Schneider Electric appoints new energy division director for southern Africa

Global specialist in energy management, Schneider Electric has appointed Canninah Mapena as director of its energy division, the largest business unit within the company in South Africa.

In her new role, Mapena will focus on customer relationship management, negotiations and deal closing within the utilities market, with particular attention on the mining, minerals and metals (MMM) and solar sectors, as well as the oil and gas market, a new avenue for the organisation at this level.

Mapena will report to Schneider Electric country president: southern Africa, Eric Léger and to the Energy business unit in France.

Previously commercial manager for utilities within the company, she managed all utilities accounts, as well as both the sales and transactional execution teams. In this capacity, she was also responsible for MV product promotions, customer relationship building and the client database.

Mapena has hands-on experience, having completed an electrical engineering technical diploma at Germiston Technical College and an advanced business management and BTech operations management degree at the University of Johannesburg.

Prior to joining Schneider Electric in 2008, she managed the ABB South Africa service departments over a period of 18 months, taking responsibility for a team of technicians, setting financial budgets and targets, implementing ISO 9001 quality management and marketing products to customers. She also has extensive experience in the site installation and commissioning of variable speed drives and in the training of technicians.

Says Eric Léger, Schneider Electric country president: southern Africa: “Canninah was carefully selected from our pipeline of talent and is more than ready to take up the challenge of her new position. I would like to wish her every success in her new position.”