Pretoria – Thursday , 04 April 2024: Bangani Jeffrey Mpangalasane has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of The Innovation Hub (TIH), a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency and an agency of Gauteng Department of Economic Development, strategically tasked with driving technology innovation in the Gauteng Province.

Mr Mpangalasane (41) started in his new role on Tuesday,  02 April 2024.

Over the years, he has been exposed to global and local entrepreneurial innovation in Germany, India, the USA, and China. His experience spans over fifteen years, during which he has worked as an Innovation and Strategic Management Lead. He has also held roles in state-owned enterprises and the private and public sectors.

To mention a few, Mr Mpangalasane has worked for Telkom, Tech Mahindra, Novartis SA, Fiat Chrysler Automobile, the National Department of Military Veterans, the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications, the Small Enterprise Development Agency, and the Department of Justice.

Before joining The Innovation Hub, Mr Mpangalasane was the Chief Operations Officer of Pikitup , a waste management company of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. He was responsible for overseeing and optimising operations of the company , drive operational efficiency and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Mr Mpangalasane's highest qualification is an MBA from North-West University, where his dissertation focused on innovation and governance. He is currently a PhD candidate at the same higher-learning institution.

Welcoming the new CEO, The Innovation Hub's Board Chairperson, Mr Thembisa Fakude, said: “We are confident that he is the right candidate to lead the organisation into the future, further cementing The Innovation Hub  as a Science and Technology Park in Africa and a  leader in technology  innovation . We wish him all the best in his role.”

Fakude added that Mr Mpangalasane assumed the CEO role after being the preferred candidate following a rigorous process. “He is well-qualified and suited to lead The Innovation Hub, and with him at the helm, we as the Board expect to see the organisation taken to another level, increasing innovation capabilities , internal and external stakeholders being prioritised for collaboration and innovation uptake .”

Fakude concluded by thanking Mr Mothibedi Matshele, the outgoing Interim CEO: “Since last July , Mothibedi has wonderfully steered the ship. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I thank him for his visionary leadership.

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For media queries and more information, please contact: 

Linah Nematandani – Acting General Manager for Marketing and Communications

Email:              lnematandani@theinnovationhub.com

Tel:                  (+27) 12 844 0030 

Mobile:             (+27) 71 673 9964