MES appoints new CEO
On behalf of the MES Board, Rev. Windell thanked Rev. Krige for his drive, leadership and contribution over many years and wishes him grace and blessings for his retirement at the end of the year.
THE board of directors of MES has appointed Rev Alan Childs as the new CEO of MES with effect from January 1, after a thorough process of interviews and external evaluation and assessment of several candidates.
This appointment followed the earlier announcement that the current CEO, Rev Johan Krige, retired at the end of December 2015.
The CEO is the face and champion of MES, living the values of the organisation to increase the impact and contribution of MES in South Africa.
Childs will build on the good work of his predecessor and take the organisation from strength to strength, working with a strong team around him.
Organisational and leadership continuity is key to the management of MES and the service to its clients in South Africa’s inner cities. MES is fortunate that a strong dedicated leadership team is in place and a smooth transition is envisaged as the mantle is handed over to Childs.
“In order to safeguard the leadership continuity and business flow in MES, Rev. Childs worked side by side with the outgoing CEO, Rev. Johan Krige, from October 15, 2015 to December 31, 2015,” stated the MES board chairman Rev. Hannes Windell. “We are grateful that the Lord has blessed the process. We continue to pray that as under the leadership of Rev. Krige, the Lord also will build and sustain MES in the future under the new CEO.”
Childs holds a BA degree in literature and languages, a BD theology degree from University of Pretoria (UP) and a MBA degree from the Wits Business School and is currently working towards his PhD in economic and management sciences at UP on the changes in socially responsible leadership values of commerce students involved in service-learning.
He has gained a wealth of pastoral and human developmental experience in various nurturing career roles in South Africa, Scotland and England. He offers an integrated mixture of business acumen, entrepreneurial development, spiritual guidance and community development experience, gained in pastoral ministry, grassroots development programmes, business leadership and the tertiary academic profession.
“Rev. Childs is well suited for the often challenging position of CEO of MES. In addition to his appropriate local and international work experience coupled with impressive academic qualifications, he is conceptually strong and able to work across environments – from ambiguous and unstructured to the more complex and strategically orientated. He has a strong appetite for problem solving, opportunity innovation and leading diverse teams,” said Windell.
“I am very excited about the appointment,” stated Rev. Childs. “I look forward to add value to the delivery of the vision of MES. What drives me is making the world a wonderful and better place by empowering individuals and communities to reach their full potential amidst the challenging realities of a broken world loved by a healing God through loving service, affirming relationships and honest leadership. This will also be my drive at MES,” Rev. Childs emphasised. He is a dedicated married father who pursues various interests including reading, travelling, triathlons, outdoors and pro-bono business consulting.
On behalf of the MES board, Rev. Windell thanked Rev. Krige for his drive, leadership and contribution over many years and wished him grace and blessings for his retirement.
