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Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) has introduced the appointment of Phetheni Nkuna, Director of Govt Administration, because the agency’s Chief Working Officer, efficient 1 April 2026.
On this function, Nkuna will oversee the agency’s operations throughout CDH’s places of work in South Africa, Kenya, and Namibia, supporting the continued integration of its African operations.
As an award-winning legislation agency on the continent, this appointment reinforces CDH’s strategic goal to drive innovation, transformation, and operational excellence amid a quickly evolving authorized panorama.
Nkuna holds LLB and LLM levels, a Certificates in Superior Labour Regulation, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Enterprise Administration, in addition to a Grasp of Enterprise Administration (MBA) from the Gordon Institute of Enterprise Science (GIBS). She joined CDH in October 2020 as a Director within the Employment Regulation apply and was subsequently appointed Director of Govt Administration in June 2023.
On this function, she oversaw a number of operational portfolios and labored intently with CDH CEO Brent Williams in advancing the agency’s strategic agenda.
Nkuna appointment to the Govt Administration Workplace marked an vital step in broadening her contribution past authorized apply at a relatively early stage of her management journey.
She embodies a forward-looking management mindset, one which not solely drives efficiency and innovation however is equally centered on laying the groundwork for the longer term by enabling rising authorized professionals to grasp their potential.
In doing so, she helps to embed a tradition the place expertise is supplied, supported, and empowered to succeed.
Since getting into the function, Nkuna has change into an more and more central architect of the agency’s strategic path, taking part in to the distinctive strengths that outline CDH. She has performed a pivotal function in shaping the agency’s operational technique, advancing its people-first agenda, and driving shopper and enterprise growth priorities.
In parallel, she has contributed considerably to shopper engagement and market intelligence, with a specific concentrate on innovation and the evolving authorized panorama throughout Africa and globally.
Very similar to Nkuna’s personal measured and forward-looking strategy, CDH’s enlargement throughout Africa displays a broader strategic synergy, one that’s systematic, considerate, and grounded in significant, long-term impression.
Her development mirrors the agency’s big-picture imaginative and prescient: rigorously calibrated, people-centred, and aligned with evolving market realities, making certain that progress isn’t solely sustainable, but in addition intentionally positioned for the longer term and deeply built-in throughout jurisdictions and apply areas.
Nkuna’s appointment as COO represents a pure development and displays the management she already workouts throughout the agency. In her new function, she is going to proceed to drive operational excellence, assist each fee-earning and enterprise companies groups, and make sure that CDH’s individuals are geared up with the constructions, expertise, and assets wanted to ship excellent work for shoppers – whereas laying a powerful basis for the agency’s continued progress. She may even work intently with the agency’s government management to drive the implementation of CDH’s strategic priorities throughout its places of work in South Africa, Kenya, and Namibia.
Past her operational management, Nkuna is deeply dedicated to advancing ladies within the office by means of mentorship and championing feminine wellness initiatives throughout the agency.
The mentorship mannequin she has helped form at CDH performs an important function in nurturing the subsequent technology of authorized expertise, whereas reinforcing a tradition of inclusivity {and professional} progress. She has additionally been instrumental in implementing initiatives resembling maternity teaching and creating secure areas that promote psychological security throughout the organisation, demonstrating a management strategy that’s each empathetic and future-focused.
These efforts mirror her imaginative and prescient for a sustainable and supportive office, whereas additionally advancing CDH’s wider contribution to the continent: equipping people with the talents, confidence, and assist wanted to thrive, and elevating the authorized sector as a complete.
These initiatives mirror her imaginative and prescient for a sustainable and supportive office, whereas additionally advancing CDH’s wider contribution to the continent: equipping people with the talents, confidence, and assist wanted to thrive. In doing so, the agency performs a job in empowering Africa’s authorized expertise and elevating the authorized sector as a complete.
In line with Brent Williams, Chief Govt Officer of CDH, Phetheni brings a uncommon and highly effective mixture of management and operational perception to the function.
“She has a deep and genuine understanding of what it means to practise legislation, mixed with robust enterprise, monetary, and operational acumen. She has already demonstrated her skill to assume strategically, lead decisively, and drive significant progress throughout the agency.
I’m assured that, in her function as COO, she is going to proceed to play a essential half in advancing CDH’s strategic priorities throughout our places of work in South Africa, Kenya and Namibia,” says Williams.
