SAP appoints Kholiwe Makhohliso as MD Southern Africa

Enterprise application software company, SAP, today announced the appointment of Kholiwe Makhohliso, as its new managing director for Southern Africa, joining the team as of July 1, 2023.

The German-headquartered firm called her a "seasoned technology executive" and said she is joining the company at a pivotal time.

"Organizations throughout Southern Africa are uncovering new capabilities and efficiency gains through the smart use of intelligent technologies, thereby accelerating business transformation and sustainability efforts," said SAP Senior VP for Middle East South and Africa Sergio Maccotta.

He said that as the region shifts to more agile and resilient business processes to power growth across multiple industries, Makhohliso's technology and leadership expertise will be a great asset to the business.

"Organizations are navigating a new era of change and uncertainty and the role that technology plays in unlocking value is critical," added Maccotta.

Career journey

With more than 20 years' technology experience, and previous leadership roles that span both the public and private sectors, Makhohliso started her career as an auditor.

She has worked in IT, consulting and sales for blue chip companies that include Accenture and Oracle.

Most recently, Makhohliso spent five years as VP and country MD for South Africa at German software company Software AG, where she also served as an executive director on the board.

"This is a fantastic time to be joining SAP, as the organization takes significant strides on its cloud leadership journey that is embracing the potential of AI and sustainability in the Southern African marketplace," Makhohliso said of her new role.

"I'm excited for this next chapter in my career as the region has a well-established installed base of SAP customers, and I look forward to further engaging both customers and partners to generate ongoing positive impact, powered by technology," she added.

Makhohliso is also chairperson of the Sparrow Trust, a nonprofit organization working to provide young, disadvantaged South African youth with education and learning opportunities.

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*Top image is of Kholiwe Makhohliso, SAP's new managing director for Southern Africa. (Source: SAP).

— Paula Gilbert, Editor, Connecting Africa