AYO appoints Professor Louis Fourie to its board
JSE-LISTED AYO Technology Solutions said yesterday that it had appointed Professor Louis Fourie as a non-executive and independent director of its board.
In a statement, AYO said Fourie “will strengthen the existing board with his considerable expertise garnered over many years. Fourie will also overview the group’s strategy and help contribute to the group’s growth and development for a future, which will be led by technology.”
Fourie is a highly respected member of the local and international science and technology community.
Fourie said: “I am delighted to be joining AYO, especially at a time when technology is playing a pivotal role in the world’s socio-economic recovery and advancement. The group has a number of underlying subsidiaries that are well positioned to play an integral part in this. It is a daunting yet conversely exciting time in our history.”
As someone fascinated particularly by emerging technologies, Fourie sees his position at AYO as putting him in the right place at the right time. Given what is happening in the world and the speed at which the 4th Industrial Revolution is changing things, fasttracked by recent events linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, Fourie forecasts an abundance of opportunities for the AYO group, which he said would bolster its already impressive portfolio.
AYO chief executive Howard Plaatjes welcomed Fourie to the team and said: “We are pleased that Professor Fourie accepted our invitation to join the board. His advisory experience in advancing our research and development and e-learning capabilities will be immense.”
Much of Fourie’s career has been dedicated to the digital transformation of learning, as well as assisting businesses to adapt and thrive in the digital realm. He initially studied for a degree in theology, majoring in ancient languages and psychology, before completing an MBA with a specialisation in information and communications technology (ICT).
AYO says Fourie will not only bring knowledge to the company, but a keen eye for those technologies that will benefit humankind and the planet in the long term. This expertise will allow the group to entrench its position as one of Africa’s fastest-growing ICT conglomerates. Fourie was a prolific author with numerous peer-reviewed articles before he took up a consultant role in ICT and technology strategy.
He has held a number of top posts in academia, including as deputy vice-chancellor: knowledge and information technology services at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Fourie is currently adjunct professor in information science at the graduate school of the University of Arkansas and visiting professor, information systems and technology, at the University of Applied Sciences Neu-Ulm in Germany.
Previously, he was an adjunct professor (MBA) – management information systems; decision support systems, executive information systems and intelligent systems; database design and use and e-commerce at Bond University in Australia.