Knott-Craig to hang up his gloves
He is credited with building the cellphone provider from nothing 14 years ago into an enterprise worth well over R100bn.
Knott-Craig intimates that he would like the company’s shareholders, the UK’s Vodafone and SA fixed-line operator Telkom, to let him leave before his contract expires in 2009. “There has to be life beyond Vodacom,” he told the FM last week.
Knott-Craig, who has suffered a number of heart attacks in the past few years, says he believes Vodacom has a capable management team which can keep the group on its growth path. “We have strong first- and second-tier management in this company,” he says.
“Whether I’m here or not, it doesn’t matter a damn. The company is in good shape to run without me. It’s just a matter of shareholders saying it’s time you took a break and it would be really nice to take a break.”
Analysts say potential successors include Vodacom SA MD Shameel Joosub, chief operating officer Pieter Uys and commercial director Peter Matlare. Joosub and Uys both worked their way up through the Vodacom ranks; Matlare is a former CEO of the SABC.
Irnest Kaplan of Kaplan Equity Analysts says Knott Craig’s planned departure is bad news for Vodacom, no matter how strong the team he has built around him.
“He’s got an incredible understanding of the industry and he’s well respected because he just gets down and does the work,” Kaplan says.
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