The Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA) announces the departure of its Chief Executive Officer, Tshepiso Kobile, who will be pursuing new professional opportunities. The Board extends its appreciation to her for her leadership during a pivotal period for the organisation and the broader private capital industry.
Appointed during a time of transition, Tshepiso provided stability and strategic direction as SAVCA reoriented itself for the future. She led the recruitment and onboarding of a new executive team, helping to build internal capacity and position the organisation to serve an increasingly complex and evolving investment environment.
Under her leadership, SAVCA strengthened its voice in regulatory and policy discussions. The Association played an active role in shaping elements of the Conduct of Financial Institutions (COFI) Bill and contributed to engagements with the Competition Commission and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), particularly on public interest considerations in merger transactions. These efforts helped to ensure that private capital is appropriately considered in key policy frameworks.
Tshepiso also represented SAVCA at key international industry body engagements, helping to raise the profile of Southern African private capital on the global stage. During her tenure, SAVCA expanded its advocacy efforts and contributed to discussions on responsible investment, market development, and cross-border capital flows. A strong proponent of industry diversity, she supported initiatives that encouraged the advancement of women in private equity and venture capital and helped position the association as a platform for broader inclusion across the ecosystem.
The growth of SAVCA’s flagship conferences during her time – including the successful relocation of the annual Private Equity Conference to a larger venue to accommodate record attendance – speaks to her meaningful contribution. She has also played a key role in broadening the association’s mandate to more intentionally include all providers of private capital – equity, mezzanine, and debt – ensuring a more inclusive and representative voice for the industry.
We thank her for her contribution to SAVCA’s continued relevance and effectiveness and wish her well as she embarks on the next phase of her career.
The board will soon undertake a process to recruit a permanent CEO. In the interim, to ensure operational continuity and momentum on strategic initiatives, the Board has seconded one of its directors, Nicola Gubb, to act as Executive Director in the interim. Nicola is a seasoned executive and director with decades of experience in private equity and broader financial services, including leadership roles at WDB Investment Holdings as Chief Investment Officer, and earlier positions at Vunani Capital, RMB Fund Managers and HSBC. She will support SAVCA’s senior managers in maintaining the Association’s day-to-day operations and driving its key programmes until a permanent CEO is appointed.