Rian Oberholzer - Managing Director

In addition to being Managing Director of Access Facilities and Leisure Management, Rian also serves as MD of Cape Town based sports management firm, Accelerate Sport SA (Pty) Ltd. With an outstanding track record in the field of sports management and administration, Rian is a household name who brings a tremendous amount of experience to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Previous positions held: General Manager of Ellis Park Stadium; Tournament Director of the SA Rugby World Cup in 1995; CEO of SANZAR (Super 14 & Tri Nations Rugby); CEO of SA Rugby (1996-2003). Rian has also served on the Council of the International Rugby Board (IRB) and as director of Rugby World Cup Limited.

Chantal Du Pisani - Chief Executive Officer

With a wealth of national and international experience, Chantal, was born and educated in Port Elizabeth. Upon completion of her tertiary education, she travelled abroad where she spent 6 years in a senior government research position specialising in Insolvency and Company law. She returned to South Africa and joined the Department of Trade and Industry as a Director in Consumer and Corporate Regulations Division specialising in Company Law and Corporate Governance where she was instrumental in the drafting of legislation, regulations and ministerial advisory roles. She returned to Port Elizabeth to join the Access Team as Legal Compliance Officer and later as General Manager: Stadium Operations.  She has recently been appointed as CEO.

Buli G Ngomane - General Manager: Corporate Affairs

CEO Magazine's Tomorrow's Leader Award winner, Buli, is a Public Relations Practitioner who has consulted on brand building for major corporations and has 400+ speaking and MC engagements to her credit with clientele ranging from major banks to the Office of the President. In 2011 Buli was listed among Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans and Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber's Top 40 under 40. She has held prime-time radio presenting slots in the Eastern Cape (Algoa FM) and Gauteng (94.7) and was a PR Director at Umkhonto Publishing: 2005 - 2006. Buli is an anchor for SABC 3 Magazine programme "The Power Within"; EC regional Avusa Publication (Sunshine Coast Living 2006 - 2008) reporter and Lifestyle editor for EC community magazine, Ubuntu.

Mariane van Rooyen - General Manager: Finance

Mariane has 10 years experience in the Financial Services Sector as part of Management at Rubicon and later the Business Services Division Manager at Grant Thornton Cape Inc. Chartered Accountants. She co-ordinated the financial operations of Access Management during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was instrumental in establishing the financial controls of the company within its first two years as the stadium operator. She brings a diligent and experienced mind to the executive team in carrying out the stadium operator’s mandate to ensure the viability of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Thuli Mtila - General Manager: Human Resources

Credited with developing the Human Resources Practices at one of South Africa’s largest media houses, Thuli Mtila is a Human Resources practitioner of exceptional reputation. Having spent 10 years at the Eastern Cape’s leading Adult Comtemporary radio station, Algoa FM, Thuli has also been entrusted with setting up systems at the African Media Group’s MPower Radio in Mphumalanga as well. Thuli is an active community member who is a trustee on a number of boards of interest within the region. Thuli’s dedication and experience are essential to the retention and nurturing of the stadium operator’s human capital.

Jaco Diedericks - General Manager: Food & Beverage

A former Director General of Food & Beverage in Europe and the Americas, Jaco Diedericks is a find for Access Management. He is an Institute of Hotel & Tourism graduate who began as Chef de Partie at the Mount Nelson Hotel and Sun City’s Lost City he then went on to co-ordinate the recipe books at the Princess Cruise Lines and later managed and directed the Food & Beverage Operations for almost a decade before returning home to Port Elizabeth to accept this position at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. His expertise extend beyond Food & Beverage to Purchasing, Operational Improvement and Systems Analysis.

The Stadium Staff