Managing Director, South Africa

Millar Cameron are thrilled to be supporting Africa GreenCo with the recruitment of a Managing Director, South Africa.

Location South Africa (Johannesburg preferred) Ref A003241

Africa GreenCo ("GreenCo") has established itself as a key player in Southern Africa's renewable energy sector. Operating across Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa (with entry into the DRC), GreenCo is a pioneering energy trader and intermediary at the forefront of regional market integration. Backed by shareholders including Impact Fund Denmark and InfraCo Africa (part of PIDG), GreenCo purchases renewable power from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and supplies electricity to utilities, large commercial and industrial customers, and competitive power markets including the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

In May 2026, GreenCo announced that Sanlam Life Insurance Limited ("Sanlam"), has become its first private institutional shareholder, investing USD 10 million and taking a 10 per cent stake in GreenCo. Sanlam - one of Africa's largest non-banking financial services company and one ofthe largest sustainability-driven asset managers in Africa - holds strong investment-grade ratings from major international agencies. The investment is accompanied by a further USD 5.5 million of quasi-equity from existing shareholder InfraCo Africa ("InfraCo") that is linked to a similar USD 6 million investment by existing shareholder Impact Fund Denmark ("IFDK") made in December 2025. This brings the combined investment to USD 21.5 million.

About the role

Africa GreenCo is entering a new phase of growth as South Africa embarks on wholesale market reform. The Managing Director, South Africa will lead the build-out of GreenCo's South African operations at a pivotal moment in the evolution of the country's electricity market.

This is a rare opportunity to join a highly respected leadership team within one of the region's leading electricity traders - and the only trader already active on the SAPP - operating with an entrepreneurial culture, strong regulatory relationships, and solid institutional backing.

Key dimensions of the role

Reporting directly to the Group CEO and serving as a member of the Executive Committee (ExCo), the Managing Director, South Africa will have the following key responsibilities:

Decision rights and interfaces

• Own South Africa P&L delivery, budgeting/forecasting, and day-to-day execution priorities.
• Lead local hiring and performance management; build the South Africa organisation to plan.
• Lead negotiation and execution of key commercial agreements in South Africa, aligned with Group risk/credit governance and ExCo decisions.
• Leverage Group functional centres of excellence (trading/ops, legal, finance, risk, systems) while remaining accountable for in-country delivery.

What success looks like (12-24 months)

• South Africa business is revenue-generating and profitable, with disciplined focus on margin and cash conversion.
• In-country team scaled to 15+ professionals within 12-24 months, with a fit-for-purpose local office and operating infrastructure.
• A diversified, two-sided portfolio is in place (supply + demand), supported by robust credit, risk, scheduling and settlement capability.
• Clear operating cadence is embedded: weekly pipeline governance, monthly performance reviews, and strong settlement and cash collection discipline.
• Day-one credibility established with Eskom/NTCSA, key IPPs, major corporates, and South African banks.

Key challenges include building local capability at speed, operating through market/regulatory uncertainty, and accelerating customer understanding of trading-led solutions.

1. Build and Scale the South African Platform

• Lead GreenCo's South African business from early-stage traction into a fully-fledged, scaled operation - building and managing a disciplined, two-sided trading book with robust credit, risk, scheduling and settlement capability.
• Establish operational cadence and performance management frameworks focused on revenue, margins, cash conversion, and settlement discipline.
• Build and manage a growing in-country team (targeting 15+ professionals within 12-24 months), and establish a local office and operating infrastructure.
• Develop the foundations for potential replication of selected functional capabilities within South Africa as scale justifies.

2. Drive Commercial Execution and Revenue Growth

• Lead origination and deal-making activity focused on signing customer supply agreements with utilities, municipalities (where applicable), and corporates.
• Lead procurement of supply (IPPs and other sources, including cross-border where relevant) to build a resilient portfolio that supports trading and customer delivery.
• Build a resilient and diversified trading book - not simply bilateral corporate PPAs, but structured supply and demand portfolios that reflect credit, risk, liquidity and cross-border constraints.
• Develop and launch energy management services for large customers (portfolio optimisation, forecasting, and surplus monetisation) as a complementary revenue stream.
• Embed performance metrics and management rhythm to ensure cadence in contracting, scheduling, settlement and cash collection.

3. Prepare for Wholesale Market Participation (SAWEM)

• Ensure operational and commercial readiness for wholesale market launch.
• Leverage the Group's trading expertise and SAPP experience.
• Position GreenCo to operate as a disciplined market participant and credit intermediary, capturing meaningful market share in the early phases of SAWEM (timing dependent).

4. Navigate Structural Market Complexity to Enable Commercial Delivery

• Operate effectively within South Africa's evolving regulatory, tariff, and municipal environment (where applicable) to enable contracting, delivery, and cash collection.
• Proactively identify and remove blockers to commercial delivery - regulatory, contractual, credit related, or operational - to protect revenue and margin performance.
• Engage constructively with key market participants and institutions, leveraging Group-level relationships where appropriate.
• Balance agility with governance, risk management, and capital discipline in a reforming market.
• Work closely with a strong, entrepreneurial CEO.
• Serve as a full ExCo member inputting into Group strategy and decision-making.
• Operate comfortably within a culture characterised by pace, candour and delivery.
• Institutionalise local operating capability and accountability, reducing reliance on any single individual.

This role requires a hands-on leader focused on management, execution, and delivery - not solely strategy or high-level representation.

Day-one credibility required with:

• Eskom / NTCSA and relevant system / market interfaces.
• Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and key supply counterparties.
• Large commercial and industrial customers (including mining and manufacturing).
• South African banks and credit committees (and other liquidity providers where relevant).

Skills and experience

Professional Experience

• 12+ years' relevant professional experience, with at least 5-8 years in a senior general management, COO, or divisional leadership role.
• Proven track record of scaling a complex, regulated, or market-facing business - ideally with full P&L responsibility.
• Experience building and managing multi-disciplinary teams through periods of growth and organisational transition.
• Demonstrated success in driving revenue growth, structuring and closing commercial agreements, and delivering operational execution.
• Experience operating within competitive, reforming, or newly liberalised markets.
• Familiarity with governance, risk management, and capital discipline in institutionally backed or investor-facing environments.

Qualifications

• A strong academic record, with a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g. Engineering, Economics, Finance, Law, Commerce, or related discipline).
• A postgraduate qualification (MBA, MSc, CFA, CA(SA), or equivalent) is advantageous but not mandatory.
• Demonstrated continuous professional development and intellectual curiosity.

Don't meet every single requirement? Research shows that individuals from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for roles unless they meet every listed qualification. At Millar Cameron, we are committed to supporting our clients in building diverse and inclusive teams. If you're enthusiastic about this role but don't meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply - you could be exactly what our client is looking for, either for this position or another.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are only able to respond to candidates who are shortlisted for the next stage of the process. We sincerely appreciate your interest and the time taken to apply.

Since 2007 Millar Cameron has specialised in sourcing leadership and keyperson talent across a number of industries, including agribusiness, international development, industrial, consumer, financial and professional services, private equity, and technology, media and telecommunications. Our mission and purpose is to positively contribute to the development of Africa, and other emerging markets, through the provision of people.

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