It’s been ten years since Tata Chemicals acquired Magadi Soda adding new natural soda ash capacity to its portfolio and welcoming Kenyan colleagues into the fold. Employees from Tata Chemicals Magadi (TCM) reflect on the role integrity has played in the journey. Lucy Kaburia, head International Sales and Market Development says there are various ways in which the value of integrity has benefitted the business during the past decade.
She cites two events that have had a major impact at TCM. In 2011, as part of the integration of the business it was rebranded as Tata Chemicals Magadi. In 2013, the premium soda ash plant was closed as part of a restructuring in which more than one third of positions at Magadi were made redundant.
“Renaming the business was a big moment but it was done with integrity,” says Lucy. “Key stakeholders, including employees and our local community, were consulted and had an opportunity to input to that decision. People felt their voices had been heard. Retaining Magadi in the name was important for us since Lake Magadi holds a special place in the psyche of our country. Because that process was well managed and done with integrity it was less dramatic than it could’ve been.”
Closing the premium soda ash plant was a difficult decision, but, says Lucy, the fact that integrity had been at the heart of how Tata Chemicals had gone about the acquisition and integration laid an important foundation for that action.
Says Lucy: “Once we had made the decision to shut the plant we had to tell people. Because they had come to understand that the business was being managed with integrity their response was, of course disappointment, but at the same time people were able to see that the decision was being made for the right reasons. It meant that the process was less traumatic than it could have been.”
As Human Resources manager with the responsibility for employee relations and welfare, John Kabera echoes Lucy’s sentiments. He says the whole process was managed with integrity and that meant that when the process had been concluded there was absolutely no hostility. “I believe the company’s reputation was enhanced because of the way we managed that difficult process,” says John.