Sasol, situated in Gauteng, has named South African executive Muriel Dube as its new chairman, succeeding Stephen Westwell, who resigned in May 2024.
Westwell, who had served on Sasol’s board for 12 years, took over after Sipho Nkosi stepped down as chair at the end of 2023. Dube’s nomination, effective Friday, September 13, 2024, signals a significant leadership transfer as Sasol navigates a developing energy market.
Dube will leave her prior posts as chair of Sasol’s Safety, Social, and Ethics Committee, as well as her involvement on the Audit and Capital Investment Committees, to completely devote herself to her new duty.
The board expressed confidence in Dube’s leadership, citing her broad expertise and ability to manage Sasol’s strategic objectives. “We are pleased to pass the reins to someone of Muriel’s calibre and are confident she will provide the direction needed as Sasol intensifies its efforts toward building a sustainable future business,” the board of directors announced.
Muriel Dube joined Sasol’s board in 2018 as an independent non-executive director. Her academic credentials include an M.Sc. in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford University, as well as degrees in Human Sciences and Politics. Dube’s career is distinguished by her competence in sustainability, finance, and leadership.
She has held key positions in climate change discussions, including Chief Negotiator for South Africa under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Director of Atmospheric Protection and Chemicals Management at the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
In addition to her official duties, Dube has worked for two of South Africa’s most renowned firms, Bidvest Group and Investec Plc, and was previously CEO of Nozala Investments. Her non-executive directorships include Vodacom South Africa, Bidvest Group, PG Group, and UK Infrastructure Bank, where she is now a board member.
Her appointment comes at a critical time for Sasol, which is reinventing itself in the energy market by growing its natural gas activities. As part of its overall strategy to stabilize and improve its market presence, the company intends to boost gas deliveries to more than 300 South African clients and use gas to generate electricity. The shift to natural gas is consistent with Sasol’s sustainability objectives and efforts to address the energy transition.
The leadership transition coincides with Sasol’s recent financial woes. The business reported a loss of R56.7 billion ($3.2 billion), its first since 2020, due to devaluations in the US and South African operations. The results have fueled calls for strategic changes, and Dube’s appointment ushers in a new era in response to the company’s operational and financial issues.
