Job Title: General manager of employee relations and HR operations
Company: Sappi Southern Africa
James Manana is the general manager of employee relations and HR operations at Sappi Southern Africa. In his previous roles, he held positions within Sappi as regional employee relations and transformation manager and employee relations hub manager for the coastal region.
Prior to that, he served as industrial relations manager at Sappi Southern Africa and human resources manager at LignoTech South Africa.
Earlier in his career, he was the HR and community services manager at Sappi Forests.
Before joining the Sappi group, he was a senior HR officer and deputy director at uMhlathuze Municipality, a senior HR officer at Sappi Timber Industries, and a development officer at the KwaZulu Natal Foundation.
James holds a postgraduate diploma in management and labour relations, and a diploma in management studies from the Southern Business School. He also holds a diploma in human resources and practices from the Institute of People Management, and a diploma in public management and administration from Natal Technikon.
Work:
2016 – Present General manager of employee relations and HR operations, Sappi Southern Africa
2016 – Present General Manager, Sappi Southern Africa
2012 – Present Regional employee relations and transformation manager, Sappi Southern Africa
2012 – 2012 Coastal employee relations hub manager, Sappi Southern Africa
2008 – 2011 Industrial relations manager, Sappi Southern Africa
2008 – 2011 Human resources manager, LignoTech South Africa
2002 – 2007 HR and community services manager, Sappi Forests
1999 – 2002 Senior HR officer and deputy director, uMhlathuze Municipality
1997 – 1999 Senior HR officer, Sappi Timber Industries Uitkyk and Lomati Sawmills
1990 – 1992 Development officer, KwaZulu Natal Foundation
Education:
2005 – 2007 Postgraduate diploma in management and labour relations, Southern Business School
2003 – 2004 Diploma in management studies, Southern Business School
2000 – 2002 Diploma in human resources and practices, Institute of People Management
1994 – 1995 Diploma in public management and administration, Natal Technikon
About company: Sappi Southern Africa employs 3,997 people and operates four production facilities and three sales offices. Headquartered in Johannesburg, it manages three business units: Sappi Paper and Paper Packaging, Sappi Pulp and Sappi Forests.
