Rumblings over NamPost acting chief executive

DISSATISFACTION is rife among senior employees at NamPost after they discovered that the acting Chief Executive Officer, Johan Claasen, was not appointed by the full Board of Directors.

The Namibian has established that some Board members only found out about Claasen’s appointment when it was reported in the media. Concerns have also been raised about his remuneration.Approachedfor comment, NamPost Board Chairman Sebby Kankondi declined to answer questions forwarded to him.”We have serious business to look after and will not spend time reacting to allegations from undisclosed resources (sic),” Kankondi wrote in reply to e-mailed questions.Information that reached The Namibian indicated that the Board had decided that two general managers at the postal company be appointed to act for six months each until a new CEO was appointed and that Claasen be brought in as a corporate advisor.The Board had also agreed that Claasen be put on the same salary scale as the former CEO, Hermanus Kasper.However, some Board members and senior employees were shocked when the announcement about Claasen’s appointment in an acting CEO capacity appeared in the media.No records exist that such a decision was taken at Board level.Sources, who declined to be named, claim that Claasen brought in his wife as personal assistant, pushing the former CEO’s assistant “into a corner without work”.In a memo to senior staff, Claasen said his wife was there at no cost to the company.Senior staff members are particularly irked by a memo Claasen sent out demanding that whoever refused to work with him should resign.Kankondi, who is also Managing Director of NamPort, refused to discuss Board issues with The Namibian.”Mr Maletsky, we, at the Board, are fully aware of corporate governance and mindful of our fiduciary responsibility and due care.All decisions that we made are and will be in the best interest of the company,” he said.Former CEO Kasper resigned in February.He gave three months’ notice.Senior staff members argued that this gave the Board enough time to appoint someone in an acting capacity while advertising and interviewing candidates.Sources claim that Claasen does not have a work permit.Kankondi refused to comment.Concerns have also been raised about his remuneration.Approachedfor comment, NamPost Board Chairman Sebby Kankondi declined to answer questions forwarded to him.”We have serious business to look after and will not spend time reacting to allegations from undisclosed resources (sic),” Kankondi wrote in reply to e-mailed questions.Information that reached The Namibian indicated that the Board had decided that two general managers at the postal company be appointed to act for six months each until a new CEO was appointed and that Claasen be brought in as a corporate advisor.The Board had also agreed that Claasen be put on the same salary scale as the former CEO, Hermanus Kasper.However, some Board members and senior employees were shocked when the announcement about Claasen’s appointment in an acting CEO capacity appeared in the media.No records exist that such a decision was taken at Board level.Sources, who declined to be named, claim that Claasen brought in his wife as personal assistant, pushing the former CEO’s assistant “into a corner without work”.In a memo to senior staff, Claasen said his wife was there at no cost to the company.Senior staff members are particularly irked by a memo Claasen sent out demanding that whoever refused to work with him should resign.Kankondi, who is also Managing Director of NamPort, refused to discuss Board issues with The Namibian.”Mr Maletsky, we, at the Board, are fully aware of corporate governance and mindful of our fiduciary responsibility and due care.All decisions that we made are and will be in the best interest of the company,” he said.Former CEO Kasper resigned in February.He gave three months’ notice.Senior staff members argued that this gave the Board enough time to appoint someone in an acting capacity while advertising and interviewing candidates.Sources claim that Claasen does not have a work permit.Kankondi refused to comment.