(Business in Cameroon) - Waiting to officially assume his post as Managing Director of AES Sonel, which is slated to take place on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon, the polytechnic graduate, Joel Nana Kontchou (photo), appointed following a board meeting held on July 7, 2014, started his new role on August 11, 2014 at Cameroon’s public electricity provider. According to company sources, that same day, he chaired his first management committee meaning alongside his predecessor, Jean David Bilé, before going into the field to some AES Sonel branches in Douala.

In his first message to the company’s staff by way of the organisation’s internal channels, the new managing director stated that customer satisfaction is at the top of his list of priorities. “We’re going to make the customer our number one priority. The customer’s satisfaction has to be an ever-present concern for each of us as those who pay for our services should be able to enjoy them. Making electricity available to our customers and collecting what is due must, more than ever before, be our daily mission. We will have to share with our customers the indispensable effort required to provide them with reliable, quality electricity. We need their support and they need to always be aware of what we are doing,” he writes.

Joël Nana Kontchou goes on to say: “our second priority will be to plug and reduce our losses by putting an end to the current spiral through the adoption of a healthier cycle both technically and commercially. Lastly, our investments should enable us to address the poor condition of our equipment and improve our work methods.” In addition, the new managing director announced the setting up of a think tank that will be mandated to review all aspects of the company’s operations to achieve the necessary reforms.

“Actis has clearly expressed its commitment to trusting national expertise and giving us the means required to address our country’s electricity challenges. Let us make good use of this trust,” advises Joël Nana Kontchou, who hopes that in the coming days, the electricity provider, long decried over the years, can finally look its customers “in the eye and freely say that we are doing all that we can to make your lives better and make your companies more prosperous.”