Now in its 7^th year running the IT Leaders Africa Summit, South Africa’s most respected CIO event, will take place on the 15^th and 16^th March at Vodacom World in Johannesburg.

The IT landscape is swiftly evolving and continually facing disruptions which makes it incredibly difficult for CIOs, CTOs, Directors and Managers in the information technology space to keep up.

The IT Leaders Africa Summit is a meeting place for IT and business leaders across all industries: FMCG, mining, manufacturing, finance, retail and many more.  It is designed to provide attendees with the latest key insights, the tools needed to re-look at IT strategies, advice on how to update skill sets and the latest in trends and technologies.

“We are excited to host the 7th annual IT Leaders Africa Summit. With budget cuts looming and more pressure than ever on the IT leader to reduce overall costs and improve efficiency, the synergy between an IT head and the business is paramount. The summit is about building relationships, meeting industry peers and networking,” says Shannon Mackrill, Joint Managing Director, Kinetic.

The event will assist delegates to align IT with business priorities and provide the ideal setting for engagement, networking and relationship building with like-minded individuals in the African IT industry. The event will feature 40 high level speakers, 250 attendees and many blue chip sponsors.  Keynote speeches, panel discussions and educational workshop sessions will be hosted by industry leaders that are shaping the IT landscape in South Africa and beyond.

“What really attracted me to the event is the industry nature of it and it really bringing together leaders from all over at an executive level, rather than a general level,” says Franz Hirschberg, IT Director, Pernod Ricard Sub Saharan Africa.

This year the agenda will focus on digital disruption and its impact on organisations, the evolution of technology, the effective management of data centres, cost reduction through the adoption of innovative technology and how to ensure a sustainable network.

The summit has appointed a brand new advisory panel that will guide and tailor the conversation. Advisory panel member and Group CIO for Sasol, Alec Joannou adds that the summit will address the most pressing IT related issues i.e.“What are the game changers for IM – mobility? Value analytics, security of information or all of the above?”

The advisory panel is made up of three of the most respected names in IT in Africa namely:

• Tunde Coker, Managing Director, Rack Centre, who will look at cost reduction strategies and why it is vital for CIO’s to stick to budgets.
• Cuan B Kloppers, CIO, Samancor Chrome Limited and Past Executive Chairman, AFSUG Board of Directors, who will examine the challenge of IT execution and how to keep up with the implementation of IT projects.
• Alec Joannou, Group CIO, Sasol, who will look at transforming the IT department from a cost centre to a value add function.

Other leading speakers include:

• Clive Donninger, CIO, Associated Motor Holdings, who will examine a case study looking at the CIO’s role in rolling out an ERP project across an organisation.
• Peter du Plooy, CIO, Engen Oil, who will discuss the driving of growth and expansion in the IT function.
• Antonio Raposo, CIO, Volkswagen who will explore the trends and game changers for mobility in Southern Africa. 

For more information about IT Leaders please contact: marcia@kineticevents.net.