Mpho Nkeli

Mpho Nkeli serves as the Executive Chairperson and Head of the Board Practice at Search Partners International (SPi), bringing over 15 years of executive experience across multiple industries. She began her career as an environmental scientist before transitioning into marketing, communications, social investment, and enterprise development. Her expertise in human resources and transformation led her to hold prominent roles such as Group HR Director at Alexander Forbes and Chief HR Officer at Vodacom South Africa.

Beyond her executive roles, Mpho gained valuable experience in corporate governance. She served as an executive director on the boards of Alexander Forbes and Vodacom South Africa and as a non-executive director for Life Healthcare Group, African Bank Investments Limited, and Sasol Limited. While serving on the Sasol board, she was also the Chair of the Remuneration Committee. Currently, she is the Chair of the Impala Platinum Remuneration Committee and previously chaired the Remuneration Committee at the Auditor-General of South Africa. In addition, she played a vital role as the Chairperson of the Commission for Employment Equity, demonstrating her commitment to workplace transformation and diversity in South Africa.

Mpho’s 10 years’ experience in executive search is unique. She has been involved in the process from three different perspectives—as an HR Director leading executive searches, as a Board member responsible for CEO, executive and Non-Executive Director appointments, and now as an Executive Search consultant leading search for top organisations. This rare combination of experience gives her an understanding of the search process from multiple angles, ensuring deep insights into leadership selection and placement.

Mpho was honoured with the Laureate Award from the University of Pretoria in 2009. She holds a BSc in Environmental Science, a Management Advancement Programme (MAP) certificate, and an MBA. Currently, she serves on the board of Impala Platinum Holdings Limited, is a member of the AltoPartners global Operations Committee and continues to provide leadership in CEO, NED and Executive search services, together with related leadership consulting services.

At SPi, Mpho leads the Board Practice, leveraging her vast experience to conduct executive search assignments across multiple sectors. She specialises in the placement of CEOs, Non-Executive Directors, and C-suite executives, ensuring the best-fit leadership for organisations.