Keet van Zyl, the Founding Partner of Knife Capital, a top VC firm with offices in Cape Town and London has been appointed to the board of the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA).
Keet will join three other appointed representatives, Juan Coetzer, Head of Private Equity at Ashburton Fund Managers; Cathy Goddard, CEO of Firebird Fund Managers; Vusi Thembekwayo, CEO of MyGrowthFund to advocate for private equity and venture capital in Southern Africa, representing about R170 billion in assets under management, through 160 members.
The representatives will engage regulators and legislators on a range of matters affecting the industry, providing relevant and insightful research on aspects of the industry, offering training on private equity and creating meaningful networking opportunities for industry players.
According to Dave Stadler, outgoing Chairman of the SAVCA board and CEO of Paean Private Equity: “Each new board member brings with them diverse experience and expertise in venture capital and private equity. This includes in-depth cross-industry and entrepreneurial knowledge, but what is most critical is their passion for the industry.”
The appointment of four new directors expands the SAVCA board from 11 to 13. Dave Stadler, and Siyabonga Nhlumayo, the Treasurer of the SAVCA board and Partner at Medu Capital, will be stepping down as directors after years of dedicated service to the organisation and the industry.
Adds van Lill, “SAVCA would like to thank Dave and Siya for their hard work and commitment to the SAVCA board and their continuous support for the SAVCA executive team. Each of them has dedicated their time and efforts to help grow SAVCA and its offerings over the years and have always had the best interest of the industry at heart.”
Juan Coetzer, Head of Private Equity at Ashburton Fund Managers, has over 15 years’ experience in investment management and financial services while Cathy Goddard, the CEO of Firebird Fund Managers, has over 18 years’ experience in investment banking, corporate finance and private equity.
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Vusi Thembekwayo, CEO of MyGrowthFund, is a global business speaker and an Iconoclasts merchant. Vusi has masterminded and led a R400 million division in a R17 billion multinational. Vusi launched a Top40 mentorship programme and currently mentors 40 entrepreneurs.
Keet’s KNF Ventures is a SARS S12J VC company that leverages knowledge, networks and funding to enhance investee growth and investor returns. Prior to this, Keet structured various private equity funds in Southern Africa for a US fund-of-funds investor and worked at industry-leading companies such as Procter & Gamble, Investec Bank and ‘Here Be Dragons’ (HBD) Venture Capital.
