Sasol names South African executive Muriel Dube as new chair amid strategic shift

Omokolade Ajayi -
Key Points
  • Sasol appoints Muriel Dube as chairman, effective Sept. 13, 2024, signaling a major leadership transition for the group.
  • Dube brings expertise in sustainability, finance, and leadership, having held roles at Sasol, Vodacom, Investec, Bidvest, and the UN climate negotiations.
  • Sasol faces financial challenges, with a $3.2-billion loss, and Dube’s leadership is expected to guide its shift toward natural gas and sustainability.

Gauteng-based energy and chemicals group Sasol has appointed South African executive Muriel Dube as its new chairman, following the resignation of Stephen Westwell in May 2024. 

Westwell, who had served 12 years on Sasol’s board, took the helm after Sipho Nkosi stepped down as chair at the end of 2023. Dube’s appointment, effective from Fri., Sept. 13, 2024, marks a major leadership transition as Sasol focuses on navigating an evolving energy market.

Dube will vacate her previous positions as chair of Sasol's Safety, Social and Ethics Committee, as well as her roles in the Audit Committee and Capital Investment Committee, to fully dedicate herself to her new position.

The board expressed confidence in Dube’s leadership, praising her extensive experience and ability to guide Sasol’s strategic goals. “We are pleased to pass the reins to someone of Muriel’s calibre and are confident she will provide the direction needed as Sasol intensifies its efforts toward building a sustainable future business,” the board stated.

Dube's path: From finance to sustainability

Muriel Dube joined Sasol’s board in 2018 as an independent non-executive director. Her academic credentials include an M.Sc. in environmental change and management from Oxford University, alongside degrees in Human Sciences and Politics. Dube's career is marked by her expertise in sustainability, finance, and leadership.

She has held prominent positions in climate change negotiations as South Africa’s chief negotiator under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and as director of atmospheric protection and chemicals management at the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

In addition to her governmental roles, Dube has worked with two of South Africa’s most prominent companies, Bidvest Group and Investec Plc, and previously served as CEO of Nozala Investments. Her non-executive directorships span firms such as Vodacom South Africa, Bidvest Group, PG Group, and UK Infrastructure Bank, where she presently holds a board seat.

Sasol’s new move toward sustainability

Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Sasol, which is repositioning itself in the energy market by expanding its natural gas operations. The group plans to increase gas supplies to over 300 South African customers and use gas to generate electricity as part of its broader strategy to stabilize and strengthen its market presence. The shift to natural gas aligns with Sasol’s sustainability goals and efforts to address the energy transition.

The leadership change also follows Sasol’s recent financial difficulties. The group posted a loss of R56.7 billion ($3.2 billion), its first loss since 2020, driven by devaluations in its U.S. and South African operations. The results have amplified calls for strategic adjustments, and Dube’s appointment signals a new phase in response to its operational and financial challenges.