More women at the helm at EWE

Will soon also say farewell to long-serving sales and marketing manager, Mr Shane Westerdale

Erongo Marine Enterprises (Pty) Ltd (“EME”) announces the appointment of Ms Kuda Hartzenberg as its new Finance and Marketing Manager, effective 1st June 2021, as well as the appointment of Ms Gisela Gawases to the position of Sales Representative, effective 1st May 2021.

EME is a Namibian fishing company and subsidiary of the Oceana Group, the largest fishing company in Africa with dual listing on the JSE and NSX.
Ms Hartzenberg’s appointment follows the retirement of EME’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Mr Shane Westerdale, who has been with the company for 27 years. Mr Westerdale’s dedication and commitment during his career at EME has greatly contributed to the company’s esteemed reputation as one of Namibia’s most credible, stable and preferred suppliers of horse mackerel pro-ducts to local, SADC, African and other international markets.
In her new role, Ms Hartzenberg will oversee the company’s sales, marketing and finance functions. One of her primary roles is to maintain and strengthen the high standard of client relationships the company has with its local and export clients. Key functions also include exploring innovative ways of increasing local fish consumption and developing new foreign markets.
Ms Hartzenberg has over 19 years of work experience of which she spent in the following industries: financial services, oil and gas, mining, marine engineering, and fast consumer moving goods (FCMG) where she held positions from management accountant to senior management roles. She holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting (University of Namibia), MBA (University of Stellenbosch Business School), and Advanced Diploma Management Accounting (CIMA UK) and has completed the International Executive Development Program (IEDP) with the University of Witwatersrand Business School in partnership with the London Business School and Bangalore Business School in India.
As a proud mother of three children and driven career woman, Ms Hartzenberg is no stranger to successfully juggling mother-hood with a professional life. Ms Hartzenberg expresses herself in terms of her personal drivers as follow: “My main objective is to be a motivational leader and contribute to the success of an organisation by creating value for all its various stakeholders.”
Ms Gisela Gawases, newly appointed as EME Sales Representative, will take on a supportive role to the Finance and Marketing Manager. She also brings with her a wealth of experience gained over more than 20 years in the fishing industry, of which 15 years are in the Sales and Marketing space. She started out as a general worker at a fishing factory in 1999 and has diligently worked her way up through the ranks whilst being a caring mother for her three children. She completed her Diploma in Marketing Management whilst working as a receptionist, which afforded her the opportunity to be promoted into higher positions including Trader and Sales Administrator.
Her determination, passion and can-do attitude serve as an inspiration to all women in the fishing sector.
Prior to joining EME, Ms Gawases worked as a Sales Representative, selling horse mackerel locally and in our African markets.
“These appointments clearly illustrate the company’s strong stance on gender inclusivity and women empowerment in a traditionally male dominated industry. I am proud of the fact that more than fifty percent of the company’s executive management team comprises strong, dynamic women,” says Dr Martha Uumati, EME Managing Director. She notes that re-search has proven that performances of diverse teams are usually more effective, which is evident at the company.
“While EME has made progress toward gender diversity at executive management level, we would like to see similar progress at our vessel management level and continue to invest in leadership development programmes. We constantly encourage females to take up technical roles in the fishing industry,” Dr Uumati says.
Collectively Ms Hartzenberg and Ms Gawases bring vast experience and entrepreneurial and strategic management skills that will add value to the EME team and the company’s motto to “empower, equip and transform”.
EME welcomes Ms Hartzenberg and Ms Gawases to the company and wish them all the best in their endeavours.