An audience with Zuma for logistics newcomer

The BBBEE-rated ICM Group
is pushing ahead to become
a globally recognised brand,
with the country’s president
sitting up and taking notice of
this growing new generation
logistics company.
2010 kicked off extremely
well for the Bedfordview-based
company, which has been operating
for just over a year, with a request
for a meeting from President
Jacob Zuma.
“It was probably one of the
most significant moments in my
business life to date,” says CEO
Kiall Marsh, who along with Kriba
Naiken met Zuma at his homestead
in Nkandla in the first week
of January.
“He was very interested in who
we are and what we have been
doing in the past year.”
Marsh said they took
Zuma through their business
backgrounds, their decision to
start their own business as well
as the progress made in their first
12 months of operation and the
global market impact. He said the
45-minute private audience with
the president boded well for ICM
Group, which is planning to go full
tilt in 2010, signing new contracts
and expanding.
The company has grown
significantly in its first year, having
already opened offices in Shanghai,
China, and in the Indian capital
of Mumbai. Two more offices
are being opened in Sao Paulo in
Brazil and Houston in the US.
The competition is starting to
take notice, says Marsh. “We have
brought on board several key
players to boost the company and
to ensure we are ready for the
next step.”