The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company last month appointed Dr Nicholas Ndebele and Ms Stella Nkomo as the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) and deputy CEO respectively.
Up until his appointment, Dr Ndebele had been the company’s acting general manager while Ms Nkomo was the firm’s marketing and public relations manager. Dr Ndebele joined the ZITF Company in 2017 as a sales executive tasked with increasing gains in profit performance, revenue growth and market share across all the Company’s Strategic Business Units. He was appointed acting general manager in the following year.
In this role, he was credited with delivering one the most successful ZITF editions (2019) which attracted wide and critical acclaim from all stakeholders. More recently, he demonstrated capacity and leadership depth taking the company to profitability and guiding the company through one of the most tumultuous periods of its history; ensuring business survival and sustainable continuity despite the disruption on the business brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and the attendant knock-on effects.
Dr Ndebele holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD), majoring in Business Leadership from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) of the University of Pretoria. He is also a holder of an Executive Development Program (GIBS), an MSc Marketing (graduating with Distinction) from the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), MBA from Midlands State University, Post Graduate Diploma in PR (Nust) and a BBS Honours Degree from the University of Zimbabwe.
Dr Ndebele has over the years honed his business development skill-set through a long career in sales, marketing, key account management, and distribution while working at Delta Beverages (then Natbrew), Old Mutual, Population Services International, Telecel Zimbabwe, before joining ZITF.
Ms Nkomo is a holder of a Business Leadership Certificate, Zimbabwe Chartered Marketer, MSc Marketing (graduating with Distinction from Nust), BSc Journalism and Media Studies (Nust), Marketing Practitioner, and (Marketers Association Zimbabwe) and is also an MSc International Relations Student (UZ).
She has been with ZITF for over 14 years driving the marketing, communications and business development functions of the entity and will continue to manage that portfolio as well in addition to her new duties.
Ms Nkomo has been viewed as an accomplished events manager and coordinator specialising in exhibitions, conferences and events infrastructure management and has been instrumental in making sure that the ZITF Company’s exhibitions and events remain the biggest and effective platforms for business growth in the country.
She was also recently sworn in as a Gwanda State University councillor. Ms Nkomo has over the years held various positions as a Business Executive, Non-Executive Director, Board Member, Lecturer and experienced Marketing & Public Relations Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the events management industry.
She is skilled in Corporate Strategy, Business Planning, Event Management, Marketing strategy, Corporate Communications, and Management.
