Branden Patience Director - Systems
Branden holds the position of IT Director at Forvis Mazars in South Africa and serves as the Regional Chief Information Officer (CIO) overseeing IT operations in 11 African countries.
Experience
Branden's professional journey showcases a distinguished career marked by continuous growth and significant contributions to the field of information technology and business operations. In 1999, he achieved his B-Tech Degree in Electrical Engineering from CPUT, followed by the completion of a BCom Information Systems Honours degree from UCT in 2015.
His career began in 1997 at iThemba LABS, where he was responsible for maintaining the facility's computer systems and network infrastructure. In 1999, he transitioned to the SA Post Office, undertaking similar responsibilities.
In 2001, Branden embarked on a new chapter at Verizon Business, initially as a Systems Engineer. His competence and dedication led to his promotion to Systems Team Leader in 2004. In this role, he assumed responsibility for both the Microsoft Infrastructure team and the Business Systems Team. By 2006, he had risen to the position of Systems Operations Manager.
In July 2007, Branden joined Forvis Mazars, bringing his expertise to the IT department as a Senior Systems Engineer. Here, he played a pivotal role in designing and managing systems and network infrastructure while ensuring their stability and maintainability during implementation.
Recognising his exceptional skills, Branden was promoted to Service Delivery Manager in November 2012. In this capacity, he oversaw the design, implementation, operation, and support of critical systems. His consistent achievements led to another promotion in March 2016 when he assumed the role of IT Manager. In this capacity, he was tasked with managing and developing a high-performance team to ensure alignment and compatibility with Forvis Mazars Group Services. His leadership qualities continued to shine, and in March 2017, he ascended to the position of Senior IT Manager, responsible for the entirety of Forvis Mazars National IT infrastructure.
In 2019, Branden reached a pinnacle in his career, being appointed IT Director of Forvis Mazars South Africa and Regional CIO for 11 African countries. Within this role, he emerged as a leader within the Forvis Mazars Technology & Digital Solutions team. Here, his primary focus is to align the IT roadmaps of multiple countries with global strategies, working closely with business leaders and IT teams to enhance efficiency and bolster the IT security posture across these regions. His scope extends to providing guidance and implementation of IT Governance, IT Risk Management, IT Security Management, and compliance. Furthermore, he offers strategic direction and oversight for the design, development, operation, and support of IT systems and projects, application management, infrastructure support management, and end-user support.
Branden's academic background, coupled with his impressive career trajectory, makes him an invaluable asset in the realm of IT and business leadership. His commitment to excellence and his ability to drive innovation and efficiency underscore his substantial contributions to the organisations he has served.
Accreditations
- BCom Honours in Information Systems – UCT – December 2015
- Bachelor of Technology - Electrical Engineering – Cape Peninsula University of Technology – June 1999
- MCITP - Enterprise Messaging Administrator on Exchange 2010 – September 2010
- MCITP – Microsoft Certified IT Professional – September 2008
- CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate – December 2005