OL, previously known as Olthaver & List, one of Namibia’s most prominent business groups, has unveiled a reinvented brand identity, marking one of the most significant visual transformations in the organisation’s 100+ year history. Central to the new identity is the principle of One OL: A single, unified organisation operating with one culture and one Persona and the new logo, merged into one integrated mark, gives tangible form to this new vision.
At the reveal Sven Thieme, Executive Chairman of OL stated: “The identity reset follows several years of deliberate internal transformation, built on the core characteristics of our OL Persona – Authentic, Caring and Passionate – which guide the way the organisation shows up in every interaction, every decision and every experience it creates for its people, its customers and its communities. We have strengthened our leadership, deepened our organisational culture and repositioned our operating companies for the next chapter, building towards our world-class ambitions with discipline, courage and care.” Thieme added that standing still was the riskiest move any leader could make as business history was full of organisations that refined what worked and, slowly, became irrelevant.
“We have chosen a different path. Over the past few years, we have moved, transformed and reinvented. And tonight, we are aligning the outside with the inside.” The reveal marks the starting point of OL’s path towards Vision 2029, which targets industry-standard returns across all operating companies, N$2.5 billion EBIT and an OL Persona score above 85%. The group also aspires to be recognised among the Top 10 Great Places to Work globally.
“Our pioneers gave us the foundation. What we build on it is our responsibility and our honour,” Thieme concluded. “We are an organisation that strives to be world-class while staying true to our heritage and authentically Namibian. I have never been more excited about what comes next. One OL. One Persona. One Future.” The refined visual identity includes an updated colour palette chosen to express stature and world-class experience, new typography communicating modernity and forward momentum and the anchoring of “Est. 1919” at the base of the logo — an acknowledgement to founders and pioneers Herman Ohlthaver, Carl List and Werner List.
The ampersand, which once connected two separate identities, has been deliberately removed in favour of a unified mark. As part of the rebrand, the group’s headquarters has also been renamed OL Haus, reconnecting the organisation to its heritage while signalling a confident evolution.
Founded in 1919, OL is one of Namibia’s largest privately held business enterprises. OL is involved in diverse business interests across 12 major subsidiaries, representing eight sectors of the Namibian economy.
–newsroom@nepc.com.na
