SAVCA appoints three new board members at AGM

The Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA) has appointed three new members to its board at its recent AGM. Members of the association voted in Jesmane Boggenpoel, Edward Pitsi, and Mbongeni Madonsela, recognising their unique skill sets and extensive experience in the industry.

Chairperson Vuyo Ntoi noted the significance of this appointment, emphasising the growing opportunity for private markets to shape the region's economic future. “Each of these new board members brings a wealth of expertise and fresh perspectives, which will be instrumental in helping SAVCA deliver on its mission to drive the development of private equity and venture capital across Southern Africa.”

Jesmane Boggenpoel, Co-founder and Managing Partner of AIH Capital, brings over 15 years of experience in investments and corporate governance. Her expertise spans multiple board roles, including her current positions at Spur and Murray & Roberts. Recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2013 and a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader in 2022, Boggenpoel is also an author and public speaker on investment, leadership, ESG, and DEI. She holds degrees in Commerce and Accounting from the University of Witwatersrand, a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard, and is a Chartered Accountant.

Joining Boggenpoel is Edward Pitsi, the Co-founder and CEO of Infinite Partners, a firm established after spinning out from Ethos Private Equity in 2022. He has led multiple investments and exits across various sectors including Beverages, TIC, Fintech, Connectivity and Vertical SaaS. Ed began his private equity career in 2011, after working in Barclays Africa Group's Leverage and Acquisition Finance team, and earlier at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a Chartered Accountant CA(SA) and holds a Masters in Financial Management from the University of Pretoria and an EMBA from INSEAD.

Finally, Mbongeni Madonsela, a Founding Partner at Resolve SA, joins the board with more than 16 years of private equity experience, having led deals across retail, technology, and media sectors. With successful tenures at Brait and RMB Ventures, Madonsela is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the South African Institute of accountants (SAICA), whose in-depth understanding of the asset class also position him well to contribute to driving SAVCA’s strategic direction on the Board.

The new board members succeed outgoing members Lelo Rantloane and Lebo Thubisi. The SAVCA board and management teams are hugely grateful for the selflessness with which the Directors served the association. “We thank the outgoing Board members for their unwavering commitment to the growth of the industry and wish them well as they embark on the new eras of their careers.” says Ntoi. “Lelo, who served SAVCA as Chairperson for 2 terms, made an immense contribution to the Board and management teams, particularly during periods when the Association navigated the tumultuous COVID-19 environment and executive management changes. Lebo was also an invaluable member of the Board, bringing in unique insights and invaluable contributions on the Transformation and Asset Class Promotion committees”.