A transformative leader with over 16 years of experience, Hope Lukoto is a dynamic force at BCX, spearheading strategic HR initiatives that drive growth and cultural change. With a Master’s in Clinical Psychology, she blends her expertise in psychology and leadership to inspire and develop leaders, aligning them with a bold, future-focused vision. Previously, she led impactful HR transformations at BMW and FNB before launching Thariwa Holdings, her consultancy dedicated to leadership development. Hope’s passion for unlocking potential and her proven ability to elevate organisational performance make her a catalyst for success and a true champion of change.
With 20+ years of HR experience and 10 years in senior leadership roles, Thakazelwa is a proven expert in driving organisational success across diverse sectors. Specialising in change management, culture transformation, and talent strategy, Thakazelwa delivers impactful solutions that align people with business goals. Her expertise spans mergers, restructuring, talent management, and performance optimisation, making her a powerful catalyst for growth and transformation.
With over 25 years of senior management experience across the private sector and government, Masenyane excels in HR, stakeholder relations, and business development. Her international experience includes representing SARS in the UK, building strategic alliances with European tax authorities. Known for her fresh perspective, Masenyane blends strategic acumen with a people-first approach, driving impactful organisational change. Highly organised and adaptable, she brings a unique, non-conventional style to HR that aligns with business imperatives.
Rea is a seasoned HR professional with expertise in talent management, organisational transformation, and mergers & acquisitions across Africa. With a BCom Honours and an MBA, she has a proven track record of driving business and team excellence. At Scatec, she leads impactful socio-economic development through sustainable energy projects, empowering communities and boosting economies. Known for her resilient leadership, Rea is passionate about growth, meaningful change, and creating positive impact.
Dennis Coetzee is a seasoned HR and industrial psychology expert with over 20 years of experience transforming organisations. As Group Executive for Human Capital at NWK Holdings, he excels in leadership development, organisational culture, and performance management. With a Master’s in Industrial Psychology and multiple certifications, Dennis is renowned for his innovative approaches and impact across diverse sectors. Passionate about developing talent and enhancing business performance, he drives excellence through strategic HR solutions and mentoring future leaders.
S'ne Magagula is a powerhouse HR leader with over 25 years of international experience driving transformation across top global companies like Sasol, Shell, and BP. As CHRO at Tiger Brands, she has reshaped the organisation through strategic talent development, innovative business solutions, and building agile, high-performance teams. Known for her expertise in digital transformation, diversity and inclusion, and the future of work, S'ne is a catalyst for sustainable business growth. Armed with an MBA from the University of Cape Town, she brings a visionary approach that consistently ignites human potential and delivers outstanding results.
With over 34 years in HR, including 20 at the executive level, Sharon Taylor drives the people strategy at Africa’s largest financial services group. Known for her transformative leadership, she was named CHRO of the Year in 2023 and has received numerous awards for her impact on talent management, HR technology, and leadership development. Sharon’s expertise shapes the culture and performance of Standard Bank’s 53,000 employees across 20 countries, aligning them with the group's vision of growth and excellence. She also serves on key leadership councils and boards, demonstrating her commitment to talent development and strategic impact.
A visionary HR leader with over 20 years of experience, Donald Khumalo drives transformation as the Chief People Officer at FNB. Known for his strategic impact across major industries, Donald has held influential roles at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Vodacom, and MTN. His expertise in guiding HR through digital and business transformations earned him a nomination for the 2021 CHRO Awards. Armed with qualifications from UNISA and GIBS, he leads FNB’s efforts to navigate the fintech landscape, ensuring the bank stays competitive and innovative. Passionate about creating dynamic workplaces, Donald partners with teams to deliver impactful, future-focused HR solutions.
Melanie Naidu is a powerhouse HR leader with over 20 years of experience in retail, currently driving people strategy at Woolworths Holdings. Previously, she transformed HR practices at Edcon, managing roles from Head of HR to leading Corporate Affairs and Transformation. With a BA, LLB, and an LLM from the University of Natal, Melanie combines legal acumen and strategic HR expertise to create inclusive, high-impact workplaces. Known for her passion and vision, she excels in building environments where teams and businesses thrive.
