2015-10-21Staff Report 2 Windhoek The Namibian Institute of Bankers (IOB) council is hunting for a new chief executive officer (CEO), after the incumbent CEO fell out with both staff and students who were dissatisfied with his alleged draconian style of management. Recently irate IOB students, accompanied by Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) members that included its president, Wilhlem Wilhelm, and in the presence of the police, expressed their dissatisfaction with the management style of the acting CEO of IOB, John-Day Mande. Although IOB chairperson Ipumbu Shiimi was not available for comment, this newspaper was reliably informed Mandey’s term of office will end in December. When contacted for comment on Monday, Mandey said brusquely: “This newspaper has in the past written defamatory remarks without getting comment from me. So why should I comment now?” IOB students had in the past petitioned that a person with a master’s or PhD degree in education and administration be appointed, whom they said can be interviewed and scrutinised by the IOB council and its examination committee. However, the IOB council placed an advert on Friday in a local newspaper seeking a qualified person with a minimum five years’ banking experience, and at least three years at senior management level in the banking and financial services industry. To the students’ disappointment, such a person should also possess a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree in the field of banking, education, accounting or business management, or an IOB qualification. IOB SRC president, Simson Nangolo, who has been at the forefront of having Mandey dismissed, said he was pleased to announce to the IOB student community, Nanso and other stakeholders that the CEO’s term ends in December. He said that since March this year IOB students stood fearless to demand his removal. “Students pushed for Mandey’s removal because he has a high degree of autocratic leadership style and a high level of negligence towards IOB and also lacks interest. He is old (70 years) and forgetful and has poor communication skills,” Nangolo charged. “As students we are happy, though not entirely happy because the advert requirement is not in agreement per petition handed to the council president and governor of the Bank of Namibia (Shiimi). The requirement was to have someone with a master’s degree in education and administration,” Nangolo reacted. Further, he said that although IOB is an initiative for bankers it is worrisome that students are not offered internships at the institute. “They say charity begins at home, but it does not begin at home with IOB. Internship is the first step in a student’s career and if no solid foundation is laid, then it is a compromise on the quality of our education which will eventually lead to the collapse of the institute due to institutional carelessness and administrative negligence,” he noted. The students are hopeful the incoming CEO will transform and spearhead the institute to contribute to the country’s banking sector. 2015-10-21Staff Report 2
