Our success is driven by an experienced team, our own capital, a disciplined investment process, and broad business networks.

Passionate about partnerships, we commit for the long term and actively work with our portfolio companies to build great businesses. 100% black controlled and managed, including 45% women ownership and 10% black youth, Sphere has the necessary credentials to advance the broad based Black Economic Empowerment goals of South African businesses. As the focus turns to the rest of the continent, we actively support our investments in their pan-African ambitions.

Sphere is supported by a formidable board bringing together leading South African business minds.

Sphere is supported by a formidable board bringing together leading South African business mind.

OUR TEAM

Itumeleng Kgaboesele

Co-Founder and CEO

Meet Itumeleng

Marang Denalane

Executive Director

Meet Marang

Mohammed Sabi

Director

Meet Mohammed

Itumeleng Kgaboesele

Co-Founder and CEO

Meet Itumeleng

Marang Denalane

Executive Director

Meet Marang

Mohammed Sabi

Senior Associate

Meet Mohammed

Thembeka Mkhize

Head of Finance

Meet Thembeka

Sascha Mohr

Principle

Meet Sascha

Michael Cole

Senior Associate

Meet Michael

Thembka Mkhize

Head of Finance

Meet Thembka

Sascha Mohr

Principle

Meet Sascha

Michael Cole

Senior Associate

Meet Michael

Tshepang Vinger

Analyst

Meet Tshepang

Zodwa Mabena

Analyst

Meet Zodwa

Tshepang Vinger

Analyst

Meet Thembka

Zodwa Madena

Analyst

Meet Zodwa

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Tebogo Skwambane

Non-Executive Director

Meet Tebogo

Phathutshedzo Mabogo

Non-Executive Director

Meet Phathutshedzo

Cora Fernandez

Non-Executive Director

Meet Cora

Tebogo Skwambane

Non-Executive Director

Meet Tebogo

Phathutshedzo Mabogo

Non-Executive Director

Meet Phathutshedzo

Cora Fernandez

Non-Executive Director

Meet Cora

Ben Kodisand

Non-Executive Director and Chairperson

Meet Ben

Hazel Bango-Moyo

Non-Executive Director

Meet Hazel

Ben Kodisand

Non-Executive Director

Meet Ben

Hazel Bango-Moyo

Non-Executive Director

Meet Hazel
  • ® Copyright 2024 Sphere Holdings

           Strong partnerships are a strategic imperative for us at Sphere Holdings. This not only becomes evident in our relationships with our existing portfolio companies, but also in our constant pursuit of new, synergetic, symbiotic partnerships.

Itumeleng Kgaboesele

Co-Founder and CEO

Apart from providing strategic direction at Sphere Holdings, Itumeleng serves as an independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Old Mutual Limited, as well as the boards of several other companies in which Sphere Holdings has invested. This includes: Babcock Ntuthuko Engineering, Babcock Plant Services, BBD, Pandrol SA, Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions, and Maskew Miller Learning South Africa. From 2011 to 2018, he also served on the Board of Telkom.

Prior to founding Sphere Holdings, Itumeleng gained unparalleled depth and breadth of experience in investment banking through serving as Vice-President of the Citigroup’s investment banking division between Johannesburg and London, and holding senior executive positions at the likes of Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank. He also advised the South African Government and numerous blue-chip local and international companies on mergers and acquisitions and capital raising projects.

A firm believer that education is a powerful change agent for a better future, Itumeleng aims to be actively involved in initiatives that uplift our youth. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Student Sponsorship Programme, an NGO that provides learners from low-income households with mentorship and funding to attend some of the best high schools in South Africa.

          Due to carefully considered partnerships, Sphere Holdings has grown into a formidable investment company and to retain this momentum, we continue to invest in core competencies that will add strategic value to our investments.

Marang Denalane

Executive Director
BCom Accounting and Finance, CFA Charterholder, Advanced Certificate in Entrepreneurship from HEC Paris

Marang is responsible for deal generation, execution and post-investment management of Sphere Holdings’ portfolio companies and she represents Sphere Holdings on the boards of Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions, BBD, Pandrol SA and Maskew Miller Learning.

