Business Against Crime South Africa (Bacsa) has appointed Advocate Simi Pillay-van Graan as new CEO, replacing Graham Wright with effect September 1.

The appointment followed Wright’s decision not to renew his contract, which expired at the end of August.

Pillay-van Graan is an admitted advocate of the High Court of South Africa and has worked for Bacsa for eight years as a senior national project manager and strategic executive.

She had been instrumental in securing partnerships between business and government in critical areas such as combating cable theft, cellphone blacklisting and projects undertaken as part of a memorandum of understanding between Bacsa and the South African Police Service.

“Bacsa would like to thank Dr Graham Wright for his invaluable contribution over the last 14 years and welcomes Advocate Simi Pillay-van Graan who has proven herself as a highly committed and passionate member of Bacsa’s senior management team. Under Simi’s leadership Bacsa is well positioned to grow from strength to strength,” chairperson Yedwa Simelane noted.