The Top Employers Institute certification arrives at a time when shrinking talent pools are placing increasing pressure on employers to ensure their people are treated as their greatest asset.

It recognises organisations that have built strong cultures of belonging, fairness and growth — the new anchors of resilience in a competitive talent landscape.

KFC Africa Chief People, Culture and Purpose Officer, Nolo Thobejane, says the certification is proof that investing in people delivers tangible returns — not just in retention and performance, but in developing globally competitive talent.

"That proof is playing out in real time with two significant leadership appointments that demonstrate the strength of KFC Africa's talent pipeline and the continent's growing role in shaping global leadership," says Thobejane.

African Talent Goes Global

Grant Macpherson, KFC Africa's Chief Marketing and Digital Officer since 2022, has been promoted to General Manager for Central and Eastern Europe, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, effective Sunday, 1 February.

Since joining KFC South Africa in 2018, Macpherson has led the brand's marketing efforts to unprecedented success. Six years of market share growth were capped in October when KFC was named as South Africa's most talked about brand in the Quarterly Buzz rankings, and received Best Digital Brand at the IAB Bookmark Awards, as well as Brand of the Year at the MMS SSA Smarties Awards.

"Grant has set a high benchmark for how KFC connects with consumers across our 22 African markets and the industry agrees, with him recently being named one of the SCOPEN Top 3 Most Admired Marketing Professionals in South Africa," says Thobejane. "He's delivered the perfect balance of creativity and commercial returns and his passion for talent development is evident in the world-class marketing leaders he's exported from this region. We are incredibly proud of his export to Europe."

Bringing Talent Home

In a move that signals confidence in Africa's growth trajectory, Hloni Mohope will return to KFC Africa as Chief Marketing Officer after fulfilling the same role in the Central and Eastern Europe business.

Mohope joined KFC Africa as Senior Brand Manager in 2013 and became Marketing Director in 2022, overseeing brand, retail, as well as brand and purpose strategy. Thobejane says her return to Africa is a statement about the region's competitive appeal for top-tier talent. 

"In addition to her marketing expertise, Hloni is also an incredible leader who was one of the founding members of our 'Women on the Move' leadership development programme, which has prepared more than 100 women for future leadership positions," she says. "Her return reinforces our commitment to developing talent that can compete globally while choosing to build their careers on the African continent."

Cross-Market Leadership Mobility

The leadership movements demonstrate a shift in how global organisations view African talent, says Thobejane. "Rather than a one-way flow of expertise from developed markets into Africa, KFC is positioning the continent as an active contributor to global expertise, not just a receiver of it."

Candidates for Top Employer certification are benchmarked against nearly 2 500 employers in 131 countries. Their performance is evaluated across key human resources topics, and Thobejane says KFC Africa's certification is rooted in the brand's commitment to feeding potential and creating a seat at the table for all. 

"'Women on the Move' has increased the number of female leaders in our business by 14%, and the accredited training provided by our Streetwise Academy also creates leadership pathways.

"KFC is showing what a purpose-led, future-focused employer can look like in Africa. The real achievement is the 40 000-plus team members we're enabling to feed their own potential every day, and the leaders we're developing who can take on the world."

For more information, visit www.kfc.co.za. You can also follow KFC Africa on Facebook, X, Instagram, or on TikTok. 

*Image courtesy of contributor