In this edition of CFO Magazine, bp Southern Africa CFO Michelle Isaacs reflects on her journey from Cape Town to London and back, sharing how servant leadership and her husband’s selfless sacrifice helped her rise while remaining grounded in her values. PepsiCo CFO Pankaj Chugh explains why he takes up to 200 mindful breaths a day, a practice rooted in lifelong spirituality that underpins his approach to digitisation, data-led decisions and team development at one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies.
Cell C CFO El Kope speaks about the power of self-charging, drawing on a career shaped by challenging environments, cultural adaptability and a leadership philosophy she describes as “leading from the middle”. Pick n Pay finance chief Lerena Olivier emphasises the value of personal wellbeing, noting that as the CFO remit expands beyond the numbers, sustaining motivation and prioritising people remain central to leading with purpose.
Sayurie Naidoo, newly-appointed CFO of Valterra Platinum, reflects on stepping into the role at the same time she discovered she was expecting her first child. Having joined Anglo American through its graduate programme and progressing across senior finance roles, she has been instrumental in steering Valterra Platinum through its demerger and successful listing on the London Stock Exchange.
Standard Bank CFVO Dr Arno Daehnke, a cellist and modern-art enthusiast, shares why he believes courage is the starting point of excellence – the courage to ask, to learn and to lead, strengthened by curiosity, honed through skill and carried with heart. His focus remains on balancing growth with resilience as the bank navigates a rapidly shifting global environment.
From performance guarantees to trade credit, Pieter Dingemans, head of credit specialties IMEA at Marsh, outlines how freeing up capital can accelerate business growth.
The Movers section captures CFOs and senior finance executives taking on new roles, including appointments at Standard Bank, Bridgestone Middle East and Africa FZE, Prosus and Naspers, and PPS Insurance.
Discover insights from the CFO Pitch Parade, the ExCo Women’s Dinner, the CFO Dinner and CFO Day.
Also featured: a look at how the modern CFO has evolved beyond the back-office stereotype – two senior finance leaders, and one poised to step into the role, talk about the next generation of leadership in the finance landscape.
Also inside: A spotlight on the nominees for the 12th CFO Awards for South Africa.
