Eddie Mbalo makes final Boss of the Year shortlist

Others finalists are Abiel Mngomezula, CEO and president of Mintek; Kalyani Pillay, CEO of SABRIC; Ian Heyns, GM of Great Noligwa mine of AngloGold Ashanti; Vice Admiral Johannes Mudimu, chief of SA Navy; and Neil Harris, director: customer and product support of Cummins South Africa.

The award, in its 20th year, gauges the attributes that the South African workforce appreciates and admires in its leaders and these six role models reflect the depth of leadership excellence in South Africa.

Comments Eunice Maluleke, head of MTN SA Foundation, patron and main sponsor of the award, “As leaders, we are largely responsible for shaping people's lives and providing them with a reason to get up in the morning, as leaders we need to be accountable for our actions.” This philosophy forms the basis of the intensive judging process for the six finalists competing for this year's award.

According to Maluleke, this year has seen the top leaders emerge from very different workplaces and professional backgrounds, including engineering, medicine, marketing and geology.