2026 Nominees
HR executives who have shown exemplary skills, vision and results can be nominated for the CHRO Awards. Nominations are submitted by the panel of judges, business leaders, colleagues, HR teams and partners. A shortlist is prepared by the experts of CHRO South Africa under the supervision of the panel of judges.
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Dr. Angie Ontong
Director of HR Development, HR Planning, Strategy and Information Management, Department of Trade and Industry
Barney Khumalo
CPO, Rainbow Chicken
Boniwe Dunster
Executive Manager: Human Resources, Lanseria International Airport
Brenda Talazo
Vice President & Head of HR & Business Enablement, Saab
Dr. Busi Tshabalala
Group Human Resources Executive Office, African Rainbow Minerals
Dorah Tlala-Tanor
CHRO, Proconics Holdings
Duke Mgaga
CPO, Parliment of Republic of South Africa
Joseph Rock
CPPO, Exxaro
Kedibone Letsika
People & Culture Director, JTI
Matimba Mbungela
Group CHRO, Vodacom Group
Meko Magida
HR Executive, University of Western Cape
Melissa Gangen
CHRO, Digital Planet
Mmabatho Tlale
CHCO, Zeda
Dr Nceba Ndzwayiba
Executive Director: Resources , Netcare
Neptune Masombuka
Chief Human Capital Officer , SIU
Nomfundo Vilakazi
CPO, Dischem
Nosipho Kunene
HR director, Kimberly-Clark
Nthabiseng Thaba
HR Director, Leroy Merlin
Patience Mushungwa
Divisional Executive for Human Capital , Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)
Reabetswe Motshegare
HR Director, Scatec
Sikhumbuzo Mkhwanazi
Group HR Manager, Autoboys
Zongezile Baloyi
Executive:Corporate Services, Council for Medical Schemes
Categories CHRO Awards
CHRO of the Year
The CHRO of the Year has shown leadership and outstanding performance over a number of years. He or she is very involved with the strategy of the company and is a true business partner. The CHRO of the Year has been the driving force behind growth and profitability and sets the benchmark for excellence in the HR profession. The CHRO of the Year is leading by example and has outperformed all others based on skills, attitude and results.
The Public Sector CHRO of the Year award honours an outstanding leader driving innovation in government HR. The winner sets the benchmark for excellence, ensuring a skilled, diverse workforce while navigating regulations and tight budgets. They excel in retaining top talent through strategic planning and development. Their leadership enhances employee growth, improves service delivery, and reinforces HR’s role as a catalyst for transformation in the public sector.
Young CHRO of the Year
The winner of the Young CHRO of the Year Award has shown remarkable professional development and has demonstrated great value for the organisation. Aged up to and including 40, this CHRO has moved up through the ranks and made an impact across all aspects of HR and the business. The Young CHRO of the Year is leading by example and has outperformed all others based on skills, attitude and results.
Strategy & Leadership Award
The winner of the Strategy & Leadership Award has dealt with serious and intense changes in the business environment. The award winner has shown that their timely and agile engagement helped the business successfully adapt to the new demands and challenges. The CHRO who wins this award has shown great leadership and has equipped people to thrive and contribute to the strategy of the organisation. The CHRO has contributed with valuable insights, analyses, the (re)allocation of assets and the alignment of the HR function with the strategy.
Transformation & Empowerment Award
The winner of this award has shown remarkable achievements to create jobs and build the economy while boosting the performance of the company. The CHRO has been a true champion of compliance and is a promoter of transformation as a strategic imperative. The company has made serious efforts to promote diversity inside the organisation and through the enterprise supplier development efforts, brought a greater level of economic participation to its stakeholders. He or she made B-BBEE good practice a standing agenda item for board and management meetings and can point to tangible change and success in this regard.
HR & Technology Award
The winner of this award has played a crucial role in crafting and executing a successful business-aligned IT strategy.. Based on a clear vision and plan, this CHRO has strongly supported the implementation of systems with a proven impact on the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation. The winner is a steward for technology driven change, used data and analytics in an innovative way to the benefit of the organisation and its employees.
Learning & Development Award
The winner of this award has been the driving force behind the upskilling and development of people at all levels in the organisation. The CHRO who wins this award has been very successful in aligning the learning and development policies and practice with the strategic goals of the organisation and can cite examples of innovative and successful way the workforce is improving. This CHRO has also played a pivotal role in the continued learning of executives and leaders.
Talent Management Award
Innovative and successful recruitment and exceptional, results-driven talent management. Those are the requirements to win this award. The winner has demonstrated his or her capabilities to build a high performing organisation that is both efficient and customer-focussed. Based on a clear vision, this CHRO has invested in people’s careers for the benefit to the entire organisation and the bottom line.
