Vodacom CEO Awards: where excellence becomes legacy
This year’s CEO Award winners carry forward a proud legacy that began three decades ago. A legacy built on excellence, impact and shared success. From innovators and volunteers to cross-market teams and digital pioneers, our 2025 winners continue to show what’s possible when purpose meets performance.
From braai to brilliance
It all began in 1995, when former CEO Alan Knott-Craig hosted a small backyard braai to honour two standout employees. There were no lights, cameras or red carpets, just colleagues gathered to celebrate one another. But that evening marked the birth of something bigger than anyone could have imagined: a culture of recognition that would become woven into the very fabric of Vodacom.
Like Vodacom itself, the CEO Awards began with humble roots in South Africa. What started as an intimate tradition has grown into a pan-African and global celebration of excellence, reflecting how far we’ve come – from a local operator serving one market to a technology leader connecting millions of customers across the continent.
The 2025 Vodacom CEO Awards blended the drama of Mamma Mia! with the soul of an African wedding. Beneath the sequins and song was a powerful reminder that our work, like life, is a dance between passion and purpose, challenge and triumph.
The awards that grew with us
As Vodacom’s footprint expanded, so did the way we recognised excellence. In 2004, the introduction of the Best Region and Best Team categories marked a turning point, signalling that success was no longer about individual brilliance alone but about collaboration and collective impact.
By 2006, the Awards crossed borders when Vodacom DRC became the first international winner of the Best Team category. It was a proud moment that mirrored Vodacom’s own transformation from a South African operator into a multi-market group with an African heartbeat and a global reach. Our story is proof that excellence knows no borders. It’s a language that unites us all.
Over the years, new categories have emerged to reflect Vodacom’s evolution:
- 2011 – Best Volunteer recognised those living our purpose through community impact
- 2012 – Best Innovator celebrated ingenuity driving growth beyond mobile
- 2017 – Digital Transformation Award honoured pioneers leading our shift into the digital era.
Each new category marks a milestone in our journey, evolving as our company evolves.
Interestingly, the Best Team Award rarely goes to a single team. It’s most often earned by cross-functional collaborations, proving that when we come together across regions, functions and markets, our collective impact is far greater.
Events designed to inspire
Every year, the CEO Awards dazzles with world-class productions and imaginative themes that reflect the creativity and excellence of Vodacom’s people. From unforgettable motifs like Iconic and The Pearl to the vibrant energy of 2025’s Mamma Mia!, every event is designed to inspire and captivate.
The meticulous attention to detail and innovative staging transform the awards into more than just a ceremony. They become an immersive experience that celebrates the spirit and achievements of our organisation.
“The awards reminded me once again that our people power our progress. Every winner exemplifies the curiosity, creativity, courage and excellence that define the Spirit of Vodacom. As we continue delivering on our Vision 2030 strategy, it’s clear that our greatest advantage remains our people, the true architects of our success.”
The CEO Awards are more than a night of celebration. They are a mirror of who we are and what we value. They tell the story of a company that started small, dreamt big and kept growing through the passion of its people. From that first backyard braai in 1995 to today’s world-class production, one thing has never changed: our belief that people are the heart of Vodacom’s success.
Vodacom CEO Awards 2025: honouring our champions
As we honour this year’s winners, we celebrate not just the exceptional few, but the collective spirit of thousands who show up every day to innovate, collaborate and connect for a better future. Because when one of us wins, we all win. Congratulations to all our winners! Click here to see the full list of recipients and their photos.
