The Dangote Group has appointed Dr. Pontsho B. Mokoena as its new Group Chief Risk Officer, reinforcing its corporate governance and risk oversight structure.
The company confirmed the appointment on Thursday, noting that it will take effect from March 2026 as the conglomerate strengthens its internal systems to support its expanding operations.
In the role, Mokoena will supervise key strategic functions across the organisation, including enterprise risk management, insurance operations and digital transformation initiatives. Her mandate will focus on strengthening risk governance, improving organisational resilience and supporting informed decision making across the group.
“The appointment comes as the Dangote Group continues to expand its industrial footprint across Africa.”
The move reflects the increasing need for stronger risk oversight as the conglomerate grows its presence across multiple sectors, including cement, energy, agriculture and manufacturing. With operations spreading across several African markets, the company faces a broader range of operational, financial and regulatory risks that require coordinated management.
Before joining the Dangote Group, Mokoena served as Executive for Risk and Insurance at Barloworld Limited, where she managed enterprise risk structures and insurance programmes across different jurisdictions. During her time there, she contributed to strengthening governance frameworks designed to improve corporate resilience and support long term growth. Her experience also includes leadership roles within governance and fiduciary structures tied to employee benefit funds.
She served as Principal Officer and Board Member of the Barloworld Medical Scheme and was also Principal Officer and Management Committee Member of the ONE Barloworld Retirement Fund. In those capacities, she chaired several oversight committees including the Investment Committee, Administration and Ex Gratia Committee, Disputes Committee and the RCC Committee, while also participating in the Audit and Risk Committee.
Beyond her corporate roles, Mokoena has been involved in governance advisory and consulting. She is the Founder and Director of KHAUTA Risk Advisory, a consulting firm that focuses on enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance, insurance strategy and risk financing solutions.
Her professional work also extends into board level governance. She has served as a Non Executive Director on the board of Healthcare Funders and has previously held positions as an Independent Trustee of the Transport Sector Provident Fund and the Road Freight and Logistics Industry Provident Fund.
Mokoena brings a strong academic background in risk management and actuarial science. She holds an Executive Doctorate in Business Administration focused on Predictive Risk Management from the Paris School of Business. She also earned a Master of Science degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Leicester.
Her academic development further includes participation in the Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme at the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford, alongside an Advanced Insurance Practice qualification from the University of South Africa.
In addition, she obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Business Finance, Insurance and Risk Management from the University of the Witwatersrand. The appointment highlights the Dangote Group’s effort to strengthen institutional governance as it scales operations and pursues its Vision 2030 growth strategy.
By placing risk management at the centre of its corporate structure, the company aims to improve operational stability while supporting long term expansion across Africa’s industrial landscape.
