As a founding member of Pele Energy Group, Thapelo’s strategic and operational leadership has played an integral role in the Group’s agility and its ability to navigate complex and challenging environments.

Prior to joining his fellow founding members in bringing Pele Energy Group to life, Thapelo began his career at the Gauteng Provincial Treasury. He was subsequently appointed as a foreign exchange currency dealer at Standard Bank, followed by a stint as an economic and financial analyst at Absa Africa.

Previously serving as Chief Operating Officer of Pele Energy Group, Thapelo now leads the Group's Data and Artificial Intelligence Strategy. He is responsible for building Pele's AI capability and driving responsible, structured AI adoption across the Group, and works on innovation and growth-related strategic projects. He has also played a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing partners and scaling the business to where it is today.

Thapelo holds a BCom Honours in Financial and Monetary Economics and is an MIT Foundry Fellow, with a strong commitment to building scalable businesses that create long-term economic and social impact. He advises on all internal Pele Energy Group boards.