Anthony Zidan Kinnear Chief Executive Officer
Leadership is not about being It is about making everyone else better. the best.
Editor’s Editor’s
N o t e N o t e
The Power Behind Progress
AsSouthAfrica’sbusinesslandscapecontinuestoevolve,theroleof
visionaryleadershiphasneverbeenmorecrucial.In2025,thecountry’s topCEOsarenotonlydrivingeconomicgrowthbutalsofostering innovation,sustainability,andinclusivityintheirrespectiveindustries.These leadersaresettingnewbenchmarksincorporateexcellence,guidingtheir organizationsthroughcomplexchallengeswhileseizingemergingopportunities inarapidlychangingglobaleconomy
Inthisspecialedition,wespotlightSouthAfrica’s10MostProminentCEOs toWatch—trailblazerswhoareredefiningbusinessleadershipwithbold strategies,transformativeinitiatives,andadeepcommitmenttoprogress.From technologyandfinancetoenergyandretail,theseCEOsarespearheading industryadvancements,ensuringresilience,andshapingthefutureofSouth Africa’seconomiclandscape.
Whatsetstheseleadersapartistheirabilitytonavigatemarketshiftswith agility,leveragecutting-edgetechnologies,anddrivesustainablebusiness modelsthatcreatelastingimpact.Beyondtheircorporateachievements,theyare alsoplayingapivotalroleinfosteringeconomicempowerment,jobcreation, andcommunitydevelopment,solidifyingSouthAfrica’spositionasa competitiveforceontheglobalstage.
Aswedelveintotheirjourneys,leadershipphilosophies,andstrategicvisions, wegainvaluableinsightsintowhatittakestoleadwithpurposeanddrive meaningfulchangeintoday’sdynamicbusinessenvironment.Theirstoriesserve asatestamenttothepowerofresilience,innovation,andforward-thinking leadershipinshapingaprosperousfuture.
Joinusaswecelebratethese10ProminentCEOstoWatchin2025,whose influenceextendsfarbeyondtheboardroom,inspiringthenextgenerationof businessleadersandentrepreneursacrossSouthAfricaandbeyond.
08
C O V E R S T O R Y
Anthony Zidan Kinnear
Empowering Growth Through Strategic Partnerships
A R T I C L E S
16
20
5 Key Practices for Effective CEO Leadership
South African Business Growth Trends in the Digital Era
Editor-in-Chief
Managing
Executive
Art
Business
Business
Digital
Co-designer
Marketing
Technical
Research
Featuring
Anthony (Zidan) Kinnear CEO
CEO
Bryan Ha ngh
Craig Nowitz
CEO
Dan Vahaba
CEO Jevron Epstein
CEO
Lerato Dontache
CEO
Pieter Grobbelaar
CEO
Stanley Rabasotho
CEO
Thato Matsipe
CEO
Tobias Doyer CEO
Formulated IT Group fitg.co.za
Cycan cycan.co.za
Syntech syntech.co.za
Payer.io payer.io
GenEx genexins tute.com
NxaTel nxa.tel
360in1 Consul ng 360in1.co.za
MCPM Technologies mcpm.tech
PeoIT peoit.co.za
GrainSA Group grainsa.com Company
Brief
Under Anthony's leadership, FITG delivers cu ng-edge IT solu ons tailored to businesses across various industries, ensuring seamless integra on, security, and opera onal efficiency
With a career spanning execu ve coaching, corporate innova on, and strategic consul ng, Bryan has been instrumental in guiding businesses through growth, change, and digital evolu on.
Under Craig's leadership, Syntech has evolved into a trusted name, delivering high-performance products, strategic partnerships, and excep onal customer experiences.
With a strong background in financial technology and digital innova on, Dan has been instrumental in shaping Payer.io’s strategic vision, product development, and market expansion.
With a focus on innova on and excellence, Jevron leads GenEx in delivering cu ng-edge learning solu ons that empower individuals and organiza ons across various industries.
Lerato has been instrumental in driving innova on, digital transforma on, and customer-centric services within the telecom sector
With a proven track record in leadership, technology, and business development, Pieter has played a pivotal role in helping organiza ons op mize their opera ons and drive sustainable growth.
Stanley is commi ed to leveraging technology to create value-driven solu ons that enhance opera onal efficiency and long-term success.
