FEM getting ready for new leadership

At the end of March the Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) will bid a fond farewell to its long-standing MD of 15 years, Thelma Pugh.

Since joining FEM in 1969, Pugh has spent the better part of 48 years promoting health and safety in the construction industry. From her career beginnings as a retention fund clerk, she worked her way up in the organisation – which saw her become the CFO and subsequently, after the retirement of the late Cliff Saville, MD.

Pugh’s personal motto has always been: “Nobody, in our industry, should be dying for a job.” Throughout her years of service she worked very closely with health and safety organisations across the country in the effort to make the construction industry a safer place. She has been nominated for the South African Health and Safety Wall of Fame award, which takes cognisance of her efforts. When she retires on March 31 she will make way for her successor, Ndivhuwo Manyonga.

Although Manyonga has big shoes to fill, she has the qualifications and experience to take FEM to new heights. She previously headed up the employee benefits and human capital consulting division within Aon Hewitt South Africa. Before joining Aon Hewitt, she was the MD of an employee benefits consulting business. Manyonga also has experience as an independent actuarial consultant to the financial-services industry.

She has worked as a consulting actuary and a pricing and product development expert within a multinational insurer in South Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Business Science Degree (Actuarial Science) and a postgraduate diploma (Actuarial Science) from the University of Cape Town. She holds prominent positions in various actuarial organisations, such as Actuaries without Frontiers and the Actuarial Women’s Committee.

FEM and the SHEQ team wish Pugh a happy retirement and all the best to Manyonga!