Ajen is a home grown talent of EY, having started with the firm as a trainee accountant in 1993. He was made a partner in 1999 and subsequently held several leadership positions including Head of Entrepreneurial Services, lead Audit Partner on Telkom and Head of Assurance, before becoming Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of EY Africa on 1 October 2010. In addition to his Africa role, Ajen is also part of the EMEIA (Europe, Middle East, India and Africa) Board and Global Emerging Markets Forum of EY.

In 2008 EY set a new standard in the professional services industry when it integrated all its country practices across Europe, Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA). Across Africa, EY has an integrated operating model in just over 20 countries which enables the firm to bring a truly borderless approach to clients, as well as provide additional growth and development opportunities for all staff who are at the heart of the profession, and the firm’s success. Africa is a particular passion and focus for Ajen and he believes it continues to claim its position as an emerging market with significant potential. He has led the integration of EY across Africa which is today the most integrated professional services firm in Africa.

As a strong believer in Africa’s potential, in 2011 Ajen commissioned EY’s first highly acclaimed Africa Attractiveness Survey which seeks to understand the FDI trends and the relative attractiveness of the various African markets. This annual report has since become a benchmark in the industry. To this end, Ajen is a regular commentator at conferences and in the media on investing in Africa.

Ajen’s other passion lies in the transformation of the accounting and auditing profession. This is demonstrated through his role as Chairman of the Thuthuka Education Upliftment Fund which is the body driving the race and gender transformation of the accounting profession in South Africa.
In Ajen’s time as CEO, EY Africa has consistently won a number of external awards or recognition, including, being ranked in the ‘Top Employers’ top 10 ranking for each of the last 10 years; winner of the gender mainstreaming awards for the contributions by EY to women in leadership and women owned businesses; and recently, winner of the ‘professional services firm of the year’ award.

Ajen truly lives the EY purpose statement of building a better working world by leading the establishment of two flagship community programs, being EY NextGen and Entrepreneurial Winning Women (EWW). The former is focused on helping female learners at disadvantaged schools from grades 10 through to 12 with mentorship, supplementary classes, life skills and in many instances scholarships and bursaries. The EWW program is aimed at supporting start up women owned businesses to achieve scale up and sustainability.