Chamber CEO retires

AS the end of his time as CEO of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry approaches, Andrew Layman said he has learnt a lot during his time in the business sector.

“I came to Durban Chamber in late January 2011 and will have had four years here when I leave on 31 January. It has been very good for me to have the challenge of this job at the tail end of my career. I have not had time, nor inclination, to be complacent, and just at the moment I feel I have had to work as hard as at any time in my whole career,” he said.

Andrew said he considered himself very fortunate as he has had two distinct careers, and both have been extremely rewarding in terms of fulfilment and their intellectual content.

Andrew was a school teacher and headmaster for 30 years. He is an alumnus of University of Natal and in 2012 graduated with M Com (Leadership) at UKZN. He is not the retiring type and will be looking for ways to continue to use his experience and skills after he leaves the Chamber.

“In 17 years, I have learnt a great deal about business and economics to supplement what I knew about education. While I am looking forward to being released from agendas over which I do not have much control, and, perhaps, being able to work fewer hours each day. I must remain active and busy and I hope that I will find suitable work where I can continue making some contribution to the business affairs of the day and provide services which companies may value, such as report-writing, facilitation of meetings, some consultancy work and so on,” he said.

Andrew said he was particularly keen to mentor young people, to continue writing and to getting engagements as a public speaker.

“I have no regrets. My working life has been good to me,” he said.

Mrs Dumile Cele has been appointed as the CEO designate to succeed Andrew in February 2015. She is currently the Chamber’s Manager of Business Services.