Phillip Morris South Africa appoints ex-Standard Bank IT guru Mary Mahuma

Former Standard Bank information technology head senior lead Mary Mahuma has landed a top role at Phillip Morris South Africa.

Mahuma has been appointed as the new Head of Information Technology at Philip Morris South Africa (PMSA), a leading international tobacco company.

Mary Mahuma joins the company, Phillip Morris in South Africa to spearhead the technology and operations as PMSA transforms its core operating model beyond tobacco.

Phillip Morris South Africa Managing Director Branislav Bibic says a smoke-free future is attainable, and the benefits it can bring to the adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke and global public health, are enormous.

“Mary is charged with embedding information technology within every aspect of our business to fulfill our mission of achieving a smoke-free future,” he said in a statement according to Tech Financials.

“For a global company like PMI harnessing local talent to drive our ambition in South Africa with a firm understanding of the local market is imperative. 

“Her role includes delivering a digital transformation strategy, reshaping the IT organisation, and making the business more consumer-centric.

“With Philip Morris now being a multi-category and multi-product business, IT needs to understand the entire lifecycle of product development, and the role technology can play at each stage.”

Looking at her previous work within the banking giant, Standard Bank, Mahuma was head of information technology: brand and marketing at Standard Bank, where she oversaw leading and managing the business portfolio, particularly around digital transformation initiatives. 

She also held the role of head of infrastructure and operations at the Financial Services Board (FSB), in charge of infrastructure engineering, architecture, service desk, vendor and supplier management, and prior to that IT service level management at Telkom. 

Mahuma has also occupied top IT positions at Liberty Group and the South African Reserve Bank – she boasts an LLB, a Public Administration degree, and a BCom honours degree, all from UNISA. 

Apart from studying through UNISA, she also holds an MBA essential from Stellenbosch Business School, with 19 years of experience working in these industries.

Main Image: Mary Mahuma/SME Tech Guru