STADIO Holdings Executive and Leadership Team

July, 2026

Leadership Overview

STADIO Holdings has 4 executives leading key functions including strategy, finance, information technology, and operations.

Driven by a vision to be a leading higher education provider, STADIO Holdings focuses on operational excellence to expand access to quality education and transform lives across southern Africa.

Leadership Roles at STADIO Holdings

  • Principal & Chief Executive Officer - Stan Plessis
  • Chief Financial Officer - Ishak Kula
  • Group Chief Financial Officer - Samara Totaram
  • Group Chief Information Officer - Merwe Roux
  • Stan Plessis - Principal & Chief Executive Officer

    Stan Plessis, the Principal & Chief Executive Officer at STADIO Holdings, directs the overall strategic vision and operational execution for the organization. Plessis spearheads the company's mission to enhance access to quality higher education across southern Africa, leveraging an operational excellence strategy. This leadership role involves guiding the three core institutions—Milpark Education, STADIO Higher Education, and AFDA—to deliver a diverse range of programs. Stan Plessis ensures alignment with the overarching goal of transforming lives through education, focusing on both school-leavers and adult learners. The Principal & Chief Executive Officer's purview encompasses fostering innovation within the commerce, education, and creative arts fields, solidifying STADIO Holdings' position as a premier educational provider. This executive drives the expansion of educational opportunities, directly impacting the community and reinforcing the company's market leadership.

    Ishak Kula - Chief Financial Officer

    Ishak Kula, the Chief Financial Officer at STADIO Holdings, manages the financial health and strategic fiscal planning for the organization. Kula oversees all financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation across STADIO Holdings' educational institutions. This role is critical in supporting the company's operational excellence strategy and its commitment to expanding access to quality higher education in southern Africa. The Chief Financial Officer ensures robust financial controls are in place to support sustainable growth and the transformation of lives through educational programs. Ishak Kula's responsibilities extend to optimizing financial performance to enable the delivery of diverse programs in commerce, education, and creative arts. By maintaining fiscal discipline, Kula directly contributes to STADIO Holdings' vision of becoming a leading higher education provider and enhancing its community impact.

    Samara Totaram - Group Chief Financial Officer

    Samara Totaram, the Group Chief Financial Officer at STADIO Holdings, directs the comprehensive financial management and strategic investment initiatives for the organization. Totaram's leadership ensures the financial viability and scalability of STADIO Holdings' operations, supporting its mission to provide quality higher education across southern Africa. This executive oversees financial reporting, risk management, and capital allocation, aligning with the operational excellence strategy to deliver diverse educational programs. Samara Totaram plays a crucial part in enabling the company's vision to transform lives by improving educational access for both school-leavers and adults. The Group Chief Financial Officer's responsibilities include optimizing financial structures to support growth and innovation in fields such as commerce, education, and creative arts. By ensuring sound financial governance, Totaram directly contributes to STADIO Holdings' objective of establishing itself as a leading higher education provider.

    Merwe Roux - Group Chief Information Officer

    Merwe Roux, the Group Chief Information Officer at STADIO Holdings, architects and executes the technology strategy to support the organization's educational mission. Roux leads the integration of innovative digital solutions across Milpark Education, STADIO Higher Education, and AFDA, enhancing both student access and operational efficiency. This role is pivotal in driving the company's operational excellence strategy, ensuring that technology infrastructure effectively supports a wide array of programs in commerce, education, and creative arts. Merwe Roux's focus includes leveraging technology to improve the learning experience for school-leavers and adults, thereby transforming lives within the community. The Group Chief Information Officer ensures robust IT systems are in place to facilitate STADIO Holdings' vision of becoming a leading higher education provider in southern Africa. By optimizing digital platforms, Roux directly supports the expansion of educational opportunities and reinforces the company's commitment to accessible, quality learning.

    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding STADIO Holdings Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads STADIO Holdings?
    STADIO Holdings is led by Stan Plessis (Principal & Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Ishak Kula (Chief Financial Officer) and Samara Totaram (Group Chief Financial Officer).
    Who is part of STADIO Holdings’s executive team?
    The executive team of STADIO Holdings includes leaders such as Stan Plessis (Principal & Chief Executive Officer), Ishak Kula (Chief Financial Officer), Samara Totaram (Group Chief Financial Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does STADIO Holdings have?
    STADIO Holdings has 4 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in STADIO Holdings’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of STADIO Holdings includes roles such as Principal & Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Group Chief Financial Officer, Group Chief Information Officer.