Chief Executive Officer

Executive Management And Strategic Leadership

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Itsamaya Holdings

Zama Wauthas Xalisa

Zama Wauthas Xalisa is an accomplished business leader, governance practitioner, and agricultural economics specialist with more than two decades of executive management, strategic leadership, and enterprise development experience across the agribusiness, financial services, public sector, and private business sectors. As Chief Executive Officer of Itsamaya Holdings, he provides strategic direction for the Group, leading growth initiatives, investment opportunities, stakeholder partnerships, and long-term value creation across its diverse portfolio of businesses.

Mr Xalisa brings an exceptional combination of commercial, governance, and development expertise, underpinned by extensive executive leadership experience. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), where he was responsible for overall organisational leadership, strategy execution, stakeholder relations, governance oversight, financial stewardship, and partnership development. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he served as Acting CEO and Senior Manager: Agricultural Industry Trusts, providing strategic oversight to several agricultural industry trusts and advising on transformation, governance, policy implementation, and accountability frameworks within the sector.

Before joining NAMC, Mr Xalisa built a successful career in financial services with ABSA Bank Agribusiness Division, where he served as Senior Agricultural Specialist. In this role, he worked extensively with emerging enterprises, business financing, agricultural development projects, investment structuring, and stakeholder partnerships aimed at supporting sustainable economic growth and transformation.

In addition to his executive and corporate leadership experience, Mr Xalisa has served on numerous boards, trusts, transformation committees, and industry development structures. He represented the Minister of Agriculture on several industry trusts and held leadership positions including Chairperson of the NAMC Management Committee, NAMC Transformation Review Committee, and various strategic oversight and steering committees focused on agricultural development, transformation, and governance.

A strong advocate for sustainable development, transformation, and inclusive economic growth, Mr Xalisa combines strategic vision with practical execution. His leadership is characterised by a commitment to good governance, operational excellence, stakeholder value creation, and the advancement of innovative and sustainable business solutions. At Itsamaya Holdings, he continues to drive the Group’s growth agenda while strengthening its position as a trusted partner in investment, advisory, infrastructure, agricultural, and commercial sectors.

Qualifications

Mr Xalisa holds a Master of Science in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of the Free State, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Milpark Business School, a Management Advancement Programme qualification from Wits Business School, and a Bachelor of Technology in Agricultural Management from the University of South Africa. He has further completed executive training in corporate governance, project management, finance, and transformation strategy.

Areas of Expertise