The day troubled tech firm EOH announced Stephen van Coller as new CEO, its share price leapt 22%, adding R1.3bn to its market capitalisation. That’s some appointment. Currently MTN’s group vice-president for digital services, Van Coller is best known for his decade at the helm of Barclays Africa’s corporate and investment bank, which grew new legs under his watch. Before that he spent almost 10 years at Deutsche Bank, where he was head of its global banking business in SA. It’s tempting to say EOH has found a knight to save it from the perils of declining confidence and the poisoned chalice of having won government contracts during the Gupta-led years of state capture. Certainly, Van Coller has a solid reputation as a smart, talented executive with a record of stringent corporate governance. Already, some steps have been taken in the right direction. EOH has sold the 2015 acquisitions that resulted in the revelations and is trying to rebuild its reputation. A complicated margin cal...

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