CIO Africa By dx5 Expands Footprint In South Africa

CIO Africa by dx5 is proud to announce its official boots-on-the-ground presence in South Africa with two unique events – Smart Retail and Digital Frontiers. Building on the success of its print journal, CIO Africa Magazine which offers a monthly South African edition, this expansion aims to grow readership and enhance content strategy.

As a business, the group operates a content-first approach, supporting the industry with high-quality news, thought leadership, and engagement. CIO Africa remains the only truly African CIO/CTO platform, dedicated to serving and representing the continent’s digital leaders.

The South African expansion follows the media group’s successful development in Nigeria in 2024 with bespoke events and a monthly publication, and is designed to deepen our impact and presence across the region.

With a vibrant community of over 50 000 African C-level technology executives spanning diverse industries, CIO Africa continues to drive meaningful dialogue and foster innovation across Africa’s digital landscape. Our on-the-ground presence will enable us to deliver even more targeted and relevant content, events, and opportunities to our audience.

“Our expansion into South Africa marks an exciting new chapter for CIO Africa,” says Harry Hare, Founder and CEO of CIO Africa by DX5. “We are committed to creating impactful platforms that bring together Africa’s digital leaders, inspire innovation, and drive meaningful change across the continent. With our tailored events and dedicated community, we aim to unlock new opportunities for growth and collaboration.”

CIO Africa by dx5’s core mission is to create high-quality, impactful platforms that serve as catalysts for sustainable development and industry progress. Through curated experiences, targeted engagement, and thought leadership, they aspire to inspire collaboration and accelerate digital transformation across Africa.

The flagship events set to launch in South Africa in Q3 2025 are:

• Digital Frontiers: Africa’s premier CIO & CTO Leadership Summit focused on resources, power, digital innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity resilience. This summit will address critical challenges and transformative opportunities, particularly in Africa’s resource and energy sectors, drawing insights from industry leaders.
• Smart Retail: A dedicated platform exploring the future of retail technology, customer engagement, and supply chain innovation, tailored to meet the evolving needs of Africa’s retail landscape.

Supporting these initiatives is industry veteran Devi Paulsen-Abbott, who will play a pivotal role in guiding the founders through their South African footprint development. Leveraging her extensive experience in the African media and events industry, Paulsen-Abbott will help ensure the successful launch and growth of the local operations. “I am thrilled to support CIO Africa by dx5’s journey into South Africa,” she says. “Building strong, localised teams and engaging with the vibrant tech ecosystem here will enable us to deliver truly relevant and powerful platforms that inspire progress and sustainable development across Africa.”