Mr Setumo Llale, newly appointed Executive Director: Resources and Operations.

The Central University of Technology, Free State welcomes Mr Setumo Llale as the newly appointed Executive Director: Resources and Operations, effective 01 December 2024. With a robust professional background spanning 20 years, 15 of which have been dedicated to the higher education sector, Mr Llale brings a wealth of experience to his new role.

From November 2018 to November 2024, he served as Operations Director (Chief Operations Officer) at Wits Business School (WBS), where he was responsible for overseeing key operational functions, including Human Resources, Finance, Marketing and Communications, Facilities, and Information and Communication Technologies. His responsibilities included providing strategic direction, improving financial efficiency, and ensuring streamlined administrative processes to support the school’s growth and reputation. Under his leadership, Setumo played an important role in enhancing the WBS brand and converting teaching venues into hybrid learning spaces, ensuring that the school adapted to modern educational requirements.

At WBS, Setumo was a member of the Executive Committee (Exco) and chair of the school's Sustainability Committee, where he led initiatives to promote environmentally sustainable practices across the school. The committee's efforts helped to reduce the school's environmental footprint and conserve the school’s resources in alignment with sustainability goals.

Before taking on the role of Operations Director, Setumo was Acting Director of Executive Education at Wits Business School from May 2018 to April 2019. In this position, he led the development, delivery, and administration of Executive Education programs, designed to meet the needs of corporate clients and individuals seeking professional development.

Previously, Setumo was Finance and Business Manager for the Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management at the University of Witwatersrand, from June 2013 to October 2018. In this role, he was responsible for the financial oversight of several schools and research centres within the faculty, ensuring full financial transparency and accountability. He has also served in various finance roles at Northwest University, including Finance Manager and Acting Director: Finance, where he was responsible for strategic financial planning, compliance, and budget management.

Setumo's leadership journey began as an Audit Supervisor at Gobodo Inc., where he supervised audit assignments and prepared annual financial statements. His academic qualifications include an MBA degree in finance from Northwest University and advanced leadership programs from Wits Business School and London Business School. With extensive experience in operations, finance, and management, he is well-equipped to lead CUT’s Resources and Operations division, focusing on strategic growth, sustainability, and operational excellence.

We welcome Mr Llale to our CUT family, and we wish him well in his contributions towards the university’s strategic and operational intents and priorities.