Prior to this, she gained significant experience as a research analyst and portfolio and investment manager at blue-chip asset management companies such as Futuregrowth and Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank (SCMB). She also gained deep insights from first-hand exposure to the global equity environment across a multitude of industry sectors, building sound business networks along the way.

Over the years, Marang has fulfilled a multitude of senior executive roles on boards and committees of organisations such as the Association of Black Securities Investment Professionals (ABSIP), the Financial Sector Charter Council (FSCC), Ace Insurance Limited South Africa and the SPAR Group. She also formed part of the team that made recommendations to the then Department of Trade and Industry on the treatment of private equity funds under the Codes of Good Practice.

Marang is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Finance Leaders Fellowship Program and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

        The key pillars on which we build our success at Sphere Holdings are: a relentless pursuit of excellence in everything we do, an unyielding consistency of approach, an ultra-dynamic investment team, and an emphasis on building long-term partnerships.

Mohammed Sabi

Director
BCom and BCom (Hons) Accounting) and Finance, CA(SA)

As Director of Sphere Holdings since 2014, Mohamed has an invaluable set of finance skills that spans across the entire investment cycle, right through from leverage finance and equity raising and management – to debt restructuring.

Prior to Sphere Holdings, he worked as a Senior Transactor in the Strategic Investments Unit of Standard Bank, which serves as an on-balance sheet provider of medium to long-term equity risk capital aimed at developing long-term associations with investee companies. Here he gained extensive experience of an active approach to management and development of investments, driving and supporting the organic growth and acquisition ambitions of investee companies.

During his tenure at the bank, Mohammed accomplished several major milestones as he represented the bank on numerous boards and was personally responsible for a multitude of watershed transactions. Between 2007 and 2010, he also formed part of the specialist Leveraged Finance team of the bank. Mohammed furthermore assisted with restructuring of the bank’s significant ailing exposures during the financial crisis.

         Laws and regulations no doubt has tangible business value, and as such, I am committed to leveraging these mechanisms to build a sustainable business support platform for Sphere Holdings and ensure a sound financial link to all our investment entities.

Thembeka Mkhize

Head of Finance
BCom Accounting; Post-grad Diploma in Accounting; Chartered Accountant (SA)

Thembeka joined Sphere Holdings in June 2023 to act as custodian of the finance strategy, operations, and related risk management and to oversee the adequacy of our finance systems, processes, and controls. She has over 12 years’ experience in Financial and Statutory Reporting; Taxation, Audit and Compliance having started her career as an auditor with KPMG.

Prior to joining Sphere Holdings, she worked as a Finance Manager at Masana Petroleum Solutions (Pty) Ltd where she was responsible for the full finance function and formed an integral part of the team that assisted with implementation of the SAP 4 Hana ERP System.

Before that she was the Africa Corporate Controller at Eaton Electric (Pty) Ltd where she was responsible for bringing statutory reporting compliance up to date for all their South African entities, as well as Eaton Nigeria.

         A major contributor to the sterling reputation that Sphere Holdings has earned over its decade plus in existence, is no doubt the uncompromising discipline we apply in our entire investment process .

 

Sascha Mohr

Principal
BSc Computational and Applied Mathematics, BSc (Hons) Computer Science, MBA

Sascha re-joined Sphere Holdings as Principal in 2023 to assist the executive team with management of our portfolio investments as well as leading origination, due diligence and deal execution. Prior to this, he has had a prolific professional history with Sphere Holdings, in both his capacity as a Senior Associate and Consultant.

Some of his previous duties included oversight of board participation, sourcing and execution of M&A opportunities and development of financial models. He also led strategic initiatives such as the establishment of classes on valuation methodology and new technologies. 

Prior to Sphere Holdings, Sascha transacted extensively in both the private equity and investment banking space, working for the likes of PAPE Fund Managers and Rand Merchant Bank (RMB). Pre-banking he founded and managed a proprietary software business for five years, providing specialist software engineering services and applications to the mining and manufacturing sectors.

          We have an ongoing commitment to drive tangible value for all our stakeholders through our ability to find opportunity-driven acquisitions and facilitate meaningful interactions between our portfolio companies.

