The former HR director for the City of Cape Town joined the organisation in May 2024.
Accomplished HR executive Lele Sithole has been appointed as the HR executive for Bidvest Catering Services.
Lele, who was previously the HR director for the City of Cape Town, says her past experiences have shaped her for this role: “I have worked in fast-paced environments where decisions have people and huge financial impact and also have an intimate appreciation of the relationship between talent wellness and business wellness. My vast experience in implementing transformative cultures in various environments will also aid me in adapting and thriving in this role.”
Before joining the City of Cape Town, Lele was the GM for HR and transformation at Edcon. She was also the director for HR shared services for the City of Johannesburg.
She adds that she was drawn to the foodservice solutions provider by its culture of quick decision-making and ability to seize commercial opportunities. She also appreciated the company’s intentional focus on transformation.
“The intentional transformation and appreciation of women’s development resonated with me deeply. I also appreciate that the firm has a strong presence in commerce and is a proudly South African brand through and through.”
Since joining Bidvest Catering Services, Lele says she has prioritised several key initiatives. “My focus has been on talent management, in particular attraction, retention, and succession,” she explains. “These are critical as we come out of the stabilisation phase and move into the growth phase.”
In addition, she is keen on developing and rolling out a human capital digital strategy to modernise the company’s human resources operations, “The long-term goal will be to reposition HR, its role and impact in the organisation as well as integrate and align all pillars of our transformation strategy with that of the organisations.”
Lele has a bachelor's degree in humanities/humanistic studies from the University of Johannesburg.
