The Mobile Applications Laboratory Southern Africa (mLab SA) has appointed Mr Derrick Kotze as its new CEO with effect from 15 June 2012.

Kotze is currently the Developer Outreach and Marketing Manager (East & Southern Africa) at Nokia, where he spent the last two years working with local developers and ecosystem partners to help facilitate the mobilization of their ideas, content and brands through mobile applications and services.

Kotze is passionate about the creation of new businesses within the mobile space and believes the Southern African region has the right talent and resources to place it amongst the top innovation markets in the world.

"Mobile entrepreneurs not only hold the key to creating new jobs and stimulating rapid economic growth in the region, but also to democratizing many services and opportunities that have historically eluded many across the continent¿ says Kotze.

"I have a simple vision for mLab SA," says Kotze, "That's to make it synonymous with opportunity".

South Africa has the privilege of being selected by the World Bank, infoDev and the Finish Government, with additional support from the South African Department of Science and Technology, to bring much needed incubation