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New regional GM for Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls Building Efficiency recently appointed Archibald Makatini, fondly known by his colleagues as Archie, as its new regional general manager for Africa.

Archibald Makatini.

Makatini is no newcomer to the Johnson Control family. He has held various positions at the company for over 22 years in the US, with a short break of service for a year. With experience gained in technical roles when he started out his career, Makatini moved up the ranks with positions including branch manager at the New York City office, progressing to various other senior roles including general manager and marketing director in San Diego.

Makatini plans to harness his skills and experience to help build Johnson Controls to become the leader in the South African market. He will also have a strong focus on the rest of Africa, creating a larger footprint for the company on the continent as he believes there is huge opportunity for growth in this market.

He says, “We are seeing investment in Africa and as a result, the development in infrastructure. We are perfectly positioned to meet Africa’s needs in this respect. We have a clear vision for Africa and are committed to not only growing the business in this region but also working with local businesses in each country. Training and skills transfer are key to empower these local businesses and we plan to assist them to take on after sales support and maintenance opportunities, providing sustainable businesses for them.”

Makatini is committed to a customer centric focus ensuring that the end-user receives the best solutions that deliver real business value, such as energy efficiency. There will also be a strong continued emphasis on safety, Johnson Controls’ people and the customer.

Born in South Africa, Makatini spent most of his adult years in the US. It was there that Makatini obtained his pre-med Bachelor’s Degree before changing direction to pursue engineering where he eventually obtained his Masters in Engineering Management from the New Jersey School of Engineering (NJIT).

When asked why he made the move back to South Africa, his response was, “There is so much opportunity for me in Africa, and for me, it was a matter of realising that it’s time’ to come back to my country of birth and give back.”

Corporate social investment (CSI) plays a huge part in Makatini’s focus. Johnson Controls has always been an advocate for giving back to the community with its Blue Sky Involve initiatives that focuses on upliftment.

Makatini adds, “We work together as a team where employees volunteer to work with local non-profit organisations, supporting the arts, education, environment, health and social service. There is so much we can do to improve the lives of our local communities and I look forward to launching new projects in the region.”

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