From conservation to social justice and multinational expansion, CFOs across South Africa are proving that strategy grounded in purpose can drive long-term value.
Modern strategy demands more than financial acumen. Today’s CFOs are combining purpose, innovation and community impact to shape organisations that deliver meaningful and sustainable performance. CFO South Africa looks back on a year of making a meaningful impact.
Soul City Institute CFO Dr Dumisani Dlamini has built a career that spans revenue services, conservation and now social justice. He describes Soul City as an organisation dedicated to dismantling patriarchy and empowering young women and girls. His experience at SANParks remains one of his most fulfilling, merging finance with public value.
For FirstRand Broader Africa CFO Luke Woodford, purpose has guided every step, from part-time bank teller to continental executive. His career across markets such as Tanzania and Botswana has strengthened his commitment to financial inclusion.
Bridgestone MEA regional CFO Mikaeel Tayob, the 2024 Young CFO of the Year, is driven by transformation. With a career spanning only three companies – KPMG, Nike and Bridgestone – his focus has been impact over status.
At Aspen Pharmacare, group CFO Sean Capazorio is redefining performance measurement in a complex global supply chain. His team introduced a CER system that adjusts for exchange rate volatility, enabling fair comparison across markets ranging from hyper-inflationary Argentina to stable Germany. This system earned him the Finance & Technology Award at the 2024 CFO Awards.
Mike Davis, group CFO at Nedbank, delivered the keynote address at the 2025 Finance Indaba, where he reflected on how resilience remains essential to the future of finance.
“In the case of Nedbank, we make it very clear we are a values-led organisation. Whether it be around integrity, respect, accountability, people-centred or client-led, you’ve got to have a set of values as an organisation if you want to stick around and be relevant into the future. We are effectively a values-led organisation, and we articulate that wherever we go,” he said.
