The company said in a statement this morning that the South African operation will be led by VP of sales, Gert Schoonbee, from next month. Schoonbee has been with the company for more than a decade, while Van der Walt-Korsten has been with the local unit for 14 years, six of which as MD.
T-Systems is a division of German-based Deutsche Telekom. It has offices in 20 countries and more than 48 000 staff globally. The group turned over €9.2 billion in the 2010 financial year.
Baby steps
The company has now expanded its regional approach to include a specific Africa and Middle East region separate to the previous Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) operation. Van der Walt-Korsten explains T-Systems will follow a customer-focused approach and carefully select territories into which to expand.
Van der Walt-Korsten says the company will do a detailed analysis of its customers that are moving into Africa, growth economies, possible partnerships, and determine carefully selected new territories.
Van der Walt-Korsten will be based in Midrand and will mostly be responsible for exploring opportunities for growth in Africa. She will also chair the T-Systems SA board.
Defend and grow
However, SA will remain the “crown jewel” in the region for quite some time, says Van der Walt-Korsten.
Schoonbee says, while Africa is important, T-Systems will take a careful approach to expansion and will not lose sight of the South African market. He explains a separate office will be set up so that the company can remain 100% focused on SA, and defend and grow its market share.
Schoonbee`s first priority will be to ensure customer retention, which will require innovation and market-making initiatives, he says.
T-Systems SA recently inked a R2.58 billion outsourcing deal with Old Mutual.
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