Industry body the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (Savca) has appointed Anusha Naidu as its new CEO, effective March 1, succeeding Tshepiso Kobile, who stepped down in May 2025.

Savca describes Naidu’s appointment as a defining moment for the organisation as it steps confidently into a broadened mandate and a dynamic new chapter for private capital across the Southern African region.

During the leadership transition, Savca board member Nicola Gubb assumed the role of interim executive director, providing steady and committed leadership to ensure continuity and organisational momentum.

“The Savca board extends its sincere gratitude to Nicola for her exemplary stewardship during this important period and welcomes her return to her role as nonexecutive board member, following a handover period,” the company says in a media release.

Naidu joins Savca from her role as corporate finance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) executive at Select Africa, African Alliance, where she served on the group executive committee and led capital raising, investor engagement, and strategic growth initiatives across multiple African markets.

For almost a decade, Savca says, she was instrumental in structuring and securing debt and equity funding, building relationships with global and domestic institutional investors, development finance institutions, sovereign funds and private capital providers, and advancing innovative financing solutions in sectors such as housing, real estate and microfinance.

A chartered accountant with extensive international experience, the company explains that Naidu brings more than 20 years of experience spanning corporate finance, private capital markets, merger and acquisition advisory, ESG implementation and financial services.

Her career includes senior roles at PwC in London, Dubai, Cape Town and Johannesburg, where she advised global banks, private equity firms, and institutional investors on complex transactions across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as North and South America.

Naidu has also been actively involved in shaping industry discourse through thought leadership, guest lecturing at the University of Cape Town, and contributing to research and policy discussions related to impact investing, housing finance, and sustainable capital deployment.

Savca says Naidu’s unique combination of strategic vision, technical expertise, global perspective and deep on-the-ground experience in African capital markets positions her well to lead the organisation at this important juncture.

“Anusha’s leadership comes at a time of exciting opportunity for the private capital industry.

“Her deep relationships across the investor ecosystem, combined with her experience in capital formation, governance, and ESG, will be instrumental in strengthening SAVCA’s role as an industry shaper and catalyst for growth,” says Savca chairperson Vuyo Ntoi.

Symbolising this renewal, Savca says it recently unveiled a refreshed brand identity and logo, describing it as a vibrant expression of its expanded purpose, forward momentum and commitment to being an ecosystem enabler.

“The Savca board welcomes Anusha to the organisation and looks forward to working alongside her to advance its mission and deliver on its expanded mandate,” the organisation says.