TRADE and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) has a new CEO. The investment promotion agency announced the appointment this week of Neville Matjie to the post, a role he has filled in an acting capacity since March.
Since joining TIKZN in January 2004, Matjie headed the investment promotion and facilitation unit and during the credit crunch in 2008 established the business retention and expansion unit. Thereafter, he headed the export trade and development unit where programmes such as Export Week were conceived, and he assisted and led numerous KZN businesses in expanding their product reach into a number of African countries.
His last role was Executive Manager: Strategy and Operations, where he responsible for the entity’s corporate strategy, policy advocacy, stakeholder management and TIKZN Gauteng branch office.
Matjie holds a Master of Science in Investment Promotion and Local Economic Development from Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from North-West University.
Prior to joining TIKZN, Matjie served at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s International Trade and Research division.
According to a statement from TIKZN, Matjie “has wasted no time in hitting the ground running with a number of programmes lined up,” including preparing for a mission to the Russian Federation which will be led by MEC Sihle Zikalala at the end of October.
TIKZN Board Chairperson Ina Cronjé said of Matjie’s appointment: “Such commitment and demonstrated leadership ability holds promise for the untapped potential of the province to be unleashed.
“This most worthy appointment comes at a time when tough economic conditions prevail, unemployment is high and investment prospects uncertain. However, we are most confident that Matjie’s extensive expertise and leadership abilities will effectively deliver on TIKZN’s vision to be ‘your knowledge partner in business’.”