Virginia Tyobeka, Executive Head of People & Organisation at Anglo American Platinum, is a dynamic leader with over 15 years of executive experience in HR within the mining and manufacturing industries. Known for her transformative leadership, she has consistently driven impactful business turnarounds and strategic initiatives, significantly enhancing organisational performance. Previously, she held executive roles at Kumba Iron Ore and Afrisam, demonstrating her versatility and excellence in managing mission-critical projects. Armed with a B Admin (Hons) and an MAP from North-West University, Virginia is a powerhouse in HR leadership, bringing vision, strategy, and results to every challenge.
Sarah Rice, Chief People Officer at Skynamo, is an industry trailblazer who seamlessly transitioned from a 20-year career as a PR and communications strategist in South Africa’s tech landscape to become a PeopleOps powerhouse in 2019. At Skynamo, she has redefined HR by integrating her deep expertise in communications to build a vibrant, high-performance culture where talent thrives. Sarah believes in creating workplaces that prioritise people’s well-being, proving that high achievement doesn’t have to come at the expense of employee health. Her visionary approach has been instrumental in shaping Skynamo’s dynamic culture, nurturing top talent, and positioning the company as a leader in tech talent management. Sarah’s passion lies in transforming traditional HR into a strategic, people-first powerhouse that drives both innovation and business success.
Jeannet Modise is the Group Chief People Officer at Absa Group, where she leads HR strategies to drive growth and talent development. With senior roles at Sanlam, Santam Insurance, SAP Africa, and AngloGold Ashanti, she brings extensive experience in HR and corporate services across finance, IT, and manufacturing. Jeannet holds an Advanced Management Programme from INSEAD and a Master’s in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa.
Charlotte Mokoena is the Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs at Sasol, a role she has held since 2017, where she leads HR strategy and corporate functions across multiple regions. Her previous roles include HR leadership at Tongaat Hulett and senior executive positions at Telkom SA, where she drove initiatives in customer experience and service delivery. Charlotte holds a BA Honours in Human Resources Development from the University of Johannesburg and completed an Executive Programme in Strategic Human Resource Leadership at the University of Michigan.
Deborah Fuller is the Chief HR Officer at Nedbank, a position she has held since 2018, where she leads strategic human resource initiatives across the organization. Prior to Nedbank, Deborah served as Cluster Head of HR for Retail and Business Banking at Barclays Africa Group and held HR leadership roles at Standard Bank Group and GE Healthcare, bringing extensive experience in global HR management across various regions. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Sociology from Rhodes University.
Gustavo Vitti was appointed Group Chief People Officer in July 2024. He joined the group from iFood, where he was Chief People and Sustainability Officer for over four years. Gustavo has diverse experience in logistics, production, planning, and sales, previously holding leadership positions at Kraft Heinz (Latin America and APAC) and ALL - Latin America Logistics. He is also a partner, investor and board member for several Brazilian start-ups. Gustavo holds a Bachelor's degree in physics from Universidade Estadual de Campinas, and has completed an Advanced Executive Program in Management from Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Tswelo Kodisang is an accomplished HR leader with over 20 years of expertise in organizational leadership, talent development, and change management. Since September 2021, he has served as Group Chief People Officer for FirstRand Group, where he drives strategic HR initiatives. Before joining FirstRand, Kodisang was Group Chief People Officer at Discovery Limited from 2018 to 2021 and Chief HR Officer at Tiger Brands from 2014 to 2017. His career also includes multiple senior HR roles at Unilever, such as Vice President of Global Functions in London and Vice President of HR for Unilever Africa, Middle East, and Turkey. Kodisang holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Business/Managerial Economics and Psychology from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Gerrit Lotz is an accomplished HR leader and Vice President of People and Organisational Effectiveness, bringing over 30 years of experience within the mining and metals industry. His expertise spans HR consulting, change management, coaching, compensation, labour relations, and organizational effectiveness. Gerrit holds a Master’s Degree in Performance, Leadership, and Change, with honours, from the University of Johannesburg, where he presented his research on Lean Production at the 31st Pan-Pacific Conference in Japan. Known for his adaptability and dedication to continuous improvement, he has led HR and business transformation initiatives across various mining operations and legal contexts, currently serving as acting Executive Vice President of People and Organisational Effectiveness.
