Chimhandamba, who has held top positions in the hospitality industry, joins Sapoa from Africa Matters, a consulting group headed by Lynda Chalker that supports private sector development in Africa.

Sapoa CEO Neil Gopal said Chimhandamba would add to the broad base of essential skills at the service of the organisation’s membership, which controls about 90% of SA’s commercial and industrial property.

Gopal said marketing, educational programming and events management would be among her responsibilities.

Chimhandamba said she wanted to increase Sapoa’s membership, and promote the interests of the commercial property industry. She aimed to draw the interest of more top property and new practitioners to Sapoa.