Accenture appoints Vukani Mngxati as new Chief Executive Officer

As of the 1st of May, Vukani Mngxati is Accenture's new CEO for its South African outfit. Mngxati has been with the firm since 2000, except for a four-year hiatus when he was pursuing entrepreneurial endeavours. 

Accenture is among the most proactive international consulting firms in the South African market, with its presence in the country being characterised by high volumes of investment and strong initiatives to drive change. The firm’s prominence in the country has been reinforced by its position as the most popular firm to be employed at for IT consulting amongst new graduates.

Since 2006, the firm has been under the leadership of Chief Executive William Mzimba, who has also been at the firm since 2000. Mzimba’s mantra in South Africa was driving growth through rapid innovation, driven, in turn, by collaboration across sectors, primarily to catch up with the advancements being made across the globe. 

Under his leadership, Accenture’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) has reached as high as 22% on occasion, on the back of a number of initiatives to promote innovation, including the establishment of the Accenture Liquid Studio that offers a range of state-of-the-art collaboration facilities.

Mzimba will now vacate his position at the helm of the firm, to be replaced by Vukani Mngxati. Vukani has a background in commerce with a specialisation in business information systems and accounting, obtained through a bachelors degree from the University of Kwazulu-Natal.

Mngxati joined Accenture in 2000, where he spent six years and ascended to the position of Manager. In 2006, he exited the firm to launch an entrepreneurial venture of his own, which he pursued for four years before returning to Accenture in the capacity of Senior Manager.

Since 2012, Mngxati has been the Managing Director for Accenture’s Health & Public Service business in South Africa. He will now take over as CEO in the country, wherein he will execute the firm’s agenda in the near future, which currently involves preparing businesses for the new hybrid skills that will be required of their labour force in the upcoming era of automation.

Commenting on Mngxati’s appointment, Gianfranco Casati, Group Chief Executive at Accenture said, “Vukani truly understands the local market and has been delivering real value and impact for our clients through innovative digital solutions, making him a great choice to lead our business in sub-Sahara Africa. As CEO, Vukani will help clients streamline, transform and grow their businesses so they are future-ready.”

Mngxati himself added, “In our rapidly changing digital society, many companies are at risk of being left behind unless they embrace digital technology company-wide. It is a journey that not only improves companies’ bottom lines, but is also a part of nation building, making this an incredibly exciting time to be able to help shape the future of Africa.”