By Pelisa Sokomani and Veronique Anderson
These CEOs are leading with impact and driving impressive progress across diverse sectors of South Africa’s economy. From financial services and infrastructure to retail, and telecommunications, their leadership reflects resilience, innovation, and a commitment to long-term value. Collectively, these leaders are not just delivering strong results, they are setting the pace for transformation, inclusive growth, and lasting impact in their industries.
Mpumi Madisa – CEO Bidvest Group
Mpumi Madisa became CEO of Bidvest on 1 October 2020, following her appointment as CEO designate in March 2019. She is the first black woman to lead a Top 40 JSE company, a landmark achievement for corporate transformation in South Africa.
Under her leadership Bidvest Group delivered a solid performance for the fiscal year ending 30 June 2025, reporting revenue of R126.6-billion (up 5%), operating profit of R12-billion (trading margin 9.5%), and cash generated from operations of R14.7-billion. Headline earnings per share (HEPS) were 1886.4 cents, with a final dividend of 453 cents per share.
With Mpumi at the helm, Bidvest has succeeded in maintaining a diversified, resilient conglomerate model, operating over 250 individual businesses across services, freight, commercial products, automotive, and branded goods. It has achieved operational expansion and strategic acquisitions, including hygiene/facilities management and automotive dealer networks. It has also added North America as a new growth market.
Bidvest is a significant employment contributor and employs approximately 134 083 people, with 43% of management appointments being female and 52% of South African management appointments within Africa. The conglomerate extends community support and upliftment through socio-economic initiatives, including the Bidvest Supplier Development Programme and sponsorship of Team SA’s Olympic and Paralympic efforts.
Its scale, diversification, and consistent profitability underline Bidvest’s position as one of South Africa’s largest and most resilient industrial conglomerates.
Shameel Joosub – Group CEO Vodacom Limited
Shameel Joosub has served as CEO of Vodacom Group since September 2012, following a distinguished career within the Vodacom–Vodafone organisation that began in 1994.
Under his leadership, Vodacom has transformed from a predominantly South African operator into a leading pan-African telecommunications and digital services group. His leadership has earned multiple accolades, including Telecoms CEO of the Year (2023) and an honorary doctorate from the Central University of Technology (CUT) for leadership and industry impact.
Through Vision 2030 Shameel is focused on rapid customer-base expansion, scaling financial-services adoption, and increasing revenue from digital and technology innovation, securing Vodacom’s relevance in the future digital economy.
Vodacom delivered an exceptional performance in 2024, reporting a 26.4% increase in Group revenue to R151-billion, driven largely by the successful acquisition and integration of its Egypt operations. Service revenue grew by 29.1%, while EBITDA increased by 24.3%, reflecting both strong commercial execution and disciplined cost management.
Vodacom was also ranked Number 1 in its sector in the 15th edition of the Top 500 Best Managed Companies, confirming its leadership position in the telecommunications industry.
2024 marked a major milestone as Vodacom celebrated its 30th anniversary, commemorating three decades of driving technology, innovation, and digital inclusion across Africa. The company was also recognised as Africa’s Top Employer for the second consecutive year, highlighting its excellence in employee engagement, operational reliability, and workplace culture.
Dr Leila Fourie- Group CEO – JSE Limited (Outgoing: stepping down 31 March 2026)
Since 2019 Dr Leila Fourie has served as Group CEO of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) – Africa’s largest stock exchange by market capitalisation which stood at approximately R21.73-trillion as of July 2025, with around 435 listed companies.
Under her leadership, the exchange has undergone significant strategic transformation, marked by revenue diversification beyond traditional equity trading; technology and regulatory modernisation; and expansion into private markets, voluntary carbon markets, and new ETF segments.
Her tenure is widely recognised for delivering operational resilience, strategic clarity, and inclusive leadership, positioning the JSE as “more collegiate, future-fit and globally aligned.” She was also recognised among the inaugural global cohort of female exchange leaders by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE).
For the trailing 12 months to mid-2025, the JSE delivered a strong financial performance, reporting revenue of approximately R3.17-billion (up 9.9% year-on-year) and net income of about R982.9-million. The Group achieved a return on equity of approximately 20.2%, maintained a dividend yield of around 6%, and remained highly cash-generative with cash and bond holdings of roughly R2.8-billion.
Performance highlights for 2024 included revenue growth driven by diversification across asset classes; improved cost discipline; healthy cash generation and stable dividend profile; eight new equity market listings, with strong growth in ETFs and the sustainability segment; and the highest-ever Net Promoter Score (NPS), reflecting deep client trust and strong relationships.
The JSE continues to perform strongly in regulation, governance, and global credibility, while advancing innovation through the introduction of ESG products and carbon trading platforms.
Read the full article and find out who else is leading the way in the 15th edition of Top 500
