Changing guard: VC and Principal Prof Njabulo Ndebele (middle) with new NRF president and CEO, Prof Mzamo Mangaliso (right), and former incumbent Dr Khotso Mokhele.

Professor Mzamo Mangaliso has taken the reigns as CEO and president at the National Research Foundation (NRF), replacing Dr Khotso Mo khele, whose term expired at the end of June.

Mokhele had 14 years' service with the NRF and the Foundation for Research Development (FRD).

Mangaliso was on campus recently to meet the deputy vice-chancellors and faculty deans.

He is the former Professor of Management at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in the US. Born in South Africa, he completed a BSc in chemistry and physics at the University of Fort Hare before leaving for the US, where he completed a PhD degree in strategic management.

Mangaliso has a distinguished business and academic career spanning over 20 years and has published and lectured widely, having established himself as an authority in the areas of strategic management, administrative theory and in business and society.

"We were delighted to meet Professor Mangaliso in his new role," said Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey.

"We are impressed by the unique combination of skills and experience that he brings to this role. He was initially trained in the natural sciences and then he moved on to become a successful academic in business science. He achieved this after his work experience in industry, where he spent some years in the laboratory and in the production field. In addition, he is a warm, friendly and likeable person. I look forward to working with him."