The nominees standing to serve for 2025 - 2027 - Franchise Association South Africa

James Noble, Sector Executive: Wholesale, Retail & Franchise – Absa

James Noble is: Executive – Sectors: Wholesale, Retail & Franchise Business at Absa Relationship Banking. He is responsible for the development and implementation of Absa’s Wholesale, Retail & Franchise strategy, creating a centre of excellence for internal as well as external industry stakeholders.He has been involved in the Franchise and Fuel Retail industries since 1997 developing sales growth strategies and solutions for the sector from a banking perspective. In addition to a wealth of banking knowledge in excess of 30 years and expertise in the franchise and fuel industries, James has a passion for the SME market in South Africa. He was a franchisee himself for nearly 10 years that allowed him a deeper understanding of the industry and the challenges that local entrepreneurs face in the South African business environment. James is a board member of FASA and holds a B Econ degree from the University of Stellenbosch and Post Gradual Diploma in Professional Sales Management from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town.

James’ motivation to continue serving on the board of FASA… is to “develop new strategies to keep the train of entrepreneurship moving, since I have worked with different kinds of business owners in the industry.”

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Fiona Fitzpatrick, Mobility Consultant and GP Area Manager, Fuel Online

Fiona’s experience spans over three decades in retail, franchising and the mobility sector. Starting in retail operations, she worked her way up from store-level roles to management positions in multinational organisations. Along the way she developed expertise in franchising, customer relationship management, supply chain optimization, and crafting innovative market strategies that bridge global frameworks with local market needs.

During her tenure at Shell Downstream South Africa, she held key roles such as Alliance Partner Manager, Category Manager, and Territory Manager. As a founder of Fiona Kym Consulting and partnering with Fuel Online as their mobility consultant, she now works with businesses in the mobility sector, helping them optimize operations, develop training programs, and implement strategies for growth. Her consulting work has supported clients such as Sasol, Total SA, and BP.

Fiona’s motivation to serve on the Board of FASA… “would allow me to contribute my experience, insight and energy to supporting this vital sector. I am eager to play a role in shaping the future of franchising in South Africa, helping it achieve its full potential as a driver of inclusive growth. As a member of the Board, I can contribute a combination of strategic thinking, practical experience, and a collaborative approach to advancing the goals of the association, through strategic insights, leadership and innovation, community engagement, practical experience and commitment to values.”

Click here to read more about Fiona Fitzpatrick

Alex Protulis, Director, Christodoulou & Mavrikis Inc.

Alex Protulis is a dual qualified lawyer (South Africa and England & Wales) with particular expertise in Franchise Law, Commercial Law, Commercial Litigation and Cyber Law. He has worked for renowned international law firms in the UK where he was involved in all aspects of regulatory and legal compliance issues.

Alex’ motivation to serve on the Board of FASA goes back to when his law firm became a member of FASA in 2017 and he became actively involved with FASA, contributing to its initiatives and committees. He has served on FASA’s Legal Committee since 2018 and was honoured to be a FASA Committee Member in 2019 (prior to the implementation of the new Board structure). Additionally, he contributed as a member of the Membership Committee in 2020 and 2021 and took on the responsibility of chairing the Membership Committee in 2023 and 2024. “These roles have allowed me to develop a deep understanding of FASA’s objectives and operations, as well as to work closely with its members to advance the interests of the franchising sector. Serving on the Board represents a natural progression in my journey with FASA and an opportunity to further contribute my expertise and commitment to the Association’s growth and success.”

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Damian Dionisio, Director – DEFENDoor CC

With 30 years’ in business with DEFENDoor, Damian believes he has been through various challenges both in business and in franchising for over five years.

His motivation to serve on the Board of FASA is his vast experience, especially in the field of security and marketing. “I feel I would be able to bring fresh input to FASA.”

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Lindiwe Shibambo, Founder and MD – MAID4U

Lindiwe is a Unisa, T.U.T and Gibbs Graduate who is a former domestic worker turned entrepreneur. She founded MAID4U which launched over 14 branches across South Africa as a Micro Franchise. Through this expansion, she assisted over 10 000 women to train as professional cleaners, domestics and nannies and attain jobs to sustain their families, reaching out to over 50 communities in the past year with the aim of assisting more and more women to start similar businesses or attain skills and jobs. She has won the Social Entrepreneur Award and was named National Small Business Champion by the NSBC.

Lindiwe’s motivation to serve on the Board of FASA… “stems from my passion to be part of an organization that drives change within the franchising space in a positive manner. Selected by the DTI and Small Business Ministries to be packaged as a franchise business, I have experienced the impact that FASA has in this sector and am keen to create relationships with other franchisors and franchisees in various franchise sectors.”

Click here to read more about Lindiwe…

Sibusiso Mnguni, SME Development Manager, Masisizane Fund – Old Mutual

Sibusiso is an Investment Professional with an 11-year proven track record in business investments. He is currently employed by Masisizane Fund, a subsidiary of Old Mutual. His main responsibility is developing sustainable long-term profitability, growth, and strategic direction for the business. He previously worked at Business Partners Ltd as a Senior Investment Officer before joining SEFA as a Post Investment Officer: Workout and Restructuring.

Sibusiso’s motivation to serve on the Board of FASA is to foster a closer working synergy between both organizations so as to establish closer synergies with SME Funders to add value to Franchisees. “I recognise the progressive work FASA performs and want to be part of this work given my experience in Small Business Investments. I hope to assist in bridging the gap between business support and access to finance and promote a working relationship between funder, franchisee and franchisor.”

Click here to read more about Sibusiso.

Ricky Walton, Founder & CEO – SheerGuard SA

Ricky has always been an entrepreneur at heart. Over the last 34 years, he has started, run, sold, and even lost five different businesses – some with a national footprint. Each venture has taught him invaluable lessons about resilience, adaptability, and the power of innovative thinking. Currently, he owns and runs the SheerGuard SA franchise, which he started 10 businesses across South Africa into developing the SheerGuard SA franchise system.

His motivation to serve on the Board of FASA is to gain a deeper understanding of how FASA influences the South African franchise market and how he can contribute to its positive impact on the future of franchising in the country. “Given the current economic climate in South Africa, there is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs and hustlers to grow and thrive. I believe that with the right structures and opportunities provided through franchising, we can foster a healthier growth model for them, which will ultimately have a significant and positive impact on the broader South African economy. This is also an opportunity to give back to the industry.”

Mmenyana Ranku, General Manager – MTN SA

She currently serves as the General Manager for MTN SA, overseeing both owned and franchised stores. Previously, she held key leadership roles at KFC SA as Operations Director and Marketing Manager. With extensive experience in both multinational and local markets, he worked with some of the most trusted brands, including Sunlight, Jungle, and Milky Bar, across various roles.

Passionate about contributing to business development, turnaround strategies, and brand building. Academically, she holds a BSc degree from the University of the Free State, a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing Management, and an MBA