ANNOUNCEMENT:
21st Century Leadership Transition

21st Century is excited to announce that it has taken a large step towards realising its transformation strategy, as it advances its leadership transition and moves forward into an exciting new phase of growth and innovation.

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21st Century has been synonymous with excellence in providing innovative business and people solutions across Africa, and beyond. Over the span of 26 years, the company has expanded from being a predominantly remuneration-focused consultancy, to one that offers a comprehensive suite of services, including strategy, organisational design, people, culture, change management, and advanced analytics.

With the growth and expansion of the company in a rapidly evolving market, succession planning issues – such as leadership shortages and the demand for diversity and inclusion in executive roles – have been top-of-mind for many years. Recognising this need, 21st Century took a proactive approach to tackling these issues, launching the Emerging Leadership Program (ELP) within the organisation in 2023 to ensure a steady pipeline of leaders who are equipped to navigate complex challenges and drive innovation.

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The Role of the Emerging Leadership Program (ELP)

The Emerging Leadership Program (ELP) consisted of 11 modules designed to ensure a seamless succession plan for executive leadership positions. Through projects focused on innovation, revenue generation, and social impact, it equipped participants with essential hard and soft skills. Graduates were carefully selected, based on criteria such as leadership potential and a strong commitment to professional growth. Each participant demonstrated measurable development throughout the program, ensuring readiness to take on strategic roles within the company.

“The ELP was critical for cultivating a pipeline of talented leaders who can now seamlessly transition into Exco roles, ensuring the sustainability and growth of our organisation,” says Chris, “This programme has been a cornerstone of the current leadership transition.”

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The Leadership Transition

As a result of this carefully considered multi-year succession-planning drive, we are excited to announce that Dr. Mark Bussin will now pass the mantle of Chair of the Board to Maphutha Diaz, and Dr. Chris Blair will step down as Ntombizone (Zone) Feni takes up the reins as the Group CEO.

Chris and Mark, who have been instrumental in the formation and growth of the company over the last 26 years, will continue to play pivotal roles during this transition period. Mark will continue to serve on the Board as a Group Lead Advisory Director and as an advisor to Maphutha. Chris will retain responsibilities as Group CFO and Corporate Support Director – supporting operations, validating executive roles, and serving as a trusted advisor to Feni during the transition.

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New Board Appointees

We would also like to congratulate the following people on their appointment to the board:

• Dr Lynne Derman (Executive Director, People & Talent);
• Solomzi Mtyeku (Executive Director, OD & Change);
• Sive Nodada (Executive Director, Business Development);
• Vuyelwa Dantjie (Executive Director, Reward);
• Leanne Visser (Executive Director, Coastal Regions);

We know they will add enormous value to 21st Century in their respective roles, and we are looking forward to seeing significant growth in these areas

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Ongoing commitment to excellence

The company’s legacy is built on trust, innovation, and exceptional client service, and 21st Century reaffirms its continued commitment to both existing and prospective clients, who have been central to the growth of the company. 21st Century would like to reassure clients that stability and excellence in strategic direction, service delivery, expertise, and client relationships remains a priority for the company.

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Looking to the future

As 21st Century evolves under its new leadership, clients can look forward to stronger relationships and expanded innovative offerings. Leveraging cutting-edge HR technology and a deep understanding of strategic business and workforce dynamics, the new leadership is committed to refining tools, such as the 6Rs workforce planning model, and expanding its analytics capabilities. With 36% of the business originating from its website, 21st Century’s digital presence is integral to its service delivery strategy.

“Our mission is to empower our clients and the communities we impact, to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Through collaboration, innovation, and a deep understanding of their needs, we are committed to achieving excellence together” says Zone.

We invite you to take a look at our new leadership team and their roles in the company.