With a strong background in innova on, strategic leadership, and business development, Thato has played a pivotal role in shaping PeoIT’s vision and expanding its influence in the tech industry
UnderTobias' leadership, GrainSA Group con nues to support farmers, agribusinesses, and stakeholders by providing market insights, advanced farming techniques, and advocacy for sustainable agricultural prac ces.
Kinnear Zidan
Empowering Growth Through Strategic Partnerships
Anthony Zidan Kinnear
Chief Executive Officer
Formulated IT Group
Inaworldwheretechnologyoftenfeelslikean
unchartedlabyrinth,someindividualspossesstherare abilitytounlockdoorsotherscan'tevensee.Yearsago, whensecurityandconnectivityweremerebuzzwords,he recognizedtheneedforacomprehensiveapproach,onethat bridgedthegapbetweenanorganization'svisionandits technologicalinfrastructure.Itwasinthispursuitthathe discoveredthekeytounlockinglimitlesspotential.
ThisvisionarywasAnthonyZidanKinnear,CEOof FormulatedITGroup(FITG).Byunderstandingthe intricaciesofsecurity,stability,andconnectivity,Anthony transformedFITGintoabeaconofinnovation.His approachwassimpleyetprofound:ensuringevery connectiontothenetworkwasnotonlysecurebut seamless,allowingbusinessestoworkwithouthesitation. Today,FITGstandsasatestamenttoitsabilitytonavigate thecomplexitiesoftechnologyandopendoorstoafuture whereconnectivityknowsnobounds.
AJourneyofSalesMastery
Anthonyhasdedicated25yearstothesalesindustry, beginninghiscareerasadirectdoor-to-doorsalesman,a rolehestilldeeplyvaluesandrespects.Injustthreeyears, herosetobecometheyoungestsalesmanagerathis company.Bytheageof26,hetookontheroleofSales Directoratoneoftheworld’slargestgloballaserprinting companies.
At28,Anthonyembarkedonhisentrepreneurialjourney, foundinghisfirstcompany,FormulatedITGroup(FITG), whichhehasnurturedandgrownintoagroupofbusinesses overthepast17years.Throughhisjourney,Anthonyhas learnedoneinvaluablelesson:alwaysdevelop,always learn,andalwaysfocusonmakingthesale.
MasteringData,Security,andSelf-Management
Anthonyunderstandstheimmensevalueofdata;heseesit asmoney.Gaininginsightsintoacompetitor’sprofile, whendoneethically,providesasignificantedge.Intoday’s world,protectingcompanyinformationandintellectual property(IP)isparamount,andforFITG,securityisbotha challengeandanopportunity Thecompanydoesn'tjust managesecurity;itensuresthateverythingconnectedtothe networkissecure.
Whileitmayseemoldschool,Anthonyfirmlybelievesin thepowerofmicromanagement.Thoughtime-consuming, thisapproachteachespeoplehowtomanagethemselves. Afterall,youeitherknowhowtomanageyourtimeand tasks,oryoudon’t.AtFITG,livingadiary-drivenlife, where"when,where,andhow"aremeticulouslyplanned,is anessentialpartofthecompany’sculture,ensuring accountabilityandnurturingdisciplinewithintheteam.
In Anthony's view, having hardware onsite remains more stable, reliable, and within his control. With this setup, he can directly manage and oversee nearly every aspect of the operation, which provides a level of assurance and flexibility that cloud-based solutions may not always offer.
EnsuringStabilityandControl
Sevenyearsago,FITGadoptedastrategicapproach focusedonthecriticalroleofconnectivityinhostedor cloudservices.ForAnthony,thekeyquestionis:Isthe connectionstableenoughtohosteverythingneededoffsite, fromPBXsystemstoservers,software,orevenallofit? Speedisanothercrucialfactor.Understandingtheunique requirementstocompleteworkflows,especiallythose dependentontightdeadlinesandproductivity,isessential. That’swhyrunningaProofofConcept(POC)isso important—ensuringtherightfitbeforecommittingtoa solution.
InAnthony'sview,havinghardwareonsiteremainsmore stable,reliable,andwithinhiscontrol.Withthissetup,he candirectlymanageandoverseenearlyeveryaspectofthe operation,whichprovidesalevelofassuranceand flexibilitythatcloud-basedsolutionsmaynotalwaysoffer.
