served in the positions of deputy and vice-president. This has seen him also becoming the chamber’s representative at Business Unity SA in the position of vice-president,” he said.

“He follows in the footsteps of past president, Chose Cheou, who is an equally strong leader. Clive is young, dynamic and highly qualified with qualifications from Harvard and the London School of Business,” added Rau.

He said Manci’s appointment would add value to Sacci, particularly in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) arena, as he was an entrepreneur running a medium-sized business.

Manci has been appointed for a two-year term, but Rau said he could serve for up to four years because he could run for another term. He said the position was non-remunerative, which highlighted Manci’s commitment to make a difference in the SA business sector.

Meanwhile, Tinus Havenga, past president of the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business, retained his position on the Sacci board as another representative from KZN. The Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business was announced as the chamber of the year award winner at the Sacci conference. - The Mercury