![Adri Marais](https://biz-file.com/c/1206/106054.jpg)
Adri Marais
On Friday, 15 June 2012, TSiBA's Board of directors announced the appointment of their new CEO, Adri Marais. Adri is a co-founder of TSiBA and has been with the organisation since it launched in 2004. Leigh Meinert, also a co-founder, is finishing her second term of three years as the executive head of TSiBA and felt it was time for new leadership to take over the reins, "As TSiBA launches into an exciting new phase of development, I felt it was time for a new wave of passion and energy to come through. Adri epitomises the spirit of TSiBA and I believe she is the perfect person to take over this special role. I am delighted that the Board has chosen her." The role was advertised nationwide and over fifty applications were received. Ultimately three candidates were shortlisted, two external and one internal. All the candidates were strong but the Board felt that Adri had the best combination of both education experience and business acumen, which the role requires.
Up until now, Adri has been executive director for academic programmes and was responsible for the strategic planning, implementation and delivery of all aspects of TSiBA's academic programmes including the accreditation thereof. Adri has an MSc in Biochemistry and an MBA; she has also recently completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education at UCT. She is passionate about education and the role TSiBA is playing in educating South African youth, "We're a non profit business school and our aim is to develop leaders and entrepreneurs who will take South Africa forward. 90% of our graduates are either employed or pursuing post graduate studies versus the national average of 32% and this demonstrates that our model really works. Furthermore we have already produced four Mandela Rhodes scholars. I am so excited to be part of TSiBA's new growth phase and look forward to more replications both locally and internationally."
Leigh Meinert will stay on as an executive director but in a part-time capacity as she has recently become a mother to a beautiful baby girl. Leigh will focus on sustainability and growing an endowment in order to ensure that TSiBA has the necessary funding to keep on doing the amazing work they are doing in education.
Welcome aboard Adri!
For more information, please contact Linda Brash at 082 620 6682 or email az.gro.abist@adnil