Brian Dames
Photo by: Duane Daws
Eskom CEO Brian Dames has resigned from the position for personal reasons and will depart at the end of March.
Dames has spent 25 years at Eskom and took over from former CEO Jacob Maroga in July 2010, following Maroga's acrimonious dispute with his board and then chairperson Bobby Godsell.
Eskom chairperson Zola Tsotsi praised Dames for his role in stabilising the organisation during a period of accute supply shortages and described his departure as a "great loss".
He also said that a process had been initiated to find a suitable replacement, but added that Dames would remain in his post until March 31, 2014.
"Both the board and Brian will work together to ensure a smooth transition to a new chief executive. The process of finding a successor, in fact, is already under way and we expect to conclude it timeously."
In response to questions as to whether he felt pressured to resign in light of delays to Eskom's build programme, as well as other organisational challenges, Dames stressed that it was his own decision and that it he was "absolutely not pressurised" to make it.
Tsotsi also announced the appointment of a new permanent FD, Tsholofelo Molefe, who will take over from Caroline Henry, who had been acting in the position since the resignation of former FD Paul O'Flaherty.
O'Flaherty stepped down in July after serving as FD of the power utility for three-and-a-half years.