Understanding,Respecting,andSecuringClientNeeds
AtFITG,Anthonyandhisteaminteractwithawidevariety ofpeopleeveryday,eachwiththeirownunique perspectivesandexperiences.Theteamunderstandsthe importanceofrespectingothers'time,experiences, suggestions,andinvolvementinordertobuildmeaningful relationships.AtFITG,thefocusisonfirstunderstanding theclient’sneeds,followedbygainingrespectthrough thoughtfulandeffectiveimplementation.Acknowledging andrespectingdifferentenvironmentsandindividualsisat theheartoftheircollaborativeapproach,fosteringlongtermsuccess.
TheteamatFITGtakesgreatprideintheirprocess,which issimpleyethighlyeffective:theyfollowaproven,
While it may seem old school, Anthony firmly believes in the power of
micromanagement.
Though
timeconsuming, this approach teaches people how to manage themselves. After all, you either know how to manage your time and tasks, or you don’t.
structuredapproach.Thisincludesconductingthorough auditsofITinfrastructure,software,andeverything connectedtotheclient’snetwork.
Whileadvancedsoftwareisusedforthisprocess,amanual checklistisalsofollowedtoensureaccuracy Thefirststep isunderstandingtheclient’sneedforsecurity,thesecondis identifyingtheconnectivityrequirements,andthethirdstep iswhereFITGappliestheirsecret,anapproachthat consistentlydeliversresults.
VisionforGrowthandCollaborationin2025
2024wasayearofbothtriumphsandvaluablelessonsfor AnthonyandhisteamatFITG.Lookingahead,theyare
gearingupforanexcitingexpansionin2025.Forthose whoarepassionateaboutindustriesalignedwithFITG’s workandenvisionafuturefilledwithopportunities,now maybetheperfecttimetoconnect.FITGcouldbethe"big brother"thatprovidesthetools,guidance,andsupport neededtohelplaunchyourowntechbusinessinthenear future.
Anthonyemphasizesthevitalimportanceofreputationand word-of-mouthinbuildingstrongbusinessrelationships. Hebelievesthatpartnershipsandcollaborationsare opportunitiestoshareknowledge,gaininsights,andreceive support.AtFITG,thisdynamicisatwo-waystreet,always aboutmutualbenefitandgrowth.
EmpowermentThroughSmartPartnerships
AtFITG,empoweringothersisatthecoreoftheir philosophy.Anthonybelievesinthevalueoffindinga"big brother"—someonewithexperience,asolidreputation,and ahistoryoflearningfrommistakes.Amentorwhonotonly providesguidancebutalsoofferstheopportunitytoabsorb knowledgeandleveragetheirsuccess.
HedrawsinspirationfromcompanieslikeUber, Booking.com,andAirbnb.Thesebusinessesownverylittle butleveragetheassetsandstrengthsofotherstodrivetheir success.It’samodelthatexemplifiesthepowerof collaboration,resourcefulness,andsmartpartnerships, principlesthatFITGvaluesdeeply.
"TheCEO’sjobisleadership, notmanagement.”
-BenHorowitz
5 Key Practices for Effective CEO Leadership
Successfulleadershipisthefoundationofevery
successfulbusiness,andCEOsarethekeydriversof businessgrowth,innovation,andlong-termsuccess. CEOstodayneedstrategicthinkingasamindsettoenable themtotacklechallenges,motivatepeople,andbuild lastingvalueintoday'sfast-pacedbusinessenvironment. Leadershipisnotaboutdecision-making—ittakesvision, flexibility,andaninsatiablehungertolearn.
The next five are the core practices that capture great CEO leadership.
1.ClearVisionandStrategy
Establishingandarticulatingclearvisionforthecompanyis perhapsoneofthemostsignificantresponsibilitiesaCEO has.Aspokenvisiongivesdirection,getseveryoneonthe samepageastothepurposeoftheorganization,andcreates commonpurpose.
SuccessfulCEOsbridgethevision-implementgapthrough theestablishmentofquantifiableobjectives,prioritization ofkeyprojects,andcommunicationacrossalldepartments. Strategicthoughtincludesforecastingwhattrendsinthe futurewilltakeplaceintheindustry,areaswherethefirm willgrowintothefuture,andfact-drivendecision-making whichbringstheorganizationtolong-termsuccess.Vision alsokeepsemployeesmotivatedanddrivenevenduring unfavorableconditions.
2.CreatingaResilientandFlexibleFirmCulture
Acompany'scultureisstronglyconnectedwiththe employee'smotivation,performance,andturnover.CEOs arethecenterfordevelopingahealthyorganization's cultureinreturnforcreatinginnovative,diverse,and flexibleemployees.
