Building South Africa’s Global Business Network
Behind every lekker connection is a dedicated team working to create meaningful opportunities for South Africans worldwide.Â
Founding Team
Behind every lekker connection is a dedicated team working to create meaningful opportunities for South Africans worldwide.
Renier Lombard
Co-Founder
Growth, Strategic Partnerships, Member Experience
Renier drives The Lekker Network’s expansion and partnership strategies while ensuring exceptional member experiences. As co-founder of FDC, he brings extensive expertise in building relationships that drive business growth. Renier focuses on strategic partnerships that add value to our community, member acquisition strategies, and creating the frameworks that make our network indispensable to South African professionals worldwide.
- Strategic partnerships
- Growth initiatives
- Relationship building
- Member experience optimisation
Nic Latouf
Co-Founder
Brand Strategy, Community Engagement, Expansion
Nic, the architect behind The Lekker Network’s public presence, drives the storytelling, outreach, and engagement strategies that shape our community experience. With sharp brand positioning skills and deep audience understanding, he has built momentum around our mission through high-impact campaigns and strategic partnerships.
- Marketing leadership
- Growth strategies
- Brand development
- Community engagement
- External partnerships
Guy Ellis
Co-Founder
Member Value, Experience Design, Strategic Advisory
Guy focuses on the value delivered to members through curated experiences like meetups and Power Pod groups. As a seasoned board advisor and business strategist with extensive experience in high-level professional networks, he acts as strategic advisor to the founding team while overseeing the design and evolution of our member experience. His guidance ensures every engagement is intentional, impactful, and aligned with long-term vision.
- Member value proposition
- Experience design
- Community strategy
- Product development
- Strategic consulting
Madeleine Henstra
Co-Founder
Brand Building, Membership Experience, Network Strategy
Madeleine shapes The Lekker Network’s brand identity and membership experience strategy. As co-founder of FDC, she combines brand development expertise with a deep understanding of user experience. Madeleine oversees how members experience our network from first interaction through long-term engagement, ensuring our brand authentically represents South African excellence while delivering meaningful value at every touchpoint.
- Brand development
- Network strategy
- Membership experience design
- Community engagement
Core Team
The engine that powers our community operations and member experience.
Monique Channon
Main Account Manager
Member Onboarding, Administration, Process Management
Monique ensures every new member receives a smooth and professional onboarding experience. As the first point of contact for many, she brings clarity, organisation, and personal touch to everything she manages, helping members transition from curiosity to full participation with ease.
- Onboarding journey management
- Administrative excellence
- Cross-departmental coordination
- Member database management
Paul Viviers
Head of Growth
Network Expansion, Outreach, Relationship Building
Paul drives community expansion and awareness of The Lekker Network movement. With natural relationship-building flair and deep belief in our values, he connects as many people as possible to our vision through direct outreach, partnerships, and strategic evangelism.
- Member acquisition
- External representation
- Growth strategy alignment
- Partnership building
Jason Luboyera
The Lekker Connector
Member Engagement, Strategic Introductions, Community Building
Known affectionately as The Lekker Connector, Jason weaves the relational fabric of our network. He meets weekly with members to understand their goals and strategically connects them where mutual value exists. Jason ensures no member feels like just a name in a database – they feel seen, heard, and plugged in.
- One-on-one member meetings
- Strategic introductions
- Relationship building
- Member support
Ewan Visser
Marketing & Community Lead
Team Operations, Community Engagement, Internal Coordination
The engine that keeps everything running, Ewan plays a cross-functional leadership role, stepping in wherever needed to ensure team alignment and forward momentum. He leads weekly internal meetings, bridges ideas with execution, and champions team morale while overseeing community engagement.
- Team meetings
- Marketing initiatives
- Leadership
- Internal communication
- Community engagement
- Operational support
Chapter Heads
Our regional leaders bring The Lekker Network experience to South Africans in key global cities.
Sharell Kassim
Gauteng Chapter, South Africa
A visionary leader with over 9 years of experience driving global marketing and business growth. Having achieved revenue growth of up to 20% and worked with Fortune 500 companies and startups, Sharell brings strategic expertise spanning multiple industries and multicultural landscapes.
John Watson
Cape Town Chapter, South Africa
A high-energy CA(SA) who loves connecting people and ideas, John brings extensive experience across different organisational types and direct work with CEOs and CFOs. He helps business owners solve their “connectability problem” through coaching, strategy, and curated introductions.
Tracy Kriel
London Chapter, England
With over 20 years in recruitment, Tracy founded Collage Recruitment to deliver an authentic, values-driven approach. She combines technology with human touch, incorporating AI and automation while maintaining the relationships at the heart of recruitment. Her focus is on creating tailored solutions that deliver results with integrity.
Nic Haralambous
Netherlands Chapter
An obsessive entrepreneur and experienced founder who has sold three businesses and learned through twenty years of building technology companies. As a keynote speaker and best-selling author, Nic specialises in helping businesses focus on important work while refining processes for optimal performance.
Tim Vieira
Portugal Chapter
Born in Johannesburg and now based in Cascais, Tim brings exceptional entrepreneurial experience spanning three continents. From establishing one of South Africa’s first microbreweries to creating Angola’s largest media group, he understands how to scale businesses internationally while maintaining strong cultural connections.
Our Mission in Action
Every team member embodies our core question: “How can I help?” We’re united by the belief that when South Africans connect with purpose, extraordinary things happen.