Jasmin Pillay will join renewable energy company Seriti Green as its new chief people officer (CPO), bringing more than 20 years of international experience in people strategy, organisational effectiveness, leadership capability, and cultural transformation.
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Her career includes senior roles at Microsoft and Petronas Lubricants International, with experience across complex organisations and diverse international markets.
Energising time
She joins Seriti Green at a time of growth, as it expands its renewable energy portfolio.
For Pillay, the opportunity combines her experience across organisations of different sizes and stages of development with a chance to contribute to a business with wider economic and national significance.
“What attracted me to Seriti Green was the opportunity to apply those experiences into a business that is helping shape South Africa’s future,” says Pillay.
“The combination of growth, purpose and impact was compelling.
“It’s not often that you find an organisation building a business, creating economic opportunities and contributing to a national transition all at the same time.
“This felt like a meaningful next chapter for me, both professionally and personally.”
Her decision to join Seriti Green was also shaped by the company’s leadership and long-term strategy.
Pillay spent time with Seriti Green CEO Peter Venn and chairperson Mike Teke before deciding, gaining insight into the company’s ambitions and approach to growth.
Shaping culture
As CPO, Pillay’s remit extends beyond traditional human resources.
Her responsibilities include organisational capability, leadership effectiveness, workforce planning and culture, as well as economic and enterprise development and social development.
“Today’s chief people officer helps shape organisational capability, leadership effectiveness, workforce planning and culture.
“In a growth business, the question is not simply whether you have enough people.
“It’s whether you have the right skills, leadership and organisational environment to deliver your strategy,” says Pillay.
Her experience in the technology sector has also shaped her approach to organisations navigating significant change.
During her career, Pillay has worked in environments affected by shifts in technology, business models and workforce requirements, which she believes is relevant as the energy sector continues to evolve.
The transition taking place in energy creates new requirements for skills, leadership and organisational adaptability.
These considerations are particularly significant for businesses operating at the intersection of infrastructure development, economic participation and changing energy systems.
Central to energy transition
They are also central to the people dimension of South Africa’s just energy transition.
“For me, the just energy transition is ultimately about people.
“Infrastructure and investment are critical, but the long-term success of the transition will depend on whether people have access to new opportunities, new skills and sustainable careers,” says Pillay.
Pillay’s expertise creates an opportunity to strengthen the connection between the company’s internal organisational capability and its broader economic and social development priorities as the business grows.
Her immediate focus will include listening to employees, understanding the organisation and building on the culture already in place at Seriti Green.
This will include maintaining the entrepreneurial energy and agility of a growing organisation while establishing the structures and capabilities required to support growth at greater scale.
She will also focus on ensuring people remain connected to the organisation’s purpose as its workforce and operations develop.