Employee Value Proposition Award
The winner of this award has been responsible for shaping the organisation’s culture for the benefit of its employees and - ultimately - for the benefit of the bottom line. Through smart rewards, recognition and benefits, the CHRO is responsible for an employee value proposition that makes the organisation stand apart from others. The winner of this award also oversees health and wellness initiatives that are of a world-class standard.
2025
Aba Ayirebi
Head of People, Stor-Age Property REIT Ltd
Andrew Millson
Executive: Human Capital and Sustainability, Food Lovers Market Holdings
Bronwynne Bester
Chief People Officer, Oceana Group Limited
Bridget Makhura
VP of People, South African Breweries
Charlotte Mokoena
Executive Vice President: Human Resources and Corporate Affairs, Sasol
Daniel Olifant
CHRO, SANBS
Dennis Coetzee
Group Executive: Human Capital, NWK Limited
Gcobisa Ntshona
Group CPO, African Bank
Jeanett Modise
Group Chief People Office, Absa
Khabonina Ramoupi
Group People Officer, AECI
Kholo Kunene
Africa Human Resources Director, Nissan Africa
Kirsty-Lee Phaal
SVP HR, NTT DATA MEA
Lindiwe Miyambu
Chief People Officer, Auditor General South Africa
Londiwe Mncube
CHRO, The Competition Commission of South Africa
Luyanda Finini
Director: HRP & Organisational Development, Eastern Cape Health Department
Masenyane Molefe
Group Executive Human Resources, Professional Provident Society (PPS)
Nolo Thobejane
Chief People, Culture and Purpose Officer (KFC Africa)
Norah Sehunoe
Executive Head Human Capital - Santam
Palesa Ntoagae
Human Capital Executive, Old Mutual Insure
Pindi Gida
Chief Officer: Human Capital, SALGA
Sana-Ullah Bray
Group Executive: Human Capital, Sanlam
Sibonakaliso Shabangu
Head of HR , Market Area, BASF
Trevor Dale
Head of HR, Raubex Group
2024
Annalize van der Waal
CHRO & VP: People, PepsiCo
Colin Smith
Executive: HR, Northam Platinum
Deborah Fuller
Group Executive: HR, Nedbank
Dr Liziwe Masoga
Chief People Officer, Mr Price
Elanie Kruger
CHRO, Tsebo Solutions Group
Itumeleng Matsheka
Chief of People Management and Learning, Transnet
Kavita Ramjee
CHRO, Coface South Africa
Laressa Thavarin
HR Director Southern Africa and Africa Cluster, Air Liquide
Melody Lekota
CHRO, Telkom
Naeem Timol
Group HR & Legal Manager, Pedros Flame Grilled Chicken
Palesa Matoli
Executive Head: Human Capital & Transformation, Bidvest Bank
Rizwana Butler
Group Executive: HR, Capitec Bank
Savina Harrilall
Chief People Officer, Mukuru
Shalini Bhateja
VP: People and Culture - Africa, The Coca-Cola Company
Shireen Johnson
Virgin Active South Africa & Kauai, Virgin Active
S'ne Magagula
CHRO, Tiger Brands
Tebogo Maenetja
CHRO, MTN South Africa
Terence Moolman
Chief Strategy and People Officer, Syspro
Thabo Masete
Executive HR Director, Ford Motor Company of Southern Arica
Unathi Sihlahla
Executive Head: HR & OD, Rand Refinery
Nominees 2023
Besa Muthuri
Acting GE: HR & Legal Services, Agricultural Research Council
Chwayita Shude-Mareka
SVP, Chief People Officer, Massmart
Cindy Botha
Head of People, Makosi
Clement O'Reilly
CHRO, MultiChoice Group
Jonathan Muthige
CHRO, Alexander Forbes
Juba Mashaba
CHRO, Cell C
Kutlwano Rawana
Chief of People, Rectron
Lungile Langa
Group HR executive, ACSA
Malisha Awunor
Group Head of People and Culture, EOH
Norma Teyise
Head: DTI, Takealot Group
Theo Motshabi
HR Director, BP South Africa
Sameera Mohamed
HR Director, Microsoft SA
Shelagh Goodwin
Head of HR, Media24
Sharon Taylor
Chief People and Culture Officer, Standard Bank Group
Sinqobile Khuluse
Head of HR, Sandock Austral Shipyards.
Stephanie Fouche
HR Director, Clarins South Africa
Themba Chakela
Chief People Officer, Blue Sky
Tshepo Yvonne Mosadi
Former HR Director, Heineken South Africa
Tshidi Anya
Regional HR Director: Africa & Middle East, Weir Minerals
Nominees 2022
Antoinette Roberts
Group HR Executive, Blue Label Telecoms
Bongani Phakathi
Executive Human Resources and Public Affairs, Assore
Desereé Van Den Berg
Executive Head: Human Capital, Risk Benefit Solutions
Dineo Sekwele
Group Human Resources Executive, Transaction Capital Risk Services
Enid Lizamore
Group Executive Head of HR, Santam.
