Industry lobby group, the Manufacturing Circle, has appointed Philippa Rodseth as its new executive director from October 1, replacing the outgoing incumbent Coenraad Bezuidenhout, who will leave to pursue other opportunities after almost four years in the position.
Rodseth brings a business background in projects and finance that will be applied in the development and implementation of the organisation’s goals, which are to achieve a competitive manufacturing environment, attain a supportive international trade position, and advance the reputation of South African manufactured products.
She began her career as an architect, working for four years on commercial projects in South Africa and Hong Kong.
After obtaining an MBA from the University of the Witwatersrand Business School, she joined First National Bank’s Commercial Division in 2003 and spent seven years working in a private equity team funding black youth-empowered businesses and then as a leveraged finance dealmaker.
In 2012, Rodseth established Spoke Consulting, which identifies and accesses funding for projects in Africa, primarily through the Department of Trade and Industry’s Incentive Development and Administration Division.