Absa’s group chief human capital officer Jeanett Modise was named 2025 CHRO of the Year, at a glamorous gala event last night. The accomplished executive also scooped the Talent Management and the Learning & Development awards.
Held on 12 November at the Polo Room, Inanda Club, the “Oscars of HR” brought together top HR executives to celebrate excellence in the profession. Jeanett Modise emerged as the biggest winner of the night, receiving the top honour as well as the Talent Management and Learning & Development awards. Her CHRO of the Year trophy was presented by Kiv Moodley, country MD of Workday.
Jeanett was honoured for the exceptional work she’s done championing an inclusive work culture within the Absa Group through the Pan-African One Absa Initiative.
Throughout her over three-decade career, Jeanett has remained passionate about talent development and continues to mentor leaders today. Her leadership journey started out at Land Bank and she has since held roles at leading companies, including SAP, Old Mutual, IDC, AngloGold Ashanti and Santam Insurance. Before joining Absa, Jeanett served as Sanlam’s group HR director. She also holds two master’s degrees in business leadership and business coaching from Unisa and Stellenbosch University.
Jeanett was presented the Talent Management Award by 2024 CHRO of the Year S’ne Magagula, Tiger Brands CPO, while the Learning & Development Award was presented by Regenesys chairperson, Dr Marko Saravanja.
Former CPO for the AGSA Lindiwe Miyambu was another big winner of the night, scooping the Public Sector CHRO and HR & Technology awards for her time in the organisation. While there, she led the transformation of the people strategy, targeting a 30 percent shift in public sector culture by 2030. During her tenure at AGSA, she championed the development of young CAs from disadvantaged backgrounds, consistently demonstrating a deep commitment to meaningful impact. She recently joined AfroCentric Group as chief people and marketing officer.
Qinisekile Dhlamini, head of business development at Momentum, handed out the award for Public Sector CHRO, while Lindiwe was presented the HR & Technology Award by enterprise executive at LRMG Joyce Lebelo.
Another big winner of the night was Charlotte Mokoena, executive VP: HR and corporate affairs at Sasol, who was presented with the Strategy & Leadership and Employee Value Proposition awards. Charlotte has impressively led Sasol through seven strike-free years and multi-year wage agreements. Her HR strategies and trust-based leadership style have strengthened employee relations and aligned the employee value proposition with community development through initiatives such as Sasol Cares, which provides ongoing socio-economic support.
Charlotte joined Sasol in 2017 and has successfully led the global rollout of the 1HR platform, which standardises HR processes across the organisation.
The Strategy & Leadership Award was presented by 2023 CHRO of the Year and Standard Bank chief people and culture officer, Sharon Taylor. The Employee Value Proposition Award was presented to Charlotte by managing director: Remchannel at Old Mutual, Lindiwe Sebesho.
The Young CHRO of the Year title went to Gcobisa Ntshona who is the group CPO at African Bank. Keletjo Chiloane, career consulting services at Mercer Africa, presented her trophy to African Bank representative, Frans Kutumela, on Gcobisa’s behalf.
Gcobisa joined African Bank in 2023. One of her biggest accomplishments since joining the bank has been successfully completing three complex integrations. Her approach to employee wellness has won awards. She has also worked extensively to drive profit-sharing in the organisation through launching an inclusive employee share scheme. Gcobisa has positioned HR as a strategic driver of culture and change while maintaining a level one B-BBEE status for three consecutive years.
Joining Yum! Brands in 2006, Nolo Thobejane, KFC Africa’s chief people, culture and purpose officer took home the Transformation & Empowerment Award. She has risen through the ranks in the company and is now at the helm of KFC Africa’s HR function. Under her leadership, KFC Africa has redefined its growth strategy by placing employee experience at the centre of its business priorities. She has also led the organisation’s transformation agenda, introducing initiatives such as the Streetwise Academy and Women on the Move to expand access to opportunities and develop the next generation of KFC leaders.
Nolo was presented the Transformation & Empowerment Award by head of sales enablement at GIBS Lorna Phipps.
Full list of the 2025 CHRO Awards winners:
- CHRO of the Year – Jeanett Modise, group chief human capital officer, Absa
- Young CHRO of the Year – Gcobisa Ntshona, group CPO, African Bank
- Public Sector CHRO of the Year – Lindiwe Miyambu, former CPO, AGSA
- Strategy & Leadership Award – Charlotte Mokoena, executive VP: HR and corporate affairs, Sasol
- Transformation & Empowerment Award – Nolo Thobejane, chief people, culture and purpose officer, KFC Africa
- HR & Technology Award – Lindiwe Miyambu, former CPO, AGSA
- Employee Value Proposition Award – Charlotte Mokoena, executive VP: HR and corporate affairs, Sasol
- Talent Management Award – Jeanett Modise, group chief human capital officer, Absa
- Learning & Development Award – Jeanett Modise, group chief human capital officer, Absa
The judges for the 2025 CHRO Awards were:
- Abdullah Verachia, founder & CEO, The Strategists
- Caryn Baird, independent adviser & executive coach
- Moula Mokhobo-Amegashie, managing partner, Drayton Glendower
- Njabulo Mashigo, executive director: HR, Vodacom SA; 2022 CHRO of the Year
- Paul Norman, CHRO MTN group; 2019 CHRO of the Year
- Raisibe Morathi, group CFO, Vodacom
- Sharon Taylor, chief people & culture officer, Standard Bank; 2023 CHRO of the Year
- Shirley Zinn, non-executive director
- S’ne Magagula, CPO, Tiger Brands; 2024 CHRO of the Year
- Tswelo Kodisang, group CPO, FirstRand; 2021 CHRO of the Year
- Tumelo Seaketso, partner, STRASS Consultancy
- Vukani Mngxati, CEO, Microsoft SA
- Xolile Sizani, executive director, Nzuri Management Consultancy and Investments
The annual CHRO Awards are organised by CHRO South Africa, the community that connects HR executives through executive events, the bi-annual CHRO Magazine, CHRO.co.za and social media channels. By helping top HR leaders share knowledge, exchange interests and open up business opportunities, CHRO South Africa proudly contributes to the growth of the country.
The awards were sponsored by AM Comms, GIBS, LRMG, Mercer, Momentum Corporate, Old Mutual Corporate, Standard Bank South Africa, Regenesys and Workday.
Table sponsors at the event included: Absa Group, AECI, African Bank, Discovery, Drayton Glendower, KFC Africa, MakwaIT, Old Mutual, Old Mutual Insure, PPS, Rand Refinery, Sanlam, SALGA and Santam.
