Honoring Manufacturing Leaders Shaping the Future of Innovation

Presenting the Manufacturing50

Top 50 Manufacturing Leaders to Watch

Methodology

The South Africa Manufacturing Show compiles an annual list of prominent leaders in manufacturing based on nominations, direct applications, information from our database, interviews, company websites, and other public sources.
They are united in their passion and unwavering commitment in making a difference.

Want to see someone on the list? Nominate here

These inspiring leaders are making waves across domains, leading activities such as operational excellence, resource management, and cross-functional collaboration.

Want to meet these inspiring leaders?

Learn from these incredible leaders by attending the South Africa Manufacturing Show. Attendees will gain insights into the latest trends and technologies, as well as strategies for overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities.

50 Manufacturing LEADERS we Honoured in 2026

Vaibhav Merhoye

Head of Strategic Alliances, NBD and Innovation
Adcock Ingram

Daisy Kgosi

VP Group Procurement
AECI Mining

Hirdesh Dewrajram

Vice President Mining - Manufacturing and Physical Supply Chain
AECI Mining

Mudzunga Masakona

Group Head of IT Business Enablement
AECI Limited

Simon Nare

Group Information Security Officer
AECI Limited

Sne Dlamini

Group Vice President Technology and Digital
AECI Limited

Annuska Botha

Vice President of Supply Chain
Allied Gold Corporation

Fortune Muqulo

Head of Production
Alstom

Naven Chettiar

Head: Supply Chain Strategy – Africa Zone
AB InBev

Jared Bishop

Plant Director
Ariston Group

Taryn Lotz

Head of Information Technology
Aspen Pharma Group

Andre Schmidlin

Factory Director
Auto & Truck Tyres (Pty) Ltd

Muzi Nkosi

Chief Operation Officer
Avon

Atul Holkar

Head of Supply Chain Management
BevCo

Jeetesh Seecharan

IT Director
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa

Moses Lubisi

Manufacturing & Technical Director
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa

Mosima Kgaswane

Operational Director
CRC Industries

Alex Alunni

Senior Operations Director
Danone

Mahendra Beharie

CIO Sub Saharan Africa
DHL Express Johannesburg

Andre Pretorius

Head of Cyber Security
DRDGOLD Limited

Sean Dikgale

Chief Operations Officer
Dust-A-Side

Kevin Fredericks

Head of Technology
Edward Snell & Co Pty Ltd

Adrien Ruau

Head Of Procurement
ENGIE

Gcobisa Mashegoana

Head of Procurement and Supply Chain Management
Eskom Holdings SOC LTD

Noxolo Somhlahlo

Head of Supply Chain
Ferrero

Sipho Mathonsi

Head of Engineering (SA & Africa divisions)
Fraser Alexander

Sydney Mathebula

Head of Logistics
Godrej Consumer Products Limited

Nishen Hardev

Head of Logistics
IXM

Premkumar Murugesan

Director - Engineering
JVIS International LLC

Keeran Motilal

Head of Supply Chain & Logistics
Krones

Anele Ngwekazi

Head of Supply Chain
LandisGyr

Harshal Harkison

Director of Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa
L'Oréal

Moosa J

Head Of Information Technology
MAN Truck & Bus SE

Nikhil Naidoo

Manufacturing Director
Microtronix Manufacturing

Vincent Colin

Head of Operation and Logistics
Miele South Africa

Sihle Mthiyane

Chief Information Officer
NTP Radioisotopes SOC Ltd

Collin Manickum

Chief Operations Officer
Onderstepoort Biological Products

Deshen Naidoo

Head of Supply Chain Optimisation and Operations
Dis-Chem

Shepherd Chikarakara

Manufacturing Director
Pepsico

Tumisang Matsheka

Vice President Of Supply chain
Pepsico

Jongikhaya Stuurman

Chief Information Officer
PetroSA

Ugan Reddy

Head of IT
RAINBOW

Neresh Manilal

Head of IT Support: EMEA
Rhenus Logistics

Shakun Naidoo

Head Of Procurement
Sanofi Johannesburg

Shanitha Ramparsad

Head of IT Business Platforms
Sasol

Stefan (SJ) Strydom

Head of Energy Digitalisation
Sasol

Dikeledi (Lempe) Radebe

Head of Operation & Maintenance (SAE)
SolarAfrica Energy

Refilwe Rundofa

Head of Logistics and Supply Chain
Shell

Samuel Mokoena

Head Group ICT Security
Sibanye Stillwater

Kingsley Maanea Nemudivhiso

Head of Manufacturing
Thokoman Foods SA

Nontokozo Penelope

Head of Supply Chain
Thokoman Foods SA

Shireen Aricksamy

Procurement Director
Tiger Brands

Stedrick Saayman

Group Procurement Director
Tiger Brands

Makgale Mahlase

Head: Digital Enablement
Transnet Engineering

Mr. Duke Mathebula(MBA)

Chief Information Officer
Trident Steel Africa

Delly Denga

Head of Technology & Security
Torxsa

Buntu Ntsepe

Head of Digital Solutions and IT
UD Trucks Southern Africa

Menzi Sithole

Chief Data and Information Officer
Unilever Africa

Jitendra Shukla

Head of Supply Chain
Viatris Johannesburg

Sushil Kumar

Director of Procurement
Vedanta Group

Duba Xolani

Regional Head: Operations & Supply Chain (Africa Region)
Westfalia Fruit

Leon Shaamduth

Operations Associate Director
Zimmer Biomet