In July, Executive Communities hosted three back-to-back, power-packed events at The Venue at Melrose Arch – the CIO Pitch Parade, 2025 CFO Pitch Parade and the CHRO Solutions Summit – showcasing innovation, expertise, and a generous dose of side-splitting entertainment.
The power of Executive Communities for its partners lies in the meaningful connections forged between brand representatives and the business leaders they engage with in the year’s calendar of exclusive events.
The usual rule for Executive Communities partners is “network, get to know the executives, and don’t do a hard sell!” But for one night of the year for each community, at the Pitch Parades, that rule is cancelled. “Sell your heart out!” is the new instruction. BUT – you only get four minutes to do so before the buzzer sounds.
Each event is hosted by a top South African comedian, to keep the audience engaged, to put the pitchers at their ease, and to make sure that everyone follows the rules. As the hilarious MC for the CHRO Solutions Summit Eugene Khoza quipped, “If you’re not done in four minutes, go look for a job in Parliament.”
The MCs, the pitchers and the audience ensured that every second counted, and all in attendance were treated to a high-impact, information-rich experience. Taken as a whole, the Pitch Parades highlight the challenges that every executive is facing and the innovative solutions for their every concern – whether it’s a full-suite system from a global IT leader or a locally developed app to address a single pain point!
The feedback from those in the limelight was enormously enthusiastic.
“The CHRO Solutions Summit was one of those rare moments where the energy in the room matched the importance of the conversations,” said Heinrich Swanepoel, head of business development at Deel Local Payroll. “It was a privilege to take the stage alongside incredible partners and pitch at an event designed specifically for HR leaders who carry some of the heaviest responsibilities in any organisation. I spoke about the realities of payroll: the slow, frustrating errors that never seem to go away, and what happens when you finally fix the one process that touches everyone, every month.A special mention goes to Eugene Khoza for keeping the energy high and the laughter flowing. You made a packed agenda feel like a breeze. Thank you to CHRO South Africa for creating a space where real problems are met with real solutions, and to the brilliant people I had the chance to connect with throughout the evening.”
“Tonight was great! Always good getting the chance to share about our mutual model. It really is a no brainer for brainy people! Thanks for the opportunity CHRO South Africa!” said Masenyane Molefe, group executive: HR at PPS.
“Last week I got to do one of my favourite things: share the Jem story with a room full of people who really get it,” said Caroline van der Merwe, co-founder and chief product officer at Jem. “At the CHRO South Africa Solutions Summit, I had four minutes to explain why we’re building HR and benefits software for frontline workers, and how it’s unlocking massive wins for both employees and employers.This community of senior HR leaders is one of the most generous and thoughtful I’ve ever encountered. It was such a privilege to stand up there and speak to a mission that’s deeply personal. Thank you to everyone who cheered us on, and to the organisations who are helping us build an employee experience for everyone.”
“Grateful to have been a speaker at the annual CFO Pitch Parade hosted by CFO South Africa,” said Meagan Booth, sales manager – corporate - South Africa, at Caseware. “It was a privilege to engage with an incredible group of CFOs and finance leaders, exchanging insights and discussing the evolving needs of the modern finance function. I had the opportunity to showcase how Caseware Africa‘s solutions can simplify financial reporting, streamline compliance and empower finance teams to focus on value-adding work. Thank you to CFO South Africa for creating a platform that brings together innovation and leadership in the finance space.
“Thank you to CFO South Africa for the opportunity to speak at the CFO Pitch Parade 2025. It was a privilege to share how we at Stanlib assist CFOs and treasury managers manage fundamental cash requirements of maintaining liquidity, safeguarding capital and maximising returns,” said O'lerato Litlhakanyane, senior specialist: client fund manager at Stanlib. “As I shared during the session, “Inactive cash is a squandered resource”. This is a call to action for corporate treasuries to optimise their operational and core cash deposits. Grateful to be part of this community.”
At the CFO Pitch Parade, the full list of partners included:
- Marsh
- Anchor Capital
- BDO SA
- Coupa
- STANLIB
- Workday
- AICPA & CIMA
- Allan Gray
- Caseware Africa
- Oracle
- Linked ERP
- Yellowcard
At the CIO Pitch Parade, the full list of partners included:
- Cassava Technologies
- Entelect
- iOCO
- Huawei
- MakwaIT
- Equinix
- HCLTech
- Hyland
- Communication Genetics
- Investec
- JustSolve
- MagicOrange
- Workday
And at the CHRO Solutions Summit, the full list of partners included:
- Old Mutual
- Regenesys
- Discovery
- Jem HR
- LRMG
- Sanlam
- Workday
- Bridging and associates
- Ayanda Mbanga
- Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace
- PPS
To find out more about participating in next year’s Pitch Parades, contact Executive Communities head of sales Nick Smith on [email protected].