Trustfulleaderscreatetrustculturesthroughopen communication,teamwork,andvaluingemployees'input. Theyevencreateflexibilitysothatthegroupscanreact instantlytomarketvolatility,technologicaladvancement, andcompetitiveness.Acultureofflexibilityenablesan organizationtomakechangeandcontinuouslyenhanceits businessprocesses.
3.LeadingwithEmotionalIntelligence
HighEQCEOswilltendtohaveabetterrelationship,solve conflict,andmakebetterdecisions.Emotionalintelligence involvesself-awareness,empathy,andbeingableto manageemotionsinstressfulsituations. EmpathicleadershipenablesCEOstorelatetoemployees, listentotheemployeewhocomplains,andhaveagood organizationalculture.Empathicleadershipalsoencourages managingstakeholderrelationships,negotiationwith partners,andmanagingcrisescalmly Throughemotional intelligencedemonstration,CEOsbuildtrustand commitmentthatresultsinorganizationalperformance.
4.FosteringInnovationandBeingOpentoChange
Asthebusinessscenarioevolves,innovationcontinuesto remainoneoftheprimarydriversforsuccess.GreatCEOs upholdtheethosofnever-endingimprovementthrough fosteringinnovationcultureinthefirm.Itconstitutes investmentinresearchanddevelopment,theadoptionof newtechnologies,andempoweringpeopletobe imaginative.
Changeleadersleadthewaytofindnewbusinessmodels, innovatewithdisruptivetrends,andalignstrategytooutwit thegame.Theyalsogiveteamsfreedomtoinnovatenew things,testwithcalculatedrisks,andlearnfromfailure. Withthisinnovativespirit,CEOsmaketheirorganizations agileandcompetitiveinrapidlychangingmarkets.
5.MakingData-DrivenDecisions
SuccessfulCEOsmakedecisionsondata,insights,and analytics,asopposedtofollowingtheirinstincts.Fact-
basedbusinessplanningthroughtheuseofanalyticslowers risk,improvesoperatingperformance.
CEOsnowusesophisticatedanalytics,artificial intelligence,andkeyperformanceindicators(KPIs)totrack businessperformanceandpredictfuturetrends. instillacultureofdatainalltheorganizationallayerswith theintentiontogiveteamsinformationtomaximize strategies,enhancecustomerexperience,andmaximize profitability
Conclusion
StrongCEOleadershiprequiresstrategicvision, adaptability,emotionalintelligence,andimagination.CEOs cancreatelong-termsuccessfortheirorganizationsby definingdirection,buildingapowerfulcompanyculture, leadingfromtheheart,adaptingandchanging,andusing datatomakeintelligentdecisions.
Leadershipisanongoingprocess,andtopCEOsare makingconstanttweakstorespondtoshiftingbusiness issuesandinspireothers.
SouthAfrican Business Growth Trends in the Digital Era
TheeconomyofSouthAfricaisundergoingradical transformation,andtechnologyaswellasdigital innovationisleadingthepack.Withbusinesses shiftingtothedigitalspace,sectorsareadopting automation,artificialintelligence,anddata-drivenmethods tostayahead.Digitaluseisnolongeroptionalbutthenorm forenterpriseswantingtogrow,streamlineprocesses,and keeppacewiththechangingdemandsofadynamic marketplace.
TheRiseofE-CommerceandDigitalPayments
Thegrowthine-commercehasbeenoneofthemost unexpectedeventsoftheages.Withanincreaseininternet penetrationandsmartphonepenetration,consumptionover thewebhasbecomethechicplatformforthemasses. Corporatehousesareadoptingsmoothonlinepayment systems,mobilewallets,andonlinesecuritypaymentto helpthemreachthecustomers'demands.
Theapplicationoffintechtechnologieshasalsoencouraged theadoptionofcashlesstransactions.Onlinepayment systems,suchasmobilebankingapps,andcontactless paymentmethodsareenablingcompaniestoautomate transactionswhilemakinglifeeasierforconsumers.The driveforfinancialinclusionhasalsofacilitatedmore companiestoreachmarketsthatwerehithertounpenetrated, fuelingeconomicdevelopment.
