Aiming to create a sustainable capacity for the next eight years.
Pottie de Bruyn is the general manager of CCBA Namibia.
Michelline Nawatises
Pull Quote: You cannot do this job if you don’t have a passion for people, the brands, and the customers/consumers! - Pottie de Bruyn, general manager of CCBA Namibia
Pottie de Bruyn is leading the team of CCBA (Coca-Cola Beverages Africa) in Namibia and is a leader with a clear vision of what is to be achieved and the ability to motivate people to work towards achieving that purpose.
He qualified as a biology and science teacher with an environmental education qualification, and then attained a postgraduate marketing diploma from UNISA and joined CCBA 24 years ago.
He was recently appointed as general manager of CCBA Namibia but has over 20 years of experience in the business.
“I have learned a lot of new things and unlearned a lot of things. You don’t need to be a genius; doing the right thing is always right,” De Bruyn says. He believes that you cannot do this job if you don’t have a passion for people, the brands and the customers.
De Bruyn says one of his biggest achievements is that Namibia achieved Country of Year for three years in a row.
His short-term goals for CCBA Namibia for the next two years is to improve their customer service and create sustainable capacity for the next eight years.
When it comes to CCBA Namibia, De Bruyn has been most proud of the company which was built on the shoulders of giants that came before him and the current team. “CCBA Namibia is in the DNA of Namibia and her people,” he says proudly.
When asked which of the company’s key sustainability goals and initiatives are closest to his heart, De Bruyn said CCBA Namibia believes that sustainability goals make business sense.
“PET recycling is one of our key sustainable focus areas. PET, which stands for polyethene terephthalate, is a form of polyester (just like the clothing fabric). It is extruded or moulded into plastic bottles and containers for packaging foods and beverages, personal care products, and many other consumer products. That, and water sustainability, are our biggest focus areas, in which we are making huge strides.
“Women are significant contributors to the Coca-Cola system around the world and seen as key enablers in societies. We therefore sponsor programmes that address specific business barriers that women entrepreneurs face,” he adds.
His day sometimes starts with a bit of exercise, and site walks when he arrives at work. “I like to deep-dive into reports on my own, to develop questions and new data points for consideration and interrogation. One must test your own version and perception of the truth as often as possible,” De Bruyn says.
Facts about Pottie de Bruyn
1. Born and raised Namibian.
2. He cannot imagine living anywhere else.
3. Having an only daughter makes him view women in leadership from a different perspective.
4. He does not appreciate fake people.
5. He does not forgive lies.
6. De Bruyn appreciates solitude and silence in nature and old church buildings.
7. He is always prepared to take the consequences of the truth; be it good or bad.
8. He believes the world is nothing without mothers.
9. He distrusts social media 100%.
10. To understand anything/anyone in life, just “follow the money”.
When he is not busy in the office, De Bruyn puts his hand to making knives. “I wish I could one day make a folding pocketknife,” he says. He also collects old paraffin pressure lanterns and he continuously tries to learn new things.
The one thing he would have wanted to tell his younger self is not to focus so far ahead of what you want to achieve that you miss the opportunities right in front of you, or just to the side of your vision.
Pull Quote: You cannot do this job if you don’t have a passion for people, the brands, and the customers/consumers! - Pottie de Bruyn, general manager of CCBA Namibia
Pottie de Bruyn is leading the team of CCBA (Coca-Cola Beverages Africa) in Namibia and is a leader with a clear vision of what is to be achieved and the ability to motivate people to work towards achieving that purpose.
He qualified as a biology and science teacher with an environmental education qualification, and then attained a postgraduate marketing diploma from UNISA and joined CCBA 24 years ago.
He was recently appointed as general manager of CCBA Namibia but has over 20 years of experience in the business.
“I have learned a lot of new things and unlearned a lot of things. You don’t need to be a genius; doing the right thing is always right,” De Bruyn says. He believes that you cannot do this job if you don’t have a passion for people, the brands and the customers.
De Bruyn says one of his biggest achievements is that Namibia achieved Country of Year for three years in a row.
His short-term goals for CCBA Namibia for the next two years is to improve their customer service and create sustainable capacity for the next eight years.
When it comes to CCBA Namibia, De Bruyn has been most proud of the company which was built on the shoulders of giants that came before him and the current team. “CCBA Namibia is in the DNA of Namibia and her people,” he says proudly.
When asked which of the company’s key sustainability goals and initiatives are closest to his heart, De Bruyn said CCBA Namibia believes that sustainability goals make business sense.
“PET recycling is one of our key sustainable focus areas. PET, which stands for polyethene terephthalate, is a form of polyester (just like the clothing fabric). It is extruded or moulded into plastic bottles and containers for packaging foods and beverages, personal care products, and many other consumer products. That, and water sustainability, are our biggest focus areas, in which we are making huge strides.
“Women are significant contributors to the Coca-Cola system around the world and seen as key enablers in societies. We therefore sponsor programmes that address specific business barriers that women entrepreneurs face,” he adds.
His day sometimes starts with a bit of exercise, and site walks when he arrives at work. “I like to deep-dive into reports on my own, to develop questions and new data points for consideration and interrogation. One must test your own version and perception of the truth as often as possible,” De Bruyn says.
Facts about Pottie de Bruyn
1. Born and raised Namibian.
2. He cannot imagine living anywhere else.
3. Having an only daughter makes him view women in leadership from a different perspective.
4. He does not appreciate fake people.
5. He does not forgive lies.
6. De Bruyn appreciates solitude and silence in nature and old church buildings.
7. He is always prepared to take the consequences of the truth; be it good or bad.
8. He believes the world is nothing without mothers.
9. He distrusts social media 100%.
10. To understand anything/anyone in life, just “follow the money”.
When he is not busy in the office, De Bruyn puts his hand to making knives. “I wish I could one day make a folding pocketknife,” he says. He also collects old paraffin pressure lanterns and he continuously tries to learn new things.
The one thing he would have wanted to tell his younger self is not to focus so far ahead of what you want to achieve that you miss the opportunities right in front of you, or just to the side of your vision.
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