2023 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.

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

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.

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.

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