Bonang Mohale has been appointed as the new CEO of Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), effective from 1 July 2017. Mr Mohale, who ends a distinguished term as Vice President Upstream and Chairman of Shell South Africa (Pty) Limited at the end of June, replaces Thero Setiloane, whose term expired in December 2016.

Mr Mohale has been serving as the organisation’s Deputy Chairman for the past eight months. He will vacate this non-executive role for the duration of his term as CEO. Adrian

Enthoven, Chairman of Hollard Insurance, will assume the position of Deputy Chairman of BLSA.

“The board of BLSA are delighted that someone of Bonang Mohale’s calibre and immense leadership ability has agreed to steer the organisation through the most challenging environment the organisation has faced since 1994,” said Chairman Jabu Mabuza. “His depth of experience, integrity and courage makes him a great fit for the position.”

BLSA is an organisation of 80 CEOs of South Africa’s largest businesses and multinational companies. BLSA is committed to creating a South Africa of increasing prosperity for all by harnessing the resources and capabilities of business in partnership with Government, Labour and civil society to deliver inclusive economic growth, transformation and shared value.

Mr Mohale said: “It will be an honour for me to marshal the resources and capabilities of business to create a South Africa that works for all. In the next 12 months my focus will be to re-assert business as the solution and not the enemy because when business does well, society does well, help combat state capture, work with labour and government to get the economy out of this recession and going again, create jobs and accelerate transformation. I plan to reposition business as a trusted advisor, partner of choice and doing everything possible to make Government a capable state”.

Mr Mohale, who originally studied to be a medical doctor, has had a distinguished career at the helm and in leadership roles of several major South African and multinational companies; including Otis Elevators, South African Airways, Sanlam, and Drake & Scull Integrated Facilities Management. He currently serves on the Boards of Swiss Re Africa (12 years); Hollard Insurance (11 years); Rand Merchant Bank & Oakhurst Insurance (Chairman). Mr Mohale has an impressive track record of both building successful companies and making significant advances in transformation in the companies he has been involved in. He has been a vocal and active proponent of transformation since the 1980s, and played a leadership role in the Black Management Forum for over 33 years.

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Mr Mohale was, among others, awarded the “BMF Manager of The Year: 1997”; November 2001 he received the Presidential Award for his “Servanthood in South African Industry & the Economic Empowerment of Previously Disadvantaged Individuals”; was conferred an Honorary Professorship in Marketing Management in 2012 by the University of Pretoria, where he serves on their Advisory Council; awarded the IPM “CEO of the Year:2012”; SADC “Titans – Building the Nation: 2014” and “The Momentum Friendship Blazer: 2015” as recognition for being the ‘Nation Building Champion’.

“All South Africans seek unity around positive aspirations. It will be very important for business to be introspective about its position in society to inspire agreement and provide duty of care, skill and diligence to our shared vision of a growing, inclusive economy,” said Mr Mohale.