Naspers and Prosus Appoint Veteran Nico Marais as Permanent CFO

South African tech and investment giant Naspers, along with its international arm Prosus, has officially named Nico Marais as its permanent Chief Financial Officer (CFO), strengthening the executive team of the country’s most valuable company.

The 51-year-old Chartered Accountant takes the reins with immediate effect, following a unanimous board decision to confirm his appointment after he served as interim CFO since December 2024.

Marais brings over 25 years of financial leadership experience within the group, previously serving as General Manager of Finance. His deep institutional knowledge and operational track record were key factors in securing board support.

“On behalf of the Boards of Prosus and Naspers, I am delighted to confirm the appointment of Nico as Group CFO on a permanent basis,” said Koos Bekker, Chair of both companies. “He brings invaluable expertise and experience to the role, built over more than two decades with the group.”

Marais has been instrumental in major financial milestones for the group, including:

• The successful listing of Prosus on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

• The unwinding of the complex cross-holding structure between Naspers and Prosus.

• Execution of the open-ended share repurchase programmes.

• Key involvement in debt capital market operations.

His academic background includes an accounting degree from Stellenbosch University, and he is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Pending shareholder approval, Marais will now join the Naspers board as financial director, and is expected to be added to the Prosus board after its August 2025 Annual General Meeting.

Naspers, with a market capitalisation of R810 billion, remains the largest listed company in South Africa. Its international subsidiary Prosus, which holds investments in global internet businesses, is valued at over R2 trillion.

Naspers CEO Fabricio Bloisi is expected to work closely with Marais as the group looks to strengthen its global investment profile and unlock further value.

Details of Marais’ remuneration package will be published in the 2025 Prosus annual report, set for release around 23 June 2025.

The appointment of Marais signals a continued focus on strong financial governance and experienced leadership, as the group navigates evolving markets and investor expectations.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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