SAfrica's Imperial appoints new non-exec chairman

JOHANNESBURG, April 2 (Reuters) - Africa's biggest transport and logistics company, Imperial (IPLJ.J: Quote, Profile, Research), has appointed a new non-executive chairman, the company said on Wednesday.

Thulani Gcabashe, who was initially to succeed Leslie Boyd as non-executive chairman in November, will take over the position with immediate effect after Boyd died last Friday.

Gcabashe was CEO of state power utility Eskom [ESCJ.UL] from 2000 to 2007.

Oshy Tugendhaft is Imperial's new non-executive deputy chairman.

Imperial posted a 25 percent fall in first-half earnings in February as rate hikes crimped spending. Its shares closed 0.75 percent higher at 79.35 rand. (Reporting by Serena Chaudhry; Editing by Paul Bolding)