AGRA PROVIDES OPPURTUNITIES FOR CAREER GROWTH
Published: 03 Sep 2014 

Agra has promoted a number of its employees in line with its purpose to create prosperity, and improve quality of life by creating conditions for people to succeed among other things. With Agra’s retail division serving the entire Namibia through eighteen branches providing a huge range of diverse products for the agricultural industry and the general public, staff members have multiple opportunities to develop skills and climb the career ladder. 

Branch managers have the opportunity to progress from managing smaller branches to branches with a wider client base and more extensive product range, while the opportunities exist for any staff member within the retail division to become part of branch management. 
Luandré Benadé was a buyer at Rehoboth branch and was promoted to manager of Auas Vet Med, Agra’s veterinary and pet specialist outlet in the Auas Valley Shopping Mall. 
Paul Freyer who started his career at Agra as sales advisor at Windhoek branch has been appointed as branch manager of Agra Karibib. 
Agra Karibib’s branch manager, Leon van Rensburg was promoted to branch manager of Agra Omaruru, where he took over the reins in December 2013. 
Agra Otavi’s branch manager, Coenie van Niekerk took over the management of the bigger Outjo branch, while Bonnie van Zyl, who was branch manager at Outjo, has been promoted to manager of Otjiwarongo branch. 

Andries van der Merwe, who was Agra Otjiwarongo’s branch manager, has taken over the responsibilities as manager of Windhoek branch after Mariaan Jansen van Vuuren resigned. 
With new positions being created in the buying department of Agra’s retail division or becoming available after promotion or resignation of buyers, opportunities became available for a number of staff members to take on new challenges. Heinz Fedderson started as a systems administrator at Agra’s IT department but has taken up the opportunity to use his knowledge and skills as a senior buyer in the place of Dawie Oosthuizen with years’ experience in buying, being promoted to procurement manager for Agra’s Arms, Ammunition and Outdoor division. 
Other new appointments in the buying department are Christa Dreyer as Manager: Procurement for Agribusiness; Michael Hongonekua as Manager: Procurement for Non-agribusiness and André Engelbrecht as buyer. 

Agra uses best practices to align measurable HR processes to modern people and management principles to actively work towards being one of the top employers in Namibia and is instrumental in building capacity, managing change, and developing potential. Agra has been participating in the Deloitte Best Company to Work For the past three years to guide management on employees’ expectations in order to continue improving work experience. Agra’s recruitment policy and processes have been enhanced to ensure that people joining Agra will find it a rewarding experience while expanding their pool of skills. Agra’s policy is to offer equal opportunities to all people who qualify for employment and the company complies with the requirements of the Employment Equity Commission. The promotions and appointments of these retail staff members and employees in other divisions of Agra, is proof of Agra living its value of growing people.