Markets & Investment News South Africa

Sir Samuel Esson Jonah joins Grit board of directors

Pan-African real estate company Grit Real Estate Income Group has appointed Sir Samuel Esson Jonah (KBE, OSG) as an independent non-executive director of the company with effect from 21 February 2019.
Sir Samuel Esson Jonah (KBE, OSG)
Sir Samuel Esson Jonah (KBE, OSG)

Jonah is currently executive chairman of Jonah Capital, an investment holding company in South Africa, and is former executive president of AngloGold Ashanti.

Born and educated in Ghana, he obtained a master’s degree in management from Imperial College, London in 1977, following which he worked for Ashanti Goldfields and became CEO of the company in 1986, overseeing its growth into a multi-national company.

Jonah was elected in 2018 as a foreign member of the United States National Academy of Engineering in recognition of his distinguished leadership and technical contributions to engineering and for advancing the mineral industry in Africa.

An honorary knighthood was conferred on him by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 and in 2006 he was awarded Ghana’s highest national award, the Companion of the Order of the Star.

Extensive experience

Currently, Jonah serves on the boards of various public and private companies, including the Vodafone Group. He was formerly a director of the Standard Bank Group, Lonmin and a member of the advisory council of the president of the African Development Bank. He brings extensive experience of business in Africa and has been an adviser to a number of African heads of state including the presidents of Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria and Zambia, and a member of the advisory board of the London Business School.

Peter Todd, non-executive chairman of Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Sir Samuel Jonah to the Grit board as a non-executive director. He brings with him invaluable experience and knowledge and he will make a great contribution to our company. We very much look forward to working with him.”

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