Mpinganjira bids farewell to Malawi corporate gurus: ‘Great team at FDH to carry on with his legacy’
Business mogul Dr Thomson Mpinganjira on Thursday night bade farewell to corporate gurus and clients at a glittering ceremony held at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre.
Mpinganjira, who founded the first truly Malawian owned bank, FDH Bank plc, has retired from the FDH Financial Holdings group leaving the mantle to his 36 year old son William Mpinganjira as Group Chief Executive Officer.
Mpinganjira said he had achieved what he wanted by listing FDH Bank on the bourse.
“Following the successful listing of FDH Bank plc, the flagship subsidiary of FDH Financial Holdings Limited, I consider my work done here and it is time to move on,” said Mpinganjira.
He asked business partners to have trust in his son William saying in the digital edge, the young Mpinganjira has been spearheading the various digital innovations which FDH Bank plc is synonymous with.
Speaking earlier, William Mpinganjira hailed his father for leaving a great team at FDH to carry on with his legacy.
“Dr Mpinganjira has done what a lot of leaders fail to do, letting go. It’s a unique problem in Africa and the whole world to let go and leave a legacy to last generations. However there are some aspects to letting go. Firstly as a leader, you must have built a team to handover to. Secondly you must have the courage to leave the stage. I can confidently say that Dr Mpinganjira has done that exceptionally well.
“We wish you well in your retirement and thank you for wonderful team that you have left behind to support me and the wonderful board to guide us to the next chapter of FDH,” said William.
A customer with FDH for 17 years Dr Evans Kacelenga also hailed Mpinganjira saying has achieved greatness in his lifetime.
“True greatness is not measured by the headlines a person commands or the wealth he or she accumulates. The inner character of a person – the undergirding moral and spiritual values and commitments – is the true measure of lasting greatness (Billy Graham).”
“I am privileged to have caught glimpses of the man’s character at very close range. His moral and spiritual values I have seen too and eaten many of his dinners to boot. Believe it or not, the man is humble and does not seek publicity. Nay he shuns it. The headlines about him however, portray a man who is driven and yet intensely private. On the Billy Graham score, he makes the grade for lasting greatness,” said Kacelenga.
FDH Financial Holdings Board Chairman Noel Mkulichi thanked Mpinganjira for his outstanding leadership and stewardship that has seen the group grow to where it proudly stands today.
“You dedicated your time and energy to make the FDH brand successful. This culminated into the bank being listed on the local bourse thereby fulfilling your wish before you retire.
“We will miss you and as you start this new chapter in your life, we wish you a happy, healthy, most exciting and stress-free retirement,” said Mkulichi before presenting Mpinganjira with a gift of map of Malawi with FDH footprint across the country.
There was a surprise for the guest at the function when legendary musician Soldier Lucius Banda and celebrated musician Patience Namadingo jumped on stage to do a reggae mash up of Banda’s popular songs.
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This is the man who would have made the will of Malawians vote not be respected. Using his money he wanted to put Peter Mutharika and DPP in government for another 5 long yrs. This is the man who was happy that DPP should be in government and people should be dying in hospitals, cadets should be receiving salaries like teachers to go and kill people, Jomo Osman should continue to sell Samosa to Sanjika at K35,000 each and Mrs Mutharika should be selling cups to prison at K80,000 each? Ndalama za ku MERA, MACRA kumapasa ma hule ma order… Read more »
We hardly have true legacies in our continent und not really one in our country! Is the weekness of our flesh dominant in overwhelming the strength of our minds? How come and why?
Great business man but recent scandal has dented what would have a most celebrated business legacy of modern time.
Rest well bwana
Bravo. The passage of time will be kind. The significance of what Tom Mpinganjira has achieved, is lost On many now. Future generations will judge without the emotional baggage that comes with the man in this sliver in time. They will marvel at the astounding results. Here lies a pioneer who engaged with the regions elites as a peer. And whether you agree with how the wealth was gotten, it’s irrelevant in the arch of history. Name a historic company, Microsoft, Apple, Ford Motor Company, Shell, Texaco, any hegemonic power; examine their actions. The culture and agents of such entities… Read more »
Outstanding leadership munthu ukumangidwa chifukwa chankhani ya ma judge? One wonders, what else has this guy done that we don’t know!! Now the bank is splashing money around and taking everyone for fools. Go on then, we won’t forget though, we will just remind them as needed.
Akapume. Koma wakatangale wokha still awaits you.
Hmm….. Just one question to Dr Kacerenga: How does a man with “great moral and spiritual values” find himself embroiled in a criminal attempt to force judges to circumvent the course of justice and betray the express will of millions of Malawians? Your honest response please, Dr Kacerenga.
A kacherenga awa inenso ndadabwa nawo. he too he is not straight. Amadyera limodzi. you cant define someone with high morals and great spirituality yet he is answering corrupt charges. Inu mukuononga mpingo wathu. Tiyamike kuti mawu a Mulungu are standing against your Euology
Bravo, Thom you have been excellent and handing over to your own son is very admirable. Retire in peace and focus on your foundation.
It’s not a voluntary retirement. He never wanted to retire but has been forced into early retirement by impending court cases. To save the image of FDH he resigned as CEO and now he has gone on retirement, if he has really retired.
A brilliant observation indeed. Forced into early retirement by the sword of bribery hanging over his head. This is an inerasable stain unless the courts uphold his innocence the guy shouldn’t have been running around with khaki envelopes to change the course of justice. At a party held at Sunbird Hotel friends engage in flattery so these so called corporate gurus aren’t lost on your poor stance on the fresh presidential election just to tilt arc of justice to the mafia now you’re alone
He is retiring on a bad note, “legacy” thrown on the window. The worst is yet to come for you and the bank whose foundation is based on toxic loans and illegal acquisition of MSB.
How was the bank acquired? How did he find himself answering attempted bribery charge? Who is trying to fool who in this case?