The University of Limpopo (UL) has appointed renowned business consultant Victor Kgomoeswana as its Marketing and Communication Executive Director for a five-year term, beginning 1 November 2021
During this period, Kgomoeswana will be in charge of the university’s marketing and communication strategy, which includes alumni relations, recruitment, publications, and stakeholder relations, among other business units in the department.
Kgomoeswana is no stranger to the world of marketing and communications, having spent over a decade consulting with multinationals on business and investment climate in Africa – particularly advising companies on how to expand their operations across the continent and connect them to opportunities. As a university that aspires to maintain its high-quality academic enterprise and meaningful stakeholder relations, Kgomoeswana’s experience in identifying and pursuing growth prospects beyond the borders of the continent will steadfast the university’s internationalisation efforts.
Kgomoeswana takes the appointment as an opportunity to unlock more value by positioning the university as a responsive institution whose output applies to society. He described his appointment as “priceless nostalgia” since he is armed with a BSc (Education) for Secondary and Teaching from the then-University of the North (now UL) in 1991. His experience with the institution, as well as his involvement in Student Representative Council (SRC) activities as secretary for education faculty, best positions him to promote an engaged university that is responsive to the development needs of its students, staff, and communities.
Since 2013, Kgomoeswana has served as the director of his company, Africa is Open for Business, which specialises in trade missions to Africa and advises multinational corporations on stakeholder relations and business expansion. He is also a TV and radio anchor and commentator. In 2014 and 2015, he produced and presented a weekly Africa Business News on CNBC Africa. Between 2014 and February 2017, he also hosted Power Hour, a daily radio programme on Power FM. His media career dates back to 1996. He has had a footprint in print, radio, television, and online platforms.
He was also the CEO of the PPC Fund, an enterprise development initiative of the PPC cement manufacturing company, which is listed on the JSE. In this capacity, which he held until January 2014, he worked with the supply chain, procurement, and finance divisions to provide finance, mentorship, coaching, and other forms of support to black small and medium-sized businesses. Before joining PPC, he was an Associate Director at Ernst & Young’s (EY) Africa Business Centre in October 2009, where he led the team that created the firm’s database, which is now known as Africa Interactive and Growing Beyond Borders. This tool was the first in the industry for the Big Four globally. Following its launch in April 2010, his responsibilities evolved to include business development, supporting pursuit teams across EY practices in 30 African countries and globally, presenting to clients on African business opportunities, locating investment opportunities, and matching them to clients.
He has facilitated prestigious conferences across the world and on the continent, as well as coordinated multidisciplinary teams around mergers and acquisitions transactions. His business consulting culminated in two enthralling books – Africa is Open for Business (2014), and Africa Bounces Back: Case Studies from a Resilient Continent (2021).
“I am also a storyteller and that is why I came here to tell the story of this great university to its stakeholders and the world to take forward its legacy of 60 years,” said Kgomoeswana.
Kgomoeswana has already hit the ground running in pursuit of what he calls “nine integrated pillars” that will catapult the university to greater heights – relevance, resonance, utility, technology (efficiency), innovation, application, legacy, heritage, and pride.
“Whatever we do as a university must find application in the communities we are connected to. I am hoping that my exposure to the private sector and my energy will be infused into the marketing and communication team and the entire university community,” said the astute consultant.
He said that the university would be working around building more partnerships with alumni, the business sector, and international alliances with universities in other countries to make the institution relevant and resonant with societal development needs.
By Moses Moreroa