Rizwana Butler is the Group Executive of Human Resources at Capitec Bank, a role she has held since March 2021. With nearly four years at Capitec, she drives strategic HR initiatives across the organization from her base in the Western Cape, South Africa. Prior to Capitec, Rizwana spent over 14 years with Unilever in various senior HR positions across multiple regions, including East Europe, the Nordics, Africa, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom. Her roles ranged from Vice President of Human Resources for East Europe to HR Director of Leadership Development for Africa. Notably, Rizwana led global HRIT initiatives, implementing platforms such as Workday and Cornerstone, underscoring her expertise in digital HR transformation. Her extensive experience reflects a strong commitment to developing talent, organizational effectiveness, and leadership.
Harry Dimo is the Human Resources Executive Director and a Board Member at Bidvest International Logistics, leading HR strategy since 2015. With over two decades in HR, he previously served as an HR Executive at Bidvest Panalpina Logistics and held key roles at Standard Bank, BP, and South African Breweries. Harry holds a Labour Dispute Resolution Practice Certificate from the University of the Witwatersrand, bringing a strong foundation in HR management and labour law to his leadership.
Peter, brings over a decade of extensive experience in diverse senior management positions.
In June 2023, he joined Alistair as the Group Head of HR. Initially trained as a lawyer specializing in Labour Law, Peter transitioned into the corporate world.
Prior to his current role, he served as an HR and Payroll Manager, Employee Relations Manager, and General Manager in both the Private Security Industry and the Road Freight and Logistics Industry. Peter’s educational background includes a LLB, LLM, and MBA degrees from the University of Stellenbosch and Stellenbosch Business School.
Currently, he is in the process of completing his DBA in Responsible Leadership, further enhancing his expertise in the field.
Michelle Rocke is the Head of HR: Product & Group at Ignition Group, a role she has held since August 2023. With over a decade of experience in HR, Michelle has previously worked as an HR Business Partner at Derivco and Unilever, where she focused on organizational effectiveness, talent management, and culture transformation. She also has experience in client relations and recruitment. Michelle holds a BSocSci in Industrial Psychology (Hons) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Praveen Jawahir is the Head of HR Shared Services at Pick n Pay, where he has been leading the HR Shared Services function since October 2014. With over 22 years of experience in HR, Praveen has held various roles within the company, including HR Business Partner for the Northern and Gauteng regions. His expertise spans strategic HR alignment, talent management, employee relations, and performance management. Praveen holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resources from the University of South Africa and completed the Nexus X program at GIBS Business School.
Zimkhitha Saungweme is the Chief People Officer at Discovery Limited, a role she has held since August 2021. She previously served as the Head of People at Discovery Health from 2017 to 2021. With over 17 years of experience in various leadership roles, Zimkhitha has also worked as a Digital Executive at PPS, where she developed and implemented the group’s digital strategy and customer relationship management initiatives. Earlier in her career, she held key positions at Discovery Health, including Service Executive and Head of Business Solutions. Zimkhitha holds an MBA from De Montfort University and a diploma in Information Technology from RAU.
Germinah Nyikana is the Human Resources Executive at Clicks Group, a position she has held since July 2022. With extensive experience in talent management, she previously served as the Talent Solutions Manager at The Shoprite Group, where she designed and executed talent solutions, including leadership development and succession planning. Prior to this, Germinah was the Head of Learning and Development at HomeChoice International and the Group Learning and Transformation Manager at Clicks Group, where she was responsible for learning strategy, skills development, and transformation initiatives. She also has a background in HR and training management from her time at Markham & RJL (part of the Foschini Retail Group). Germinah holds a Master of Philosophy in Management Coaching from Stellenbosch University and an Executive Development Program from Stellenbosch Business School.
Melody Lekota is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Telkom, where she has been leading HR strategy for the company since 2016. With over two decades of experience in HR leadership, Melody previously served as the Chief HR Officer at Cell C for seven years, contributing significantly to the company’s human resources strategies. Her earlier career includes roles as HR Director at Primedia and at Bidvest's Frozen Division, where she honed her expertise in HR management and organizational development. Melody is known for her strategic approach to talent management, employee engagement, and driving HR transformation in large organizations.
Don’t miss this opportunity to redefine your career—one mindset at a time.
Watch the introduction below and discover the first step to fully unlocking your HR leadership potential!Copyright © 2024 HR for Africa
