Sanlam has appointed Theo Mabaso as its first group chief AI officer, formalising artificial intelligence as a dedicated function at executive committee level.
Theo Mabaso, who currently serves as group chief technology officer, will retain his existing portfolio while assuming responsibility for AI. The dual role reflects Sanlam’s transition from AI experimentation to scaled execution across the business.
He brings more than 20 years of experience in information technology, including a decade within Sanlam’s group shared infrastructure environment. Prior to joining Sanlam, Theo held senior leadership positions at Barclays, Standard Bank, Absa and IBM, with a focus on enterprise technology strategy and delivery.
In addition to his executive responsibilities, Theo chairs the Sanlam Group Technology Council and the Afrocentric IT Board, contributing to governance and oversight across technology functions.
Theo holds a master of business administration from Regenesys Education, along with bachelor of science degrees in informatics and computer science, and in chemical engineering. He has also completed an executive leadership programme at the Gordon Institute of Business Science.
