The phrase a "safe pair of hands" is one of those half compliments. It is the star batsmen and bowlers, after all, who win the game, not the wicket keepers. But in business there is something to be said for an executive who has no pretensions to rock star status and knows that business is 90% perspiration.
Iain Williamson, Old Mutual’s current CEO, has often been described as one of the business world’s wicket keepers. He has none of the mercurial brilliance of his former colleague, Paul Hanratty, who now runs Sanlam. But then, Mutual already has a rock star in its chair, Trevor Manuel. When Peter Moyo was Old Mutual’s CEO it was clear that there was no room for two bulls in the pen, and Moyo resigned on the grounds of a conflict of interest, which the Old Mutual board knew about all along...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.