MechChem Africa January 2017

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

Cummins positions for African growth

On December 1, 2016, Thierry Pimi was formally introduced to the press as the new MD for Cummins’ Southern Africa’s regional distribution business. MechChem Africa attends and reports.

social responsibility role of companies operating in Africa, he says: “Cummins believes in giving back to the community. Corporate responsibility is big thing for us. “On a personal level, I am part of the Africa Social Responsibility Council and in that role I am proud to announce that, fromJanuary2017, wewill start to roll out ourprogrammefortechnicaleducationfor communities, the third roll out for Africa followingMorocco andNigeria. Cummins, in partnership with local education pro- viders, will invest in a curriculum and re- sources to augment communitymembers’ employment potential,” he reveals. Areas of interest include practical artisan skills such as electrical wiring and engine repair, as well as basic business skillsandprofessionalbehaviour.“Ourrole is not to train these people for our own needs but simply to augment their general employment potential,” Pimi notes. In closing, Pimi expresses gratitude to Cummins’ customers. “Our commitment is that the support wewill make available to customers in Africa will be no different to that on offer in Australia or the USA or on any other continent in the world. “We intend to deliver the service we believe all of our customers deserve and wewill be investingheavily to support that goal,” he says. When asked about his immediate pri- orities, he responds, “to create credibility and to develop talent”. He cites three aspects to local tal- ent development: “Hiring good people, developing them and empowering them to deliver”. From a customer credibility perspec- tive, Pimi believes it all about delivery. “We strive to solve customers problems – and the challenges are sometimes bigger in Africa. But the team is strong and we intend to reinforce that team to exceed customer expectations. “Wearestrivingtomotivateourpeople to take ownership, so that they deliver high standards while enjoying working for Cummins,” concludes the newregional distribution MD for Cummins Southern Africa. q

is nowhere in the world I would rather be. While the continent presents big challenges, it also offers huge opportuni- ties and, as an African, I look forward to contributing to developing our beloved continent,” he says. AddressingCumminsbusinessoutlook, he says that Cummins was founded in a small town called Columbus in Southern Indiana, USA. “Today, we are the largest diesel and natural gas engine manu- facturer in the world. We are a global company with manufacturing facilities in 135 countries, more than 7 300 points of customer support and a market cap of around US$20-billion. “Back when I was a student, Cummins was already thinking about investing in my home country. The company plays in the heart of what is needed in Africa to- day: infrastructure development, power generation and minerals extraction. We are a central player in all these arenas,” he believes. Split into four separate business units: the engine business; power systems; components; and distribution, Pimi says: “Engines is the mother of our company, but it is the distribution business that is striving to make Cummins products ubiq- uitous all over the world. My role here is to lead the Southern African distribution business, which includesmostly the SADC countries, Tanzania and the countries south of the DRC.” In Southern Africa, Pimi sees strong opportunities in the construction of infrastructure; mining and materials handling; power generation; marine and other industries. “Where things are not going well, we see opportunities to solve problems and do better, and where they are going well, we look for ongoing im- provements, better efficiencies and more sustainable business opportunities,” he tells MechChem Africa . Turning attention to the important

Thierry Pimi and his wife, Yannick.

“ I was born and raised in Camer- oon, just around the corner,” Pimi begins. “Cameroon is in the heart of Africa, in the corner between Central andWest Africa anda vertical axis through easternCameroon divides Africa into two equal halves. “I am proud to be back in Africa. There

Thierry Pimi Born and raised in Cameroon, Thierry Pimi com- pletedamechanicalengineeringdegreein1999at YaoundéUniversity inCameroon before starting his career in Africa as a field engineer in the oil and gas industry. Following a stint in operations management and factory re-engineering for British American Tobacco, in 2004 he took up an opportunity in Canada for AEC. He joined Cummins in June 2008 as a corpo- rate strategy manager, became the company’s mining manager for the African engine business in 2010 and was promoted to general manager of aftermarket distribution for North and West Africa in 2013. In September of 2016, he was appointed to his current post, MD of regional distribution for Southern Africa. Aswell as hisBScMechEngdegree, Pimi holds an MBA in finance and strategy from Indiana University and a Certificate of Mining Studies from the University of British Columbia. He is alsoagraduateoftheCumminsGlobalLeadership Programme in Johannesburg.

“Where things are not going well, we see opportunities to solve problems and do better, and where they are going well, we look for ongoing improvements, better efficiencies and more sustainable business opportunities,” he tells MechChem Africa.

36 ¦ MechChem Africa • January 2017