Xylem Africa is thrilled to announce that Max Kubwalo is joining its operations as Xylem’s Metrology Sales Lead for Anglophone Africa. Having started on 17 July 2020, Kubwalo is based in Cape Town and covers non-French speaking countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Kubwalo joins Xylem from Itron, where he established a stellar reputation among the utility markets of Southern and Eastern Africa. An experienced sales professional with a solid record in the water management industry, he has been responsible for projects exceeding US$ 10 million. Kubwalo’s interest in the continent extends to his academic achievements as well, including a research project on Malawi’s cut flower industry.
“Africa’s future includes how we manage water on the continent,” said Kubwalo. “Water also creates opportunities to build closer partnerships with communities, and it’s one of the means through which governments can bring purposeful service delivery to their people. I’ve built my career around water management, and it has been an exciting journey so far. With Xylem, I want to take water transformation in Africa even further.”
A veteran of nearly 20 years in the Metrology industry, Kubwalo has build extensive experience and knowledge around leading brands such as Sensus. Impressed with the work done by local management and their channel partners, as well as Xylem’s work with water, he opted to join the company:
“Water is a critical resource. It is always humbling when you are in remote areas and see how far people, moreso women and children in particular, go to fetch water. To be a part of a company like Xylem that can assist utilities to reduce their losses and improve their efficiencies, and in the process provide cleaner and easier access to water – that is a welcome challenge.”
Kubwalo focuses on English-speaking African countries to grow Xylem’s contributions into the African market. He also supports the local teams behind ongoing sales opportunities in the public utility market, ensuring that they evolve from discussion or pilots to implementation efficiently from a sales point.
His Malawi research project contributed towards a Masters of Science in Commerce from the University of the Western Cape. Kubwalo also holds a Bachelors of Science in Aeronautical Engineering and a Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering, both from Wits University. He started his professional career at Itron as a product manager, soon promoted as Sales Manager. Upon joining Xylem Africa, Kubwalo continues actively pursuing existing key accounts in the Southern and Eastern African regions, focusing on migrating customers from pure metering hardware to longer-term non-revenue water services.
“Max brings a lot of experience and insight to the Xylem team,” said Chetan Mistry, Strategy and Marketing Manager for Xylem Africa. “His work across Africa has made real differences on the ground and helped many organisations use Water in smarter and more efficient ways. We are thrilled that he chose to join Xylem’s African operations and we look forward to support him in bringing the best water solutions to the continent.”
END
