By Darren Gilbert

What is the Cornerstones Executive Development Programme and its aim?

Through the Cornerstones Executive Development Programme, we would like to attract talent to Burson-Marsteller, building capacity, skills, development, and leadership and, ultimately, looking for the next CEO for Burson-Marsteller South Africa.

This programme is about equipping the next generation executive team with the leadership and business skills, and the confidence to manage Burson-Marsteller South Africa through on-the-job mentorship, structured training, and coaching over an 18 to 24 month period.

This programme, with its focus on leadership development, adds a new layer to our tried and tested Burson-Marsteller Africa Training Academy, which has led the industry with its Starting Blocks Internship Programme, ASSET Internal Training Programme, and portfolio of executive level training workshops for clients for over 25 years.

Why are you attempting to find a new CEO this way instead of appointing someone internally?

We have already selected three internal candidates to participate in the programme - Nkateko Khosa, Melba Geca, and Karl Haechler - but we are also looking for external candidates. It is about finding the best fit and ability to take the reigns as CEO of Burson-Marsteller South Africa at the end of the programme.

We could make an immediate appointment from our current executive team but, as a team, we are focused on building the next generation of leadership and ensuring that we provide valuable opportunities to them.

The vacancy for the next CEO does not need to be filled now. It is part our plan to contribute to next generation leadership candidates.

In the meantime, the South African team will be led by COO Ruth Kolevsohn, in conjunction with the strong executive team as an advisory board, bringing together combined experience of over 100 years, positioning them to provide strategic guidance to the next generation.

We believe it is a great opportunity for all those who will go through the programme, not only the one who is eventually be selected as the CEO.

What characteristics and skills does the next CEO need to possess?

The next CEO should have strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, thorough knowledge of communication practice, business development, and a passion for the profession.  

Our CEO candidate must have the reputation, credibility, and competence to take up the role, to show a deep understanding of the Burson-Marsteller business model and to own the vision. He or she will need to show a willingness to learn and adapt.

In addition, the candidate will need to prove a thorough understanding of the responsibilities of the CEO role and the willingness and ability to take it on. The new CEO will continue the partnership approach with our people – which has been a foundation block of the business since it started 28 years ago. 

They must be caring about the people within the firm and put the organisation above themselves. The candidate should be happy to give others the credit. And, of course, oversee and deliver the company's performance.

What can candidates who take part in this programme expect?

The existing executive team will be instrumental and central to the training and development.

The candidates will learn from the stalwarts of the industry including myself; Kolevshohn, who is the current COO of Burson-Marsteller South Africa; Lyn Fourie, who has assisted me in building the Burson-Marsteller Africa Network; as well as Bridget von Holdt, a recent appointment to Burson-Marsteller who has run a PR practice for over 30 years, working in all sectors across all practice areas.

In addition to the on-the-job mentorship, the candidates will receive structured training augmented by external companies that already work with corporates in executive coaching programmes and will design a programme specifically for Cornerstones, in partnership with the Burson-Marsteller EMEA head of HR.

For more information, and to apply, visit bm-africa.com.

Read more about Bridget von Holdt in our article, Spotlighting ICCO’s new African region president, Bridget von Holdt.