Michael Cole

Senior Associate
BBusSci Economics, BCom (Hons) Financial Analysis and Portfolio Management, CFA Charterholder, Alumni Member of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship

Michael joined Sphere Holdings in January 2018 as an Analyst, bringing an astute analytical perspective to investment decisions and supporting our dealmaking team through research, origination, financial modelling and analysis, deal execution and monitoring of investments.

Prior  to this, he worked at Standard Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking (“CIB”) division for four years. At first, he was a member of a year-long graduate programme, where he gained hands-on experience in all the different units that form part of the CIB division.

Thereafter, he was appointed as Analyst in their Mergers & Acquisitions (“M&A”) unit, where he was responsible for substantial transactions in the consumer, logistics, and mining sectors in South Africa and the rest of Africa. In his final year at the bank, he was promoted to Senior Analyst, where he primarily focused on research, financial analysis, valuations, deal execution and project management.

         What excites me about being part of the Sphere Holdings team is our far-reaching business network and strong relationships with multiple industry influencers, all of which can be leveraged for the benefit of our portfolio companies.

Tshepang Vinger

Analyst
BCom Accounting and Finance, Post-grad Diploma in Accounting, CA(SA)

As Analyst at Sphere Holdings since 2022, Tshepang brings a critical problem-solving mindset to our investments, supporting our broader deal team in research, origination, financial analysis, execution and monitoring of investments.

Prior to joining the Sphere Holdings team, Tshepang was appointed at the Public Audit Division of Deloitte for almost four years. He first completed his articles, and then purposefully progressed through the ranks until he was promoted to Assistant Audit Manager, primarily supporting the engagement partner in the delivery of audit services.

Working for Deloitte provided Tshepang with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with a diverse portfolio of clients across a range of industries such as mining, financial technology, property finance and manufacturing.

        At Sphere Holdings, we don’t just invest; we pioneer. We assemble a diverse team armed with a kaleidoscope of ideas and a holistic approach, fostering innovation and propelling our investments beyond mere financial gains.

Zodwa Mabena

Analyst
BCom Finance, BCom (Hons) Investment Management

Zodwa joined Sphere Holdings in 2024, leveraging her strong analytical skills and multi-sector investment experience to support the team in deal origination, execution, and monitoring of investments. With solid experience to back her theoretical knowledge in finance and investment banking, she is well-equipped to meaningfully contribute to Sphere’s investment team.

Prior to  joining Sphere Holdings, Zodwa was  an equity research analyst at Laurium Capital, covering stocks in the real estate sector and stocks across various African stock exchanges.

Zodwa began her career in investment banking, where she played a pivotal role in significant sell-side and buy-side transactions. Her involvement in deal origination, financial and industry analysis, due diligence, and deal execution has honed her skills in navigating complex investment landscapes.

 
 

Tebogo Skwambane

Non-executive Director
BA Honours, MBA

Currently, Tebogo serves on the Boards of Sphere Holdings, The African Parks Network and Mikhulu Trusts. Previously, she also served on the Boards of McKinsey & Company Africa, Actom (Pty) Ltd, EOH Holdings and Daimler Fleet Management.

Tebogo is a highly accomplished professional with almost two decades of experience as a Strategic Management Consultant in both the public and private sectors in more than 30 countries. Her two key areas of focus have been to help unlock optimal organisational potential through talent-led transformations and to enhance entrepreneurial ecosystems across Africa to accelerate the growth of SMEs and entrepreneurial activity.

Over the years, she has also worked as a Partner for McKinsey and Company, Bain and Company (US, UK and South Africa) and held numerous managerial positions at the likes of Eskom Enterprises, the International Finance Corporation, World Bank (Washington DC, US) and Brown Brothers Harriman and Company (Boston, US).

She is a Fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative and the Global Leadership Network and has been a World Economic Forum (WEF) Young Global Leader since 2011.

Phathutshedzo Mabogo

Non-executive Director
BCom and BCom (Hons) Accounting) and Finance, CA(SA)BSC: Actuarial and Financial Mathematics, MBA, CFA Charterholder

Phathutshedzo is an ultra-seasoned professional who not only serves on the Sphere Holdings Board, but also holds the position of Deputy Chief Investment Officer at the Eskom Pension and Provident Fund (EPPF).

