Kahimise is new City CEO

Kahimise is new City CEO The two-year search for a new City of Windhoek CEO ended this week with the announcement that Robert Kahimise had accepted the job offer.

Kahimise is currently employed as the Erongo RED CEO and will assume his new position on 1 February 2017.

City spokesperson Joshua Amukugo confirmed the new appointment at a media briefing earlier this week.

Former CEO Niilo Taapopi served the municipality for two five-year terms and stepped down in December 2014. A drawn-out process to replace him started, culminating in a shortlist of potential candidates this year, including Kahimise.

Last month, Namdeb general manager Riaan Burger declined the offer to take over the position after the City was unable to match his current salary package.

In late November it was confirmed that Kahimise, the next potential candidate, had been made an offer.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Kahimise has been at Erongo RED since 2010, preceded by a six-year position at the Electricity Control Board and a one-year stint at Alexander Forbes.

He holds a MBA from the University of Stellenbosch, as well as a national diploma from the former Polytechnic of Namibia and a one-year certification from the University of Loughborough in the United Kingdom.

Last month, Sven Thieme, chairperson of the panel that had interviewed Kahimise, said the panel was hopeful he would accept and that they had full confidence in his ability to do the job.

JANA-MARI SMITH