Naspers, Africa’s biggest listed company, upends 100 years of history by naming a black woman as CEO

A little more than 100 years ago, Naspers Ltd. was created by white South Africans to produce a Dutch-language newspaper. Now the continent’s biggest company, Naspers just named its first woman, and first black person, as chief executive officer.

Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s appointment to head the South African unit doesn’t just buck the trend of white, male directors at Naspers. Only one black woman now runs a Top 40-listed company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and only seven men of color do. The new Naspers unit won’t be traded, at least right away, and includes e-commerce, food delivery, newspapers and online media.

“Phuthi is qualified, and brings in some good experience, plus she brings some gender and racial equality into the mix,” said Ron Klipin, a senior analyst at Cratos Capital. “You need a person who can also take your South African portfolio forward and grow it, change the landscape even further.”