SBL staff meets new acting CEO

On Friday 20 January 2012 the Unisa SBL staff members met the new acting CEO & Executive Director of the SBL, Prof V Clapper. He will be acting in this position from 1 February and will hold the position for approximately 6 months. Prof Clapper, currently the Deputy Executive Dean of the College of Economic and Management studies (CEMS) was accompanied by Prof MC Maré, Unisa Vice-Principal Academic: Teaching and Learning.Prof Maré reiterated the fact that various changes have taken place Unisa and that it is important to have a unified culture within the university as a whole. She also reminded the SBL staff that various challenges lay ahead for the SBL with regards to leadership expectations and opportunities.Upon addressing the staff Prof Clapper assured them that he is committed to better the current ranking of the SBL as business school in South Africa and internationally. He told staff that his aim is to work closer with Unisa without compromising the current the autonomy of the SBL. Prof Clapper told staff that the SBL will be managed in the spirit of servant leadership and the Transformation Charter of Unisa that will form the foundation of the strategy of the School. This strategy will not only focus on the upcoming 6 months but will be driven, with long term achievements in mind.He said that he recognises the fact that each member of the SBL team has their own talents and skills and motivated staff with the assurance that all these skills will be important in reaching SBL goals.Prof Clapper joined Unisa in 2009 after a working at TUT for several years. He was also a member of Unisa staff from 1995 – 1999. He takes over the position from Prof D Abdulai who will be leaving the SBL after five years.