Taking steady growing curves

Wetumwene Shikage Timothy Olivier’s passion and dedication has been a key driver in his success not only within Old Mutual, but throughout his career. Olivier is responsible for managing the company secretarial function for Old Mutual. His duties include managing board, committee, and annual general meetings, ensuring compliance with company law and regulations, facilitating director training, board and committee self-assessments, assisting with effective shareholder management, and providing legal and governance opinions where needed.Olivier was born in Walvis Bay during the early nineties, attended Swakopmund Primary School, and thereafter went to Namib High School. After matriculating, he took an unplanned gap year and worked at one of the banks as an enquiries clerk to gain working experience. He used this time to get clarity on his career and way forward.Olivier says this is where he realised he wanted to become an attorney. “Not like Frank from ‘How To Get Away With Murder’ or Alan from ‘Boston Legal’, but a corporate commercial attorney,” he says. This inspired him to pursue a LLB Degree at the University of Namibia (Unam) where he graduated in 2017. Intending to specialise in corporate commercial law, Olivier sought employment and completed his articles at one of the top commercial firms in the country: Engling, Stritter, and Partners (ESP). He says this ignited his passion for commercial law.After almost nine months in litigation and two years in the commercial department at ESP, he was admitted as a legal practitioner of the High Court of Namibia in September 2019. “I realised that it was time for me to explore my career options and work as a company secretary at FirstRand Namibia Limited. I was responsible for most of the regulated subsidiaries and assisted the group company secretary. Amongst other things, I was responsible for ensuring the various boards were duly constituted, monitoring director payments, drafting the governance report in the annual report, and providing professional advice and solutions on corporate governance matters,” he says. Navigating his career pathOlivier describes his career journey as an exciting roller-coaster ride, which started at the end of the planning and board meeting phases, which many describe as one of the most hectic times in the financial year. Despite this, Olivier says it was a great time to start as he was introduced to all board members, directors, and the executive management. About a year later, his manager entrusted him to be the acting group company secretary for FirstRand Namibia Limited, the second-highest listed company on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX). “This acting position was probably one of the most intense growing periods in my career. From just having to work with regulated subsidiaries and assisting on NSX listings requirement matters to having to know those requirements and all other legislated listed entity requirements on the tip of my fingers whilst managing board meetings and all director and executor expectations, I was thoroughly challenged, but in the best way possible,” he says. Just a few weeks after his acting period ended, Old Mutual Namibia called him to become their group company secretary, and he has been a part of the Old Mutual family ever since. Flying highOlivier says his career and journey is something which he is truly proud of. Olivier recalls many challenges throughout his career, but says he would rather see these challenges as growth opportunities, which speaks to his positive and determined attitude. “The biggest challenge when I entered the corporate world was corporate politics. No one teaches you about corporate politics and the dynamics thereof. I have burned my fingers a few times in the name of corporate politics, but I have indeed manoeuvred around it and surely learnt from it,” he says. Olivier’s journey speaks for itself: From starting with his admission to the High Court to working for FirstRand Namibia and its affiliates and later being called to be group company secretary at Old Mutual, all at the age of just 28. His passion, drive and determination will ensure Olivier’s journey remains bright and prosperous.

Taking steady growing curves

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Namibian Sun 2022-05-29

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Taking steady growing curves

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Namibian Sun 2022-05-29

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