Board of Directors

LLOYD MATIVENGA MHISHI | CHAIRMAN

Lloyd was appointed as the Chairman of the Board, on 8 July 2024. He joined the African Sun Board on 1 May 2021. Lloyd has a legal career stretching back to 1993, which includes two published books entitled “The Law & Practice of Conveyancing in Zimbabwe” (Legal Resources Foundation, August 2005) and “Being the Best Lawyer” (Mhishi Trust, 2023). He is the Founder and current Senior Partner of the law firm – Mhishi Nkomo Legal Practice based in Harare

LAURIE WARD | ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Laurie joined the Company in April 2023, and was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer on 8 December 2023 and subsequently Acting Chief Executive Officer with effect from the 20 of January 2024.

Laurie has over 25 years of executive management experience both internationally and throughout Africa, primarily in hospitality and project management, including exposure to best-in-class hotel brands such as Four Seasons, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), and Singita.

Laurie is a Chartered Accountant (Zimbabwe), having served his articles with the Ernst and Young Mutare office. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Rhodes University in South Africa.

SIMON VILLAGE | NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Simon was appointed to the Board of African Sun Limited on 22 March 2024. With a career spanning over 35 years, Simon has served as a Managing Director at HSBC and Head of their African Research and Securities business. He was later appointed as Managing Director of the World Gold Council (WGC) Investment Services and was instrumental in the creation and development of the world’s first gold ETF, which changed the dynamics of the global gold market.

Simon founded Argentum Limited in 2016. With a focus predominantly on Eastern and Southern Africa, Argentum assists developing non-sector specific corporate’s, in navigating to becoming institutionally compliant, thereby enabling expansion and growth. Simon is a holder of a B.Eng. (Hons) degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Exeter (Camborne School of Mines), and was a De Beers/Anglo American scholar.

BRETT CHILDS | NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Brett was appointed to the African Sun Board on the 16th of March 2017. A Chartered Accountant originally from Zimbabwe, Brett is a business veteran with 25 years of experience in capital raising, Initial Public Offering (IPOs), managing investments and corporate exits.

Brett spent 15 years in London, where he helped to build a successful venture capital business, and listed assets on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), and Mauritius Stock Exchange (SEM). He is a former CEO of the major shareholder, Arden Capital Limited.

THANDI NGWENYA | NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Thandi has over 25 years of corporate experience spearheading Marketing and Business Development initiatives across Africa in financial services, information technology, hospitality and media. She is a previous board member of TBWA Zimbabwe. A Chevening scholar, Thandi holds an MBA degree from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland and a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree in Marketing from the National University of Science & Technology (NUST).

She is also a Sales Coach & Trainer as well as being Certified Trainer for IBDL (international Business Drivers Licence) and a member of the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) as a Marketing Fellow.

ALEX EDGAR SIYAVORA | NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Alex was appointed to the African Sun Board on 8 November 2021. Á Chartered Accountant by profession, Alex has previously worked as the Chief Executive Officer of OK Zimbabwe Limited a listed company with a network of sixty-eight stores around Zimbabwe. Before that, he was the Finance Director of the same company. Before his employment at OK Zimbabwe Limited, he held the position of Finance Director at Merspin/Merlin Limited Group of companies and was Finance Manager at Coca-Cola Swaziland.

Alex is a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe. He holds a Masters degree in Business Leadership and an Honours Bachelors degree in Accounting Science (University of South Africa).

GEORGINA CHIKOMO | NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Georgina was appointed to the African Sun Board on 30 August 2018. Gina is an Accountant by training with a wealth of experience in prudent financial management. She has previously worked as the Finance Director and later the Managing Director of ZB Bank Limited.

She has a Master’s degree in Business Leadership, from the University of South Africa, a Bachelor’s degree with Honours in Business Studies from the University of Zimbabwe, and is an ACCA fellow member.

VERNON WRIGHT LAPHAM | NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Vernon was appointed to the African Sun Board on 8 November 2021. He is a registered Public Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe, he received the W. A. Duff Award for the highest marks in Zimbabwe in the final qualifying exams of ICAZ.

He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Accounting (DAA). Vernon has vast audit and business experience, having previously been the Audit Partner at Ernst and Young and CEO at MedTech Holdings Limited. He focuses on medium-sized privately owned businesses and currently operates Ultiam Advisory and Progility Consult.

LEWIS CHIKARA | CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER

Lewis was appointed to the position of Chief Finance Officer on 1 October 2023. Lewis has over 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry at a senior management level in finance. He has had experience with 3 unique 5-star hotels in Zimbabwe and South Africa which were all affiliated to the Leading Hotels of The World. Before this appointment, he was the Finance Director of Meikles Hospitality (Private) Limited and also doubled up as the Group Financial Controller of the Meikles Limited Group. Lewis also has vast experience with the retail sector, security services sector and properties sector.

Lewis is a Chartered Accountant (Zimbabwe), having served his articles with the Deloitte & Touche Harare office. He holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science Honours degree from the University of South Africa and a Bachelor of Accountancy Degree from the University of Zimbabwe.