Philip Morris South Africa Gets New Head of IT to Transform Legacy Structures

South Africa, 6th September 2022 – Philip Morris South Africa has appointed Mary Mahuma as the new manager for information and technology in Southern Africa to spur the integration of IT within every aspect of the business.

Mahuma joins the Senior Management Team to lead the information technology operations as PMSA transforms its core operating model beyond tobacco, underpinned by the organisation's bold ambition to deliver a smoke-free future.

PMSA Managing Director Branislav Bibic says that “A smoke-free future is attainable, and the benefits it can bring to the adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke and therefore to global public health, are enormous.”

" PMI’s vision is powered by the energy and passion from our people who work collaboratively to deliver positive change for adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking. We are rapidly transforming our business and need a united team that drives purpose, creativity, and collaboration,” he explains. “Mary is charged with embedding information technology within every aspect of our business to fulfil our mission of being a smoke-free organisation.

“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,” he says. “Her role at PMSA includes delivering a digital transformation strategy, reshaping the IT of the organisation and making the business more consumer-centric through IT initiatives.”

“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,” Bibic explains.” Effectively, the fusion between IT and product development in real-life.”

Mahuma was previously head of information technology for marketing and digital at Standard Bank, where she oversaw leading and managing the business portfolio, particularly around digital transformation initiatives. She has also held many positions in her 17-year career, where she has successfully supported IT transformation within various organisations such as the Financial Services Board, Liberty Group, Telkom and the SARB.

She is a Pupil (Advocate) candidate with an LLB, Public Administration degree and a BCom honours degree, all from UNISA. She also holds an MBA essential from Stellenbosch Business School.

“PMSA’s profound ambition to transform for the betterment of society is what attracted me to the organisation,” says Mary Mahuma, IT Manager at PMSA. “Technology is an important enabler for this transformation, transitioning from the legacy IT to a future infrastructure and platform-based ecosystem while maintaining minimal disruption is a challenge I look forward to.”

Mahuma adds that she is most excited about the micro-economic and macro-economic opportunities and challenges that come with her new role. “My focus will be on driving innovation, identifying emerging technologies and managing while optimising the IT operations to meet the businesses strategic priorities in order to accelerate the fulfilment of the company’s transformation,” she says.

Most notably she adds that digital business transformation is all about how we change our business and use the technology to enable IT - business process, model, and culture transformation.

“Importantly it is not only about bringing in technology in the organisation but how we are structured as a business,” she explains. “Essentially putting our customers in the centre of every decision we make by using technology to become more adaptable and collaborative.”

“We are after all transforming to create products to make a positive impact on the lives of adult smokers and a better experience for our customers and consumers, not just for technology,” Mahuma says. “It’s a bold ambition to move 50 percent of the company’s revenues to smoke-free products by 2025 which is why it is so important for us to investigate how digital and data capabilities can help improve performance, efficiency, customer experience and profitability.”

“IT and operations are imperative to deliver on this business transformation,” she says. “In its most basic form, if we simplify our legacy business processes and adjust and change the way we have been doing business we will bring about overall efficiency.”

Issued on behalf of Philip Morris South Africa.

Media Contact: Kisha Reader-BainTin Can PRkisha@tincan.co.za