Prior to the EPFF, he worked as a Transactor for PhEmbani (formerly known as Worldwide African Investment Holdings), where he gained extensive exposure to a vast portfolio of investments in the mining, energy, power and infrastructure sectors across Africa.

His career originally took flight as an Actuarial Analyst with the South African division of the multinational financial services firm, AON. Thereafter, he was appointed as an Investment Analyst with Fifth Quadrant Actuaries & Consultants. This enabled him to gain experience in the complete spectrum of analyses of financial information and investment risks.

Cora Fernandez

Analyst
BCom and BCom (Hons) Accounting) and Finance, CA(SA)

Cora is a Non-executive Director of Sphere Holdings Board and Chairperson of the Sphere Holdings Remuneration Committee (REMCO). Previously, she also served on the Boards of Sanlam Investment Holdings and the South African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA), where she was elected as Chairperson.

Cora’s around two-decade career started out at Ethos Private Equity, after which she joined Sanlam, where she held numerous senior executive positions over the years. Most recently, she was the Chief Executive (CE) of Sanlam Investments (SI) Institutional Business, where she was responsible for managing a portfolio of 126 institutional clients with a collective investment of R190 billion across various asset classes.

Before that, she was a Managing Director of Sanlam Investment Management (SIM), one of the largest asset management companies in SA, and prior to that, she was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sanlam Private Equity (SPE).

During Cora’s tenure at Sanlam, she received several awards, including the Top Private Equity Deal Maker Award by the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals (ABSIP) and the Sanlam CEO’s Award.

Ben Kodisang

Non-executive Director and Chairperson
BCom and BCom (Hons) Accounting) and Finance, CA(SA)

Prior to being appointed as Chairperson of the Sphere Holdings Board, Ben has served on the Boards of Absa Bank of Botswana, Barloworld Khula Sizwe Property Holdings, Fortress REIT Limited and Thungela Resources Limited. He was also Chairman of the Boards of Wesgro and the SA Corporate Real Estate Fund, as well as President and Director of the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA).

Ben is a distinguished professional with a wealth of insights gained over an illustrious, three-decade career in the investment space. Currently, he is the Founder and CEO of ALT Capital Partners, a specialist investment renowned for its focus on economic and social infrastructure developments across Africa.

Prior to this, he has successfully fulfilled numerous senior executive roles in leading multinational investment firms. This includes being CEO of Alternatives at Sanlam Investments, MD of STANLIB Africa, MD of Old Mutual’s Property Division, GM of Old Mutual’s Employee Benefits Division, Head of Strategy, Distribution and Marketing for the Old Mutual Investment Group and Chief Investment Officer of the African Harvest Fund Managers Growth team.

Hazel Bango-Moyo

Non-executive Director
BCom Information Systems and Financial Accounting, Post-grad Diploma in Advanced Banking Law, CA(SA)

Hazel serves on the Boards of Sphere Holdings, 27Four Holdings Group, and Sable Exploratory and Mining. With over two decades of experience as a qualified Chartered Accountant and Registered Auditor, she has provided audit and advisory services to clients across South Africa, Australia, and the USA. As the Managing Director and founder of Primorial, she has spearheaded a broad spectrum of accounting services catering to small and medium businesses throughout Africa. Hazel’s extensive career also includes roles as a partner/director at Deloitte & Touche, where she contributed her expertise to financial institutions, technology media and telecommunications and manufacturing, as well as non-profit sectors. Her dedication to supporting small businesses and empowering women executives has been a key cornerstone of her professional journey.

 

SCAM ALERT!

In the context of alarming increases in general cyber fraud and digital scams we would like to note the following: Sphere Holdings is an investment holding company. The nature of our business implies that we do not engage in or offer promotional campaigns, cryptocurrency or any other investments and/or financial services or products or advice aimed at the public or individual investors. Any approach of this nature – especially via social media – by any party assuming the Sphere Holdings’ name or the names of our executives and soliciting money or personal information should be regarded with extreme caution. Prior to investing always seek independent legal or financial advice from an accredited financial advisor who is registered with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).