Illovo Sugar Africa - Our People
With my Exec team, I am ultimately accountable to ABF for the division and its performance. My team will ensure results are delivered by building the centre as an active partner which supports, stretches and tests the businesses. Safety is my key priority, which is why we’ve designed a senior direct report for me to drive that agenda.
Paul Kenward
Chief Executive Officer
With my Exec team, I am ultimately accountable to ABF for the division and its performance. My team will ensure results are delivered by building the centre as an active partner which supports, stretches and tests the businesses. Safety is my key priority, which is why we’ve designed a senior direct report for me to drive that agenda.
I joined ABF Sugar’s African Division (then Illovo Sugar Africa) in 2017 from SABMiller Africa where I spent almost a decade immersed in the African FMCG sector. My focus at Illovo is to drive the development of a winning sales, marketing and distribution organisation, aligning strongly with the group’s #AfricanSugar4AfricanMarkets advocacy position.
Andre Lubbe
Commercial Director - Africa
I joined ABF Sugar’s African Division (then Illovo Sugar Africa) in 2017 from SABMiller Africa where I spent almost a decade immersed in the African FMCG sector. My focus at Illovo is to drive the development of a winning sales, marketing and distribution organisation, aligning strongly with the group’s #AfricanSugar4AfricanMarkets advocacy position.
I am a Chief Financial Officer with extensive experience in both multinational and privately owned companies, leading finance teams operating across large territories within FMCG, retail and media. I have a particular ability to identify key issues, risks and opportunities, devise and implement solutions to maximise opportunities and minimise risks and am a proven business partner to enable commercial objectives within complex financial frameworks.
Mandy Venters
Chief Financial Officer (Interim)
I am a Chief Financial Officer with extensive experience in both multinational and privately owned companies, leading finance teams operating across large territories within FMCG, retail and media. I have a particular ability to identify key issues, risks and opportunities, devise and implement solutions to maximise opportunities and minimise risks and am a proven business partner to enable commercial objectives within complex financial frameworks.
I joined ABF Sugar’s African Division in 2022 (then Illovo Sugar Africa) as Operations Director after having worked for 25 years within the sugar industry in a variety of technical, operational, project and business roles. I’m passionate about operational excellence, and over my career have developed and commercialised a variety of technologies that improve sugar recovery, energy efficiency and facilitate downstream product diversification.
Craig Jensen
Operations Director
I joined ABF Sugar’s African Division in 2022 (then Illovo Sugar Africa) as Operations Director after having worked for 25 years within the sugar industry in a variety of technical, operational, project and business roles. I’m passionate about operational excellence, and over my career have developed and commercialised a variety of technologies that improve sugar recovery, energy efficiency and facilitate downstream product diversification.
I work with the HR Centres of Excellence and BAU HR Leads to deliver on the people strategy and support our overall strategy. This is enabled by: focusing on Capability Development, purposeful Organisation Design, relevant and sustainable Talent and Retention strategies, and an appropriate Reward and Remuneration framework. I also guide effective DEIB strategies, develop a mutually beneficial industrial relations climate and drive HR functional excellence through ensuring that best HR practices, minimum standards, integrated and optimised people processes are standardised and maintained.
Kim Usher
Chief People and Performance Officer
I work with the HR Centres of Excellence and BAU HR Leads to deliver on the people strategy and support our overall strategy. This is enabled by: focusing on Capability Development, purposeful Organisation Design, relevant and sustainable Talent and Retention strategies, and an appropriate Reward and Remuneration framework. I also guide effective DEIB strategies, develop a mutually beneficial industrial relations climate and drive HR functional excellence through ensuring that best HR practices, minimum standards, integrated and optimised people processes are standardised and maintained.
My work is to drive the key areas which will make a massive difference to our business’s potential: strategy, ESG, people, business development. We will partner with businesses to work on strategy development and implementation - the Results Delivery Office will then help ensure we fulfil the ambitions we commit to.
Andy Nicholson
Chief Transformation Officer
My work is to drive the key areas which will make a massive difference to our business’s potential: strategy, ESG, people, business development. We will partner with businesses to work on strategy development and implementation - the Results Delivery Office will then help ensure we fulfil the ambitions we commit to.
Business Unit Managing Directors
Having joined Illovo in 2021 as Manufacturing Director with 36 years of senior, executive and technical experience within the sugar industry, Ricky was appointed as Managing Director in the same year. With his solid “sugar” knowledge base, Ricky’s focus is on leading the company through challenging headwinds being faced by the industry and Illovo Sugar South Africa itself, and to deliver on the business’ ambitious growth plans by capturing new and exciting opportunities.
Ricky Govender
Illovo Sugar South Africa
Having joined Illovo in 2021 as Manufacturing Director with 36 years of senior, executive and technical experience within the sugar industry, Ricky was appointed as Managing Director in the same year. With his solid “sugar” knowledge base, Ricky’s focus is on leading the company through challenging headwinds being faced by the industry and Illovo Sugar South Africa itself, and to deliver on the business’ ambitious growth plans by capturing new and exciting opportunities.
Lekani joined Illovo in August 2015 and has served as both Financial Director and Human Resources Director, before being appointed to Managing Director in April 2020. Prior to Illovo, Lekani spent almost two decades with Deloitte.
Lekani Katandula
Illovo Sugar Malawi
Lekani joined Illovo in August 2015 and has served as both Financial Director and Human Resources Director, before being appointed to Managing Director in April 2020. Prior to Illovo, Lekani spent almost two decades with Deloitte.
Oswald was appointed as Managing Director of Zambia Sugar on 1 September 2021, transferring from Ubombo Sugar where he held the post of Managing Director from 2013. Oswald brings a solid knowledge base to this role together with 29 years of middle, senior and executive management experience in the sugar, irrigation and international finance sectors having also worked for the World Bank Group (IFC) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Nairobi.
Oswald Magwenzi
Zambia Sugar
Oswald was appointed as Managing Director of Zambia Sugar on 1 September 2021, transferring from Ubombo Sugar where he held the post of Managing Director from 2013. Oswald brings a solid knowledge base to this role together with 29 years of middle, senior and executive management experience in the sugar, irrigation and international finance sectors having also worked for the World Bank Group (IFC) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Nairobi.
Muzi was appointed as Managing Director of Ubombo Sugar Limited in August 2022 and has held various senior and executive corporate roles in Eswatini and South Africa. He has many years of working in multiple countries across the continent in the telecommunications, financial services, mining and retail sectors and brings extensive leadership and strategic value to the role.
Muzi Siyaya
Ubombo Sugar
Muzi was appointed as Managing Director of Ubombo Sugar Limited in August 2022 and has held various senior and executive corporate roles in Eswatini and South Africa. He has many years of working in multiple countries across the continent in the telecommunications, financial services, mining and retail sectors and brings extensive leadership and strategic value to the role.
Guy has served in multiple markets and senior financial roles in his 20+ year career with Illovo, including in Eswatini, Malawi, South Africa, and now, as MD in Tanzania. He joined the business in 1996, after working for Ernst & Young in the USA.
Guy Williams
Kilombero Sugar Company
Guy has served in multiple markets and senior financial roles in his 20+ year career with Illovo, including in Eswatini, Malawi, South Africa, and now, as MD in Tanzania. He joined the business in 1996, after working for Ernst & Young in the USA.
