Meet Our Core Team
African Hero is powered by a diverse team of passionate professionals, technical experts, and strategic leaders – all dedicated to delivering fast, affordable, and effective solutions to ongoing challenges in Africa. Our team combines local knowledge, technical expertise, and a shared goal of uplifting communities and changing lives through sustainable service delivery.
Ramachandran Ottapathu
CEO, Choppies
Ramachandran Ottapathu, affectionately known as Ram, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Choppies Group, a multinational retail company founded in Botswana and headquartered in Gaborone. A qualified chartered accountant, Ram joined Choppies in 1992 and has been leading its operations since 2000. He brings over 33 years of experience in finance and operations, with additional expertise spanning manufacturing, packaging, milling, real estate development, and medical distribution. Ram is deeply familiar with the African Hero business environment, and contributes valuable insights and business acumen to the initiative.
Phillip Brink
Managing Director, East Rand Containers
Phillip Brink is the Managing Director of East Rand Containers, the lead contractor for the African Hero project. He studied Business Management and completed his studies in 1999. For over 15 years, Phillip has led East Rand Containers, and the company has expanded significantly during his tenure. The company specialises in modular solutions for custom building projects and is a proud member of Container Fraud Prevention – an industry-led initiative to combat fraud in the container sector.
Angela Richie
Lead Designer, African Hero
Angela qualified at the Witwatersrand Technikon in 1994 and brings over 30 years of experience in designing bespoke buildings for highly discerning clients. She joined the Moti Group of Companies in July 2018 and has since designed more than 15 buildings for the Group. Unlike many others in her field, Angela also oversees construction, and remains closely involved in the management of each project through to completion.
Ramachandran Ottapathu
Nathan Dell
Director, East Rand Containers
Nathan Dell was appointed to the Board of East Rand Containers in 2017. With a strong background in corporate leadership and governance, he brings valuable insight and strategic oversight to the company’s operations.
Since joining the Board, Nathan has contributed meaningfully to shaping the company’s direction and supporting its sustainable growth. His leadership is marked by a commitment to accountability, ethical governance, and long-term value creation. He continues to play a key role in ensuring effective decision-making at the highest level of the organisation.
Salim Bobat
Director, African Hero
Salim Ahmed Bobat is a seasoned chartered accountant with over three decades of experience in financial and strategic management. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1990 and has since held senior roles across various sectors, bringing deep expertise in financial governance, corporate strategy, and risk management.
Since joining the Moti Group of Companies in 2005, Salim has played a key role in driving the Group’s financial performance and supporting its long-term growth. With a strong commitment to excellence, he has led major financial initiatives, strengthened internal controls, and contributed significantly to operational efficiency and strategic planning.