TheEmergenceofRemoteWorkandVirtual Collaboration
Thepandemicreshapedthetraditionalofficeenvironments, leadingtoamorewidespreaduptakeofremoteandhybrid workingcultures.SouthAfricanbusinesseshavecometo understandhowtoadaptcloudcomputing,online communicationtools,anddigitalcollaborationsoftwareto ensureefficiencyandproductivity
Ascompaniesarenowgoingonlinemoreandmore, investmentsincybersecurityanddataprotectionhave becometheorderoftheday.Asremoteworkinghas becomethenewnorminthemajorityofindustries, companiesarenowfocusingonsecuredigitalinfrastructure topreventcyberattacksandprovidebusinesscontinuity
AdoptionofArtificialIntelligenceandAutomation
Artificialintelligence(AI)andautomationleadSouth Africa'sbusinessrevolution.Fromcustomerservice chatbotstodecision-makingwithpredictiveanalytics,AI solutionsarerevolutionizingbusinessesacrossindustries. CompaniesareleveragingAItoolstocustomizethe customerexperience,automatesupplychainoperations,and simplifybusinessprocesses.
Automationhasalsobecomeapartofmanufacturingand logistics.Intelligentfactoriesbasedonroboticprocess automation(RPA)areloweringcostsandincreasing productioncapacity.UseofAIinbusinessprocessesis turningSouthAfricancompaniesintoglobalplayers.
TheEmergenceofDigitalMarketingandDataAnalysis
Internetmarketingistodayapartofbusinessdevelopment inSouthAfrica.Businessesaremovingawayfrom conventionaladvertisementstrategiestointernetmarketing strategiesthatincludetheutilizationofsocialmedia,SEO, andstatisticsanalysisfortheidentificationofpotential consumers.
Withtheadventofbigdata,organizationsareabletomake soundbusinessdecisions,gainmoreinsightsintohuman behavior,anddesignadcampaignstoperformattheirbest. AIadoptionininternetmarketingisaidingorganizationsin predictingmarkettrends,automationofcustomer communication,andprovidingconsumerswithvery personalizedexperiences.
TheCultureofTechnologyandtheEmergenceof Startups
TherehasbeenincreasedstartupactivityinSouthAfrica, andmostofithasbeentechnology Thepresenceoffintech, healthtech,andedtechstartupshasledtojobscreationand economicgrowth.Venturecapitalcompanies,incubators, andacceleratorsarebackingthestartupecosystemthrough financingandmentorshipopportunitiestoentrepreneurs.
Governmentprogramsandprivate-publiccollaborationsare alsocreatinginnovationcenters,andsmallenterprisesare beingmademoreaccessibletodigitalpower Theyare reachingmoremarkets.Moretechnologystartupsareproof ofthegrowingdigitaleconomyofthecountry.
DigitalTransformationintheFinancialSector
TheSouthAfricanfinancialservicesindustryhasembraced digitalinnovationinitswaketoredefinebankingservices andimprovecustomerservices.Bankshavestarted integratingfintechinnovationsandofferingdigitallending, blockchaintransactionalsystems,andriskassessment technologybasedonartificialintelligence.
Mobilebankingproductshavetransformedaccessto financeinawaythatitbecomeseasyforindividualsto makeuseofelectronicfinancialservices.Expansionin digitalfinanceisbuildinganinclusiveeconomysothatit facilitatessmallandmedium-sizedbusinesses(SMEs)to gainaccesstocreditandgrowthfinancialopportunities.
TheRoleofDigitalInfrastructureandConnectivity
High-qualityinternetaccessiskeytodigitalization,and SouthAfricaisheavilyinvestinginbroadbanddeployment. Thepushforbuilding5Gnetworksandruralcoverageis leadingthewaytoincreaseddigitalinclusionacrossall sectors.
Withmoreandmorebusinessesoutsourcingcloud computinganddatacenterstomanagethestreamliningof theirbusiness,theneedforadaptivedigitalinfrastructure riseseverhigher Thesecompaniesarecreatingthelongtermfoundationsforsuccessinanincreasinglyconnected world.
Conclusion
SouthAfrica'sdigitalrevolutionistransformingthe businessenvironment,fuelinggrowththroughe-commerce adoption,AIimplementation,digitalmarketing,andfintech development.Digitalenterprisesaremoreresilient,robust, andbetterplacedtocompeteinamoreglobalizedworld. Withcontinuedadvancementsindigitalinfrastructureand newtechnologiesenteringthemarket,SouthAfrican companieshaveararechancetotapintothepotentialofthe digitalagetofuelsustainablegrowth.
Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
C . S . L E W I S
