Adila Chowan: I fought for women
Chowan says Mark Lamberti’s possibly forced resignation is ‘incredibly sad’ because he could have resolved the matter ‘rationally’
When Adila Chowan first laid her grievance about Mark Lamberti referring to her as "female employment equity" in front of a room of senior managers, all she wanted was an apology. He’d told her: "You’re black, you’re female, you’re employment equity, you’re technically competent, I would like to keep you but if you want to go, go." But Lamberti’s response to the racism and sexism grievance Chowan laid in response to the comment — and the resultant legal action — has ended up costing one of SA’s corporate giants his position as Imperial CEO, and arguably, his legacy. In the days before Lamberti stepped down from a position he’d held since 2014, he’d also resigned as a board member for Eskom, and Business Leadership SA.A day before he fell on his sword as Imperial CEO, Lamberti finally sent Chowan a one-line apology, saying he was sorry for "any hurt my words caused you". But the apology had come far to late — and failed, as a consequence, to acknowledge that Chowan’s case had become ...
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