Fifi Sali
HR Executive, Vumatel
John Skelton
Chief People Officer, The Capital Hotel Group
Khanya Magudulela
HR Director, Hyundai Automotive South Africa
Kim McCallum
Chief Capability Officer, Vantage Data
Lee-Ann Samuel
HR Director, Implats
Marlize Kriel
Chief People Officer - Africa, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Inc.
Michele Seroke
Chief People Officer, Motus
Mpho Mazibuko
Head of HR, Media Mark
Nina Sternberg
Chief HR & Service Officer, Home of Living Brands
Njabulo Mashigo
Executive Director: HR, Vodacom SA
Phil Tshikotshi
VP: HR, Startek
Portia Thokoane
Group CHRO, Dark Fibre Africa
Pumeza Bam
Group HR Director, Liberty
Renske Coetzee
Group HR Manager, Redefine
Riani Meyer
CHRO, BitCo
Verna Robson
HR Director, Sun International
Vinolia Singh
Chief People Officer, Adcorp
Nominees 2021
Akhona Qengqe
Chief People Officer, YUM - KFC Africa
Anne Grunow
CHRO, Fedgroup
Beverley Bennett
Executive: HR, Curro
Candice Watson
Group Human Capital Executive, AECI
Celiwe Ross
Human Capital Director, Old Mutual
Dean Naidoo
Chief People Officer, Zutari
Dieter Veldsman
Thought Leader, The Academy to Innovate HR
Donald Khumalo
HR Director, JSE
Eswhin Booysen
CHRO, In2Food
Hope Lukoto
Chief of HR, BCX
Jasmin Pillay
Director: HR Consulting - Middle East & Africa, Microsoft SA
Jeanett Modise
Group Human Resources Director, Sanlam
Julia Modise
Chief People Officer, Bridgestone
Kim Usher
Group HR Director, Illovo Sugar
Lebitso Mokgatle
HR Director, ENSAfrica
Lebo Lekgetho
HR Executive, Reutech Solutions
Neridha Moodley
Leader: People and Culture, SNG Grant Thornton
Ruth Wotela
People Wellness Executive, Silverbridge
Taryn Swemmer
Chief Of Staff, Decision Inc
Nominees 2020
Angie Ontong
Director: Human Resource Development, The DTI
Brigitte da Gama
Executive Director: Human Capital, McDonald's
Elanie Kruger
Chief People Officer, Tsebo Solutions
Heidi Kornmuller
Head of Talent Management, Coronation
Kyle Chetty
Executive: Human Resources, Autoboys
Lee-Ann Samuel
Group Executive: People, Implats
Lesley-Anne Gatter
Head of People, Investec
Linda Roos
Head of Human Resources, OOBA
Michele Seroke
Chief People Officer, Motus Corporation
Nathan Motjuwadi
Executive: Human Resources & CSI, Capitec Bank
Ndivhu Nepfumbada
HR Director Africa, Transunion
Paul Vermaak
HR Director Africa, Smiths Manufacturing
Penny Hlubi
Head of HR, Robert Bosch
Phillip Tshikotshi
Associate Vice President & Head HR, Startek
Phindokuhle Mohlala
Group Executive HR, PPC
S’ne Magagula
Chief HR Officer, Tiger Brands
Sharmila Govind
Head of HR for Market Area Africa, BASF
Thuli Tabudi
Group HR Executive, SPAR
Tswelo Kodisang
Chief People Officer, Discovery
Vanisha Balgobind
Executive Head: Human Resources, Exxaro Resources
Nominees 2019
Abey Kgotle
Executive Director Human Resources, Mercedes-Benz SA
Bertina Engelbrecht
Human Resources Director Clicks Group
Brigitte da Gama
Chief People Officer, McDonald's South Africa
Cebile Xulu
HR Director: South & Central East Africa Mondelēz International
Dolores Mashishi
Group Executive : Human Capital Altron
Greg van Wyk
Chief HR Officer Mediclinic Southern Africa
Matimba Mbungela
Chief Human Resources Officer, Vodacom
Mechell Chetty
HR Vice President Unilever Africa
Michaela Voller
HR Executive: Middle East & Africa, Dimension Data
Njabulo Mashigo
Director:Human Resources Director (Spanbreaker/Talent Management lead): Africa, Middle East & Eastern Europe Heineken
Nonhlanhla Mhlungu
VP Human Resources Swissport SA
Paul Norman
Group CHRO MTN
Sharon Taylor
Head of Human Capital Standard Bank Group
Shelagh Goodwin
General Manager: Human Resources, Media24
Suren Naidoo
Chief People Officer OUTsurance
Tantaswa Fubu
Group Executive: Human Capital Barloworld
Trishana Maharaj
HR and Health & Safety Director Africa G4S
Verna Robson
HR Director Sun International
Vicky Tlhabanelo
Executive: HR Royal Bafokeng Platinum