ROSSLYN, South Africa (6 June, 2013) – Nissan has announced the appointment of Charmaine Lemao as human resources director for South Africa.
Lemao, whose career started at Iscor (now Mittal Steel South Africa), joins Nissan’s board from Nampak Tissue where she was also HR Director.
“The automotive industry is vibrant and growing and Nissan as a company is currently doing very well,” said Lemao. “I am excited to help develop a workforce that will be able to meet the challenges of Power 88,” she adds, with reference to Nissan’s global vision of achieving 8% corporate operating profit and 8% worldwide market share by fiscal 2016.
“We envisage Charmaine making a significant contribution to reaching our goals in South Africa,” said Mike Whitfield, managing director Nissan SA, “and we look forward to her energy and fresh approach doing so.”
Lemeo’s appointment marks the appointment of the company’s first woman director.
Heading Nissan SA’s HR department and its sub-divisions, her portfolio includes training and development, recruitment, talent management and talent retention. As Lemao enters a new industry, she is ready for some of its challenges.
“Mining and industry laid a solid foundation for my professional development and also prepared me for working in a unionised environment,” she says. “I’m also familiar with historically male environments so while the automotive industry is new to me, working predominantly with men is not.”
Originally from Atteridgeville, North West of Pretoria, Lemao was schooled in the Northern Province and Pretoria. She studied at the University of Westville in KwaZulu-Natal and at the University of Johannesburg. She also completed an executive training programme through UNISA.
