SPI International
Recruitment for Executive placements
Discover our executive consultancy services backed by over four decades of expertise. Our consultants, who are shareholders and directors in SPi, bring invaluable insights gleaned from senior executive roles in both private and public companies.
Our Consultants are Shareholders and Directors in SPi and are drawn from senior executives in private and public companies. Their search experience and corporate careers enable them to build trusting relationships with an extensive network of leaders and organisations. Working closely with their global AltoPartners colleagues, they bring global expertise to the local market. As an owner managed firm, decision-making is quick and localised with no deferral to a central head office, making us flexible to meet diverse client needs.
We have access and contribute to world best practice through the global network, but are not subject to restrictive and inflexible global fees and structures. SPi’s executive research capability was rated the best in South Africa by PMR.
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Phone: +27 82 318 5888
Jaco has more than 25 years’ financial, mining and executive experience. At the IDC, he was Executive Vice President – Projects and was responsible for Mining, Industrial, Oil & Gas, Infrastructure and Agricultural Projects and he led the IDC Finance team in the Mozal Aluminium Smelter near Maputo, Mozambique. Jaco worked at Standard Bank as Head – Mining & Metals Finance, Africa and he was the Standard Bank representative on the Phembani Board. He was CEO and Executive Director of the Pebble Bed Modular Nuclear Reactor Company (PBMR) for six years and is still a 45% shareholder in Ennex Developments (Pty) Ltd, a Project Development Company, focusing on power, energy and water. Jaco is a Chartered Accountant (SA) and holds a BCom Hons, MCom, FCMA England & Wales and completed the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD, France.
Phone: +27 82 808 0911
Mpho has executive experience spanning over 15 years. She trained as an environmental scientist; moved to marketing, communications, social investment and enterprise development. Mpho later focused on Human Resources and transformation. She was Group HR Director of Alexander Forbes before joining Vodacom as Chief HR Officer. Mpho served on several boards and currently at Impala Platinum and Sasol. She also serves on the Remuneration Committee of King IV. She was Executive Director on various boards of Alexander Forbes and Vodacom South Africa. She was Chairman of the Commission of Employment Equity. She received the Laureate Award from the University of Pretoria in 2009. Mpho has completed numerous NEDs, CEOs, HR Directors, C-Suite and General Managers assignments across multiple sectors. Mpho leads the SPi Board Practice and her qualifications include a BSc, MAP and an MBA.
Phone: +27 60 328 1921
Bongani has 18 years’ experience in human, continuous improvement and executive consulting within natural resources and infrastructure sectors. Bongani’s career began with Exxaro, Kumba Resources and later ArcelorMittal as Human Resources Manager. In 2010 he joined Ferro Atlantica where he assumed the position of Executive Manager SHERQ and Continuous Improvement focusing on quality and client satisfaction for clients from USA, Japan, Middle East and Europe. He later joined Fraser Alexander and was soon promoted to HR Director Tailings, responsible for nine African countries, South America and Australia. Bongani is founding Director of Thaba Chueu Mining. He has a B Admin, B Com Honours and a Programme in Social and Labour Law.
A Lawyer by training, Stephen left the legal profession and started Mast, the largest corporate training group in South Africa in 1977. Under Stephen’s tenure, Mast listed on the JSE in 1987. Stephen was the Executive Chairman of the group until June 1996. In 1997, Stephen co-founded Connemara Consulting, a change management consultancy and then in 1998 joined as a Director, MDM Growth Investments Ltd, a listed private equity company specialising in family businesses to help manage their investments. In 2002 he joined SPi (then Boyden) as a Director and set about restructuring the business. In 2004 he was appointed Managing Director. Stephen has a B.A. (Econ. & Law), LLB (Transvaal Bar, Supreme Court, 1978). He is the former Global Chairman of AltoPartners and the former Managing Director of Search Partners International from 2004 – June 2021. He also holds a number of other Directorships.
Christo’s career started as a young Industrial Engineer with Armscor, plus three years as management consultant with PWC. An international marketing position with CSIR followed, with time spent in its offices in London, Bonn and Washington DC. His strong entrepreneurial drive resulted in him starting his own recruitment business, later sold into what is now SPi. Christo has some 20 years’ executive search experience in the ICT, Manufacturing, Mining and Financial Services. He has successfully completed over 180 search assignments at executive and board level. As a past Captain of the Alumni Golf Society, he is a competitive golfer. He is a keen wine connoisseur and the founder of “Vino Felice”, a private wine-tasting fraternity. Christo is a member of the AESC Europe and Africa Council.
He is well-qualified up to Masters degree in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.
Phone: +27 82 875 7065
Karen has 25 years’ experience in the executive search industry and has consulted to blue chip listed, unlisted, and SMMEs across the board on executive talent solutions. Karen has a BA International Relations and Psychology from the University of the Witwatersrand. Karen’s resourcefulness, in-depth analytical skills and empathy have been pivotal to her career success. She is passionate about the advancement of women and was a long-time member of Soroptimists International, a networking organisation for professional and academic women. Her coaching skills have been honed by the depth and breadth of her experience in business and her acute understanding of the challenges faced by executives in current markets. She is optimistic about the exciting changes that digitalisation is bringing to business and the demand for new and interesting specialist skills and resources.
Phone: +27 82 600 8658
Richard is a Chartered Accountant by training with extensive experience in various roles at RMB (Rand Merchant Bank). Over the course of 29 years, he held positions heading up the consumer, manufacturing, and property advisory teams. His expertise also lies in restructurings and turnarounds, indicating his proficiency in guiding businesses through challenging situations and helping them recover.
Richard also served as a Business Development Director at RMB, where he focused on fostering connections to create mutually beneficial relationships. This demonstrates his passion for facilitating synergistic partnerships and collaborations.
Richard’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Commerce degree with Honours, specialising in Information Systems (BCom Hons)(Information Systems). He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant in South Africa. He also holds a Short Learning Program (SLP) certification in Business Rescue.
Phone: +27 82 459 7693
After earning her BSc Honours degree, Takalane embarked on a career that spanned multiple industries and included several key leadership roles. Takalane began her career at Astra Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, where she assumed the position of a sales executive. Subsequently, Takalane transitioned to the banking sector, taking on roles at respected financial institutions such as Standard Bank, Investec Bank Ltd, and Nedbank. Takalane’s journey towards senior leadership positions began with her appointment as the General Manager at Nashua Mobile. She then took on a significant role as the Executive Head, responsible for Financial Services and Commercial functions, at Vodacom. Her leadership journey continued with the position of Managing Director at Servest. This role allowed her to leverage her diverse skill set in managing an array of business operations and services. Takalane’s assumed the role of Managing Director and Country Head at Iron Mountain South Africa. Takalane holds a BSc Hons, PDM, MBA and EDP. Takalane is also a seasoned board member.
Elon Musk, Founder, CEO, and chief engineer/designer of SpaceX
