iOCO Leadership
Meet the leadership team driving technology transformation and innovation across our five clusters.
Non-executive Directors
Jabu Moleketi
Non-executive Director and Board chairman
B Administration, B Com Economics (Honours) Appointed 1 September 2020. Mr Moleketi is a former Deputy Minister of Finance of the Republic of South Africa and Gauteng Province MEC of Finance and Economic Affairs as well as a director of several companies listed on the JSE Limited. He is non-executive Chairman of PPC Limited and non-executive director of Remgro. He holds postgraduate economics and management qualifications from the University of London and Harvard Business School and has extensive international exposure, extensive strategic leadership skills and in-depth corporate governance experience in both the public and private sectors. He is a non-executive director and shareholder of EOH’s black empowerment partner, Lebashe Investment Group. Committees: Remuneration and Nominations Committee & Social & Ethics Committee
Lerato Pule
Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed 04 December 2025
CA (SA)
Ms. Pule has over 20 years of leadership experience across the telecommunications, financial services, and energy sectors. Ms. Pule currently serves on the board of directors of Phuthuma Nathi Investments (RF) Ltd, a B-BBEE investor in Multichoice SA, where she is the Audit Committee Chairperson.
Previous positions include appointments as the Chief Financial Officer of Liquid Telecommunications South Africa (Pty) Ltd (“Liquid SA”) and Cell C and as a Non-Independent Audit and Risk Committee Member of Liquid SA, Cell C and Afrinet, as well as Trustee of the Sasol Batho Trust and Trustee and Chairperson of the Finance Committee of the Telkom Foundation Trust.
iOCO Limited: Chaiperson of Social and Ethics Committee and a Member of Audit and Risk Committee.
CA (SA)
Ms. Pule has over 20 years of leadership experience across the telecommunications, financial services, and energy sectors. Ms. Pule currently serves on the board of directors of Phuthuma Nathi Investments (RF) Ltd, a B-BBEE investor in Multichoice SA, where she is the Audit Committee Chairperson.
Previous positions include appointments as the Chief Financial Officer of Liquid Telecommunications South Africa (Pty) Ltd (“Liquid SA”) and Cell C and as a Non-Independent Audit and Risk Committee Member of Liquid SA, Cell C and Afrinet, as well as Trustee of the Sasol Batho Trust and Trustee and Chairperson of the Finance Committee of the Telkom Foundation Trust.
iOCO Limited: Chaiperson of Social and Ethics Committee and a Member of Audit and Risk Committee.
Nompumelelo Mokou
Independent Non-executive Director
Nompumelelo Mokou is a distinguished executive and board member with extensive experience in business transformation, governance, and strategic leadership. In March 2025, she was appointed Independent Non-Executive Director and Chairperson of the Audit & Risk Committee at iOCO. Previously, Nompumelelo served as Managing Director of Dimension Data Southern Africa (now NTT Data) from April 2021 to November 2023, leading significant turnaround initiatives that improved operational efficiencies and drove growth.
Her board experience includes serving as Chairperson of the Audit Committee for the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sports Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) from 2015 to 2019. During her tenure at Dimension Data Southern Africa, she was also a Board Member, contributing to the strategic decisions that drove the company’s progress and transformation. Additionally, she served as a Trustee of the Dimension Data Provident Fund and an Employee-elected Trustee in Dimension Data’s Employees Empowerment Trust.
Throughout her career, Nompumelelo has been deeply involved in employment equity, diversity, and inclusive leadership, ensuring businesses cultivate a progressive and transformative culture. From 2011 to 2013, she chaired the Soweto branch of the Business Women of South Africa’s Association.
Nompumelelo holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of the Witwatersrand and an MBA from Stellenbosch University.
Her board experience includes serving as Chairperson of the Audit Committee for the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sports Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) from 2015 to 2019. During her tenure at Dimension Data Southern Africa, she was also a Board Member, contributing to the strategic decisions that drove the company’s progress and transformation. Additionally, she served as a Trustee of the Dimension Data Provident Fund and an Employee-elected Trustee in Dimension Data’s Employees Empowerment Trust.
Throughout her career, Nompumelelo has been deeply involved in employment equity, diversity, and inclusive leadership, ensuring businesses cultivate a progressive and transformative culture. From 2011 to 2013, she chaired the Soweto branch of the Business Women of South Africa’s Association.
Nompumelelo holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of the Witwatersrand and an MBA from Stellenbosch University.
Andrew Marshall
Independent Non-executive Director
BCom (Honours)
Appointed 1 September 2020.
Andrew started his career in Sales & Marketing with AECI. He moved to their parent company ICI in the UK before returning to South Africa. He was then Managing Director of a number of smaller, privately owned businesses or divisions of a listed group. He was appointed CEO of the listed group Oceana in 1999, and remained there until 2009 when he joined Nampak as CEO. He retired from Nampak in 2014. He is currently the Chairman of Ster Kinekor Theatres.
