Digital infrastructure and digital services provider Seacom has appointed Mandisa Ntloko-Petersen as the new group chief marketing officer and Charl Slabbert as group CFO, effective April 1.

The appointments of the senior executives, with their astuteness, insight and previous international experience in C-suite roles, are expected to greatly benefit the company, said Seacom group CEO Alpheus Mangale.

“They are well-acquainted with the industry, having worked with other leading brands in South Africa and beyond. We anticipate the value they will bring to their roles and the strengthening of our top-tier leadership at Seacom.”

Slabbert is a seasoned finance executive with over 25 years of experience in finance, corporate strategy, operations management, business integration and restructuring, mergers and acquisitions and stakeholder management across South Africa, several African countries and the UK.

“[He] brings extensive experience in strategic, commercial and operational finance, with a proven track record in Africa. His expertise in managing mergers, acquisitions and stakeholder relationships in listed and private equity settings is valuable to Seacom,” said Mangale.

In addition to his academic qualifications in accounting, Slabbert is affiliated with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants as a chartered accountant and the Institute of Directors as a chartered director.

“I am excited to join Seacom as the group CFO. My strategic, private equity and financial expertise will allow me to contribute positively to Seacom. With my prior experiences as group CFO and strategy executive in Vodacom, Cell C and various enterprise service providers, I am well-prepared to engage with Seacom’s diverse shareholder environments. I thrive on the strategic thinking required in a group CFO role and look forward to being a key player in the company's corporate leadership,” said Slabbert.

Ntloko-Petersen has 30 years of expertise in marketing, communications and brand positioning, with an extensive background including leadership roles at BCX, Dimension Data, MTN and Accenture, where she has driven significant brand growth and innovation.

She holds a degree in International Relations and Industrial Sociology from the University of the Witwatersrand, and was awarded the Nelson Mandela Scholarship for her MBA degree, which she completed at the University of Warwick in the UK. She also completed an MBA exchange programme at Esade Business School in Spain.

“Ntloko-Petersen is known for her innovative approach to leveraging brand positioning and digital tools. She is deeply committed to youth and women development and creating a significant impact beyond the corporate sphere.”

She will lead Seacom’s brand and marketing efforts, focusing on enhancing the company’s brand presence, driving client engagement and supporting growth objectives.

Specifically, she will oversee the brand positioning for both Seacom’s digital services and digital infrastructure businesses.

“Her leadership will be instrumental in defining and executing strategies differentiating our offerings in these key areas, ensuring that Seacom remains at the forefront of innovation and customer satisfaction.

“I am eager to collaborate with these two senior leaders as they join Seacom's senior group leadership team. They bring the right credentials and approach to excel in our team environment and unlock significant value from their teams,” Mangale concluded.