Lullu Krugel is a Partner in Financial Risk Management and the Chief Economist of KPMG South Africa. She is a frequent presenter at conferences and a regular commentator in the media, where she shares her insights about developments in the South African economy. Over the past 9 years, she has worked with national and multinational clients, assisting them to understand their strategic positioning in light of current and expected future economic developments. If you don’t find her looking at graphs, she might be out running or if the weather does not play along, you might find her with a paintbrush or a book of poetry in her hand.

Dr Mathews Phosa is attorney and one of South Africa’s leading business and political figures. During the early 1980s, Dr Phosa was forced into exile where he became the Regional Commander for Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) the then military wing of the ANC. In his return to the country, he was appointed as the first Premier of the Mpumalanga Province in 1994. Dr Phosa also served as ANC’s Treasurer General from 2007 – 2012. In addition to his political career, Dr Phosa has multiple business ventures where he sits on a number of listed/unlisted company boards. With numerous other accolades behind him, in 2013, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to transformation and empowerment at the 12th Oliver Empowerment Awards.

Lee Naik is Managing Director of Accenture Digital in South Africa. Over the course of his career, he has worked across all spheres of government and private sector industries.

His experience ranges from developing first-in-country strategies and solutions to transforming service delivery, to hands-on delivery managing complex end-to-end programmes.

Lee has a deep understanding and appreciation of the transformative role that technology can play. His current focus is on helping organisations navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by digital technologies, transforming their businesses to remain competitive in an ever-changing and increasingly digital world.

Recognised as one of South Africa’s leading digital and technology transformation experts, Lee is a frequent speaker and commentator on all media platforms.

Lee qualified from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal with a bachelor of science degree in computer science.

Mothobi Seseli is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of one of Southern Africa’s top performing investment management firms, Argon Asset Management. He has over 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry (retirement funds consultant, economist, investment analyst, own trustee training business & part- time university lecturer).

His most recent experience is from the South African subsidiary of NYSE listed global asset manager, Alliance Capital Management LP (now Alliance Bernstein LP) & Investec Asset Management. Mothobi’s leadership skills have been recognised internationally and his achievements in the industry include: BEST ASSET MANAGEMENT CEO SOUTH AFRICA (2015 & 2016) by Global Banking and Finance Review; BEST ASSET MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY CEO in Africa (2015) by IAIR and BEST ASSET MANAGEMENT CEO (2016) by Global Brand Magazine.

Mothobi completed his Masters in Economics from Rand Afrikaans University, he completed the Executive Programme for Growing Companies at Stanford University Graduate School of Business (US) and the Private Equity Programme and a Postgraduate Diploma in Global Business Studies from Saïd Bus School, Oxford University (UK).

Mr. Bohbot serves as the Group Chief Executive Officer of EOH Holdings Limited. Mr. Bohbot joined Laminate Industries (later to be part of the PG Group) as an industrial engineering manager in 1981. He served as Logistics Director of Laminate Industries from 1990. He was subsequently promoted to the position of General Manager of Laminate Industries. He was the Executive Director of Distribution on the main board of PG Bison. He took responsibility for Logistics and IT at the company in 1995. Throughout his career, he was exposed to general business leadership, business systems and supply chain logistics, leading four major system implementations. He moved to South Africa in 1980 where he joined AECI as a senior engineer. Mr. Bohbot has been an Executive Director of EOH Holdings since August 6, 1998. He served as a Director of Enterprise Outsourcing Holdings Limited August 6, 1998. Mr. Bohbot holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from MAP.

Greg Solomon, CEO of McDonald’s South Africa, started his career as an engineer. He joined McDonald’s in 1996 where he was a project manager in the construction department. During this time, he was instrumental in the building of some of the first McDonald’s restaurants across South Africa. Greg leads by example and manages his business through his people, with a focus on accountability and profitability. His leadership has resulted in 5 successive years of revenue, market share and profit growth. Greg’s unwavering drive has also seen him elected as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of McDonald’s South Africa Pension and Provident Fund. Greg was also a finalist in Boss of the Year 2011 and was named the Institute of People Management CEO of the Year 2011.

Allan Hirsch is the CEO and Founder of the Hirsch Group of companies. Hirsch’s is the largest independently owned appliance and electronics retailer in Southern Africa, with thirteen branches and four concept stores spread throughout Gauteng, KZN and the Cape. Allan and his wife, Margaret, established the Hirsch’s Home Store brand in 1979 and over the years have turned it into a billion rand business. Allan’s story is not only a lesson in the importance of tenacity and passion but it provides a timely reminder of how going back to basics can be the most important thing you do for your business.

In the 1970’s Allan worked as an electrical appliance apprentice who was as short of money as he was of confidence. After struggling through school with dyslexia, Hirsch eventually dropped out in standard seven and, after completing an apprenticeship started working in a company in Durban North repairing appliances.

In 1979 with the grand total of R900 in his pocket Hirsch took the leap and opened his first electrical appliance repair store in Durban North. “I had to pay R300 in rent and a R300 electricity deposit upfront, and I spent R300 on marketing before we opened – so on day one I was absolutely flat broke,” he recalls.

Needless to say, the business grew from strength to strength and the company recently achieved their second billion rand in turnover. “People often ask me what the secret to success is and I tell them there’s no secret. You just have to focus on the basics, and customer service is a basic. It’s the philosophy on which the Hirsch culture was established.

We have always tried to remember and implement the little things, like greeting a customer, smiling, walking them back to the till and carrying their parcels to the car. These aren’t

Alan Mukoki has had many years’ experience working as a senior executive, board level executive and non-executive director for various major private and public entities in South Africa, including, amongst others, Khula Finance, Business Partners, Peoples Bank, Land and Agricultural Bank, Nedbank, Denel. Alan is a founder member of Pacific Atlantic Capital and Hloma BCI Investments, both companies have been involved in the identification and acquisition of BEE opportunities in various sectors. Alan studied banking, strategy, finance and the management of mega projects at the University of Oxford, where he graduated with both the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Strategy, as well as the Master of Science (MSc) in Mega Projects Management. He is a Certified Associate CAIB (SA) and Fellow (FIBSA) of the Institute of Bankers in South Africa. He was appointed as CEO of SACCI in July 2015