Atana has appointed Bongani Mthombeni as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 October 2026. A member of Atana’s Board and Executive Leadership Team, Bongani brings extensive leadership experience across engineering, infrastructure and professional services, together with a deep understanding of the business, its people and its clients.
The appointment follows a period of interim leadership under CFO and Interim CEO, Vidar Johannessen, who has led the business since February 2026.
Since joining Atana in 2021, Bongani has served as an Executive Director, Board member, and Director of the Smart Mobility Advisory Group. During this time, she has helped shape the strategic direction of the business while leading multidisciplinary teams delivering mobility infrastructure and advisory services across Africa.
A chemical engineer by training, Bongani brings 18 years of experience across engineering, infrastructure and professional services, spanning transport and mobility, water, energy, oil and gas and multidisciplinary consulting. Her career has combined technical delivery with business leadership, commercial management, strategic business development, and governance.
Before joining Atana, Bongani held senior leadership roles at SMEC South Africa, including Regional Manager for Gauteng South and Strategic Business Development Executive for Africa. As Regional Manager, she led a turnaround of the region, restoring stability and profitability through a focus on people, clients, operational performance and disciplined financial management. Earlier in her career, she was Managing Director of Intens Engineering Solutions and worked as a Process Modelling Consultant at PetroSA.
Bongani’s leadership combines technical credibility, commercial acumen and a strong focus on people, clients and operational performance. Combined with her experience in business turnaround and growth, these qualities will be important as Atana strengthens its core business and builds a resilient and sustainable organisation.
Her leadership experience extends across the broader engineering and infrastructure sector. Bongani is Vice President of the South African Roads Federation and Chairperson of the Pula Nala JV Board, which provides programme oversight for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II Programme Management Unit. She previously chaired the University of Cape Town Civil Engineering Advisory Board and has served in a number of other board and industry roles.
Bongani assumes leadership of Atana at a significant point in the company’s evolution. Over the past two years, the business has transitioned to independent local ownership, launched the Atana brand and navigated a period of considerable change, including the loss of its long-serving CEO, Anke Mastenbroek. Her appointment provides continuity, stability, and leadership as the company focuses on strengthening its core business and positioning itself for sustainable long-term growth.
As CEO, Bongani will focus on strengthening operational performance, deepening client relationships, developing Atana’s people and pursuing sustainable growth opportunities in South Africa and across the continent.
Mshiyeni Belle, Chair of the Atana Board, said:
“Bongani brings a rare combination of engineering expertise, commercial acumen, leadership experience and deep knowledge of Atana. She understands our people, our clients and our market, and has demonstrated throughout her career an ability to lead through complexity while keeping a clear focus on performance and growth.
Her energy and optimism are matched by a strong bias for action and accountability. We are confident in her ability to lead Atana through the changes ahead and build on the strength, expertise and resilience that exist across our business.
I would also like to thank the members of the Atana Board, as well as Vidar Johannessen, for his steady leadership as Interim CEO during a period of significant change for our business. Their contribution has helped position Atana for its next chapter under Bongani’s leadership.”
Bongani Mthombeni, Chief Executive Officer of Atana, said:
“It is a privilege to take on the leadership of a business with Atana’s history, expertise and potential. We have been through significant change, but we also have an opportunity to be very deliberate about the business we build from here.”
My focus will be on our people, our clients and creating a strong, sustainable Atana that is recognised for technical excellence, trusted relationships and the impact we make through our work.
We will continue to strengthen our core business, deepen our client partnerships and focus on delivering meaningful value through the projects we undertake.
I believe deeply in the capability we have within this business and in what a proudly African engineering company can contribute to South Africa, across the continent and beyond. I look forward to working with our colleagues, clients and partners to build on Atana’s legacy and shape its future.“
Bongani holds a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science Honours in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, together with executive development qualifications in project management, negotiation, strategic execution and leadership.