Committees: Audit and Risk Committee & Remuneration and Nominations Committee
Appointed 1 September 2020.
Andrew started his career in Sales & Marketing with AECI. He moved to their parent company ICI in the UK before returning to South Africa. He was then Managing Director of a number of smaller, privately owned businesses or divisions of a listed group. He was appointed CEO of the listed group Oceana in 1999, and remained there until 2009 when he joined Nampak as CEO. He retired from Nampak in 2014. He is currently the Chairman of Ster Kinekor Theatres.
Committees: Audit and Risk Committee & Remuneration and Nominations Committee
Executive Directors
Rhys Summerton
Group Chief Executive Officer
Investment Decisions And Behavioural Finance, Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education
Appointed 30 May 2024
Rhys Summerton is the founder and investor at Milkwood Capital, a long-term, value oriented, global investment company, based in the UK.
Since establishing the fund in 2014, Rhys has successfully driven value realization across a range of investments through disciplined capital allocation and strategic decision-making.
Before founding Milkwood, Rhys was Managing Director and Global Head of Emerging Market Equity Research at Citigroup, leading the firm’s top-ranked research franchise. A Chartered Accountant, he began his career with Ernst & Young.
Rhys serves on the boards of various listed and unlisted companies, primarily where Milkwood Capital has influence.
Appointed 30 May 2024
Rhys Summerton is the founder and investor at Milkwood Capital, a long-term, value oriented, global investment company, based in the UK.
Since establishing the fund in 2014, Rhys has successfully driven value realization across a range of investments through disciplined capital allocation and strategic decision-making.
Before founding Milkwood, Rhys was Managing Director and Global Head of Emerging Market Equity Research at Citigroup, leading the firm’s top-ranked research franchise. A Chartered Accountant, he began his career with Ernst & Young.
Rhys serves on the boards of various listed and unlisted companies, primarily where Milkwood Capital has influence.
Ashona Kooblall
Group Chief Financial Officer
A qualified CA (SA). Ashona has more than 16 years of senior finance experience with a demonstrated history of leadership positions within the Technology, FMCG and Retail industries.
Having started her career at PWC. Ashona’s expertise spans various fields including Corporate finance, Demand creation, Governance, P&L optimization, Mergers & Acquisitions, business restructuring, cost optimization strategies, business strategy, investor relations, managerial finance, controversy management and strategic planning. Ashona spent her career at leading JSE listed and multinational companies namely, Barloworld Group, Tiger Brands Group and Nike Inc. She held various senior corporate finance and strategy roles. Ashona has been with the IOCO group for 6 years with her primary focus on Value creation initiatives, Group strategy, Finance, Risk & Governance for the group.
Having started her career at PWC. Ashona’s expertise spans various fields including Corporate finance, Demand creation, Governance, P&L optimization, Mergers & Acquisitions, business restructuring, cost optimization strategies, business strategy, investor relations, managerial finance, controversy management and strategic planning. Ashona spent her career at leading JSE listed and multinational companies namely, Barloworld Group, Tiger Brands Group and Nike Inc. She held various senior corporate finance and strategy roles. Ashona has been with the IOCO group for 6 years with her primary focus on Value creation initiatives, Group strategy, Finance, Risk & Governance for the group.
Operational Structure
Conrad Blignaut
Chief Executive: Intelligent Technology Solution (ITS) and Outsourced Knowledge Solutions (OKS)
Conrad Blignaut
Chief Executive: Intelligent Technology Solution (ITS) and Outsourced Knowledge Solutions (OKS)
Conrad Blignaut is the Chief Executive of iOCO's Intelligent Technology Solutions, driving the Group’s Cloud, Infrastructure and Managed IT services. With over 24 years of experience, including senior roles at iOCO and Old Mutual, he has a strong track record of driving IT innovation and aligning technology with business strategy.
As Managing Director of iOCO Infrastructure Services since 2023, Conrad managed a R1.2bn business, optimising IT operations for a diverse range of clients. Prior to this, he served as CIO of the Group, where he was integral to the company’s turnaround, establishing IT governance and ensuring technology supported business objectives.
Conrad’s career spans consulting, operations, and leadership roles. At Old Mutual, he was General Manager: IT, overseeing all IT delivery for the South African business. He also directed Global Edge Technologies, managing Old Mutual UK’s award-winning investment platform, which ranked among the top five in the UK market by assets under management.
A recognised leader in digital transformation, Conrad champions large-scale IT initiatives, embedding cultural and operational shifts alongside technological change. He is passionate about developing future technology leaders and is committed to helping businesses harness technology for sustainable success.
As Managing Director of iOCO Infrastructure Services since 2023, Conrad managed a R1.2bn business, optimising IT operations for a diverse range of clients. Prior to this, he served as CIO of the Group, where he was integral to the company’s turnaround, establishing IT governance and ensuring technology supported business objectives.
Conrad’s career spans consulting, operations, and leadership roles. At Old Mutual, he was General Manager: IT, overseeing all IT delivery for the South African business. He also directed Global Edge Technologies, managing Old Mutual UK’s award-winning investment platform, which ranked among the top five in the UK market by assets under management.
A recognised leader in digital transformation, Conrad champions large-scale IT initiatives, embedding cultural and operational shifts alongside technological change. He is passionate about developing future technology leaders and is committed to helping businesses harness technology for sustainable success.
Richard Vester
Chief Executive: Cloud & Europe
Richard Vester is the Chief Executive and director of iOCO United Kingdom. He also leads iOCO’s hyperscale practice across the EMEA region. A sales-driven senior executive with over 25 years’ experience in the technology industry, he has played a key role in launching and shaping major initiatives for leading technology service providers in South Africa and beyond.
Richard has a deep understanding of markets, products, infrastructure, and support services, enabling the delivery of best-in-class cloud solutions. Since joining iOCO in 2012, he has spearheaded the Cloud Business, driving its international expansion and securing key partnerships.
Earlier in his career, he held an executive role at Vodacom Business, where he built the Cloud, Data Centre, Security, and Application divisions.
Richard has a deep understanding of markets, products, infrastructure, and support services, enabling the delivery of best-in-class cloud solutions. Since joining iOCO in 2012, he has spearheaded the Cloud Business, driving its international expansion and securing key partnerships.
Earlier in his career, he held an executive role at Vodacom Business, where he built the Cloud, Data Centre, Security, and Application divisions.
Essam Elbadri
Chief Executive: Middle East
CEO, ASSET Technology Group
Essam El Badri is the founder and CEO of ASSET Technology Group, an iOCO company and a leading software vendor in the Middle East. Since founding ASSET in 1991, he has built it into a top provider of proprietary software (IP) and professional services, delivering solutions in content management, telecom, and smart agriculture.
Under his leadership, ASSET pioneered the world’s first Arabic Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system in 1993, enabling the digital conversion of Arabic text from images. Today, the company provides multiple successful IP’s in addition to partnering with global technology leaders such as OpenText, Oracle, and Microsoft to provide enterprise solutions tailored to industry needs. Earlier in his career, Essam held leadership roles at Gulf Data International in Abu Dhabi, where he led financial system sales and automation projects. He began as a systems engineer at Data General Computers, focusing on banking solutions and operating systems.
Essam holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Ain Shams University, Cairo (1981).
Essam El Badri is the founder and CEO of ASSET Technology Group, an iOCO company and a leading software vendor in the Middle East. Since founding ASSET in 1991, he has built it into a top provider of proprietary software (IP) and professional services, delivering solutions in content management, telecom, and smart agriculture.
Under his leadership, ASSET pioneered the world’s first Arabic Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system in 1993, enabling the digital conversion of Arabic text from images. Today, the company provides multiple successful IP’s in addition to partnering with global technology leaders such as OpenText, Oracle, and Microsoft to provide enterprise solutions tailored to industry needs. Earlier in his career, Essam held leadership roles at Gulf Data International in Abu Dhabi, where he led financial system sales and automation projects. He began as a systems engineer at Data General Computers, focusing on banking solutions and operating systems.
Essam holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Ain Shams University, Cairo (1981).
Dion Govender
Chief Executive: Connected Industrial Ecosystems (CIE)
Dion is the Chief Executive of iOCO’s Connected Industrial Ecosystems (CIE) division, bringing over 30 years of experience in the corporate technology sector. His extensive career spans senior leadership roles, including a long tenure at Siemens, where he served as Group CEO of Siemens Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa and held a senior executive position in Siemens Germany. With a proven track record of strategic leadership.
Dion’s professional journey includes focused information technology leadership roles as well as running his own entrepreneurial ventures in sustainable energy technologies, renewable energy, and alternative fuels before joining iOCO in 2018 to take on a leadership role in its industrial technology businesses.
An MBA graduate of Henley Business School UK (2006), Dion is a member of the Institute of Directors of South Africa and a well-rounded business executive known for his expertise in technology, culture change, and value creation.
Dion’s professional journey includes focused information technology leadership roles as well as running his own entrepreneurial ventures in sustainable energy technologies, renewable energy, and alternative fuels before joining iOCO in 2018 to take on a leadership role in its industrial technology businesses.
An MBA graduate of Henley Business School UK (2006), Dion is a member of the Institute of Directors of South Africa and a well-rounded business executive known for his expertise in technology, culture change, and value creation.
