Charlene is Managing Director of two COBA subsidiaries in South Africa, COBA Plastics (Pty) Ltd and COBA Africa (Pty) Ltd. Her main objectives include: optimising all business areas to maximise output without impacting quality, going above and beyond to ensure ongoing customer satisfaction, and investing in people by providing a safe and productive working environment, as well as training and upskilling.
Charlene joined the COBA family in 2005 when the group acquired her employer Tie Down Plastics. In her role as Accountant, Charlene was responsible for the finances of this new subsidiary, before being promoted to Finance Manager in 2007. Her responsibilities grew further in 2010 when COBA expanded its matting operations into South Africa. Other significant milestones include overseeing the acquisition of two further businesses: the injection moulding company Rubaloy, and the well-known matting brand Matco. With a much larger combined operation now in the region, Charlene was promoted to Director of both businesses in 2018, before becoming Managing Director in 2024.
I am driven by the desire to lead our teams in South Africa to become the best version of themselves. I will support, guide and lead, but I am nothing without the strong team that surrounds me. I am also a strong believer in the COBA values – Care, Optimism, Belief and Adaptability, and work by each of these values in my day-to-day roles and responsibilities and I strive to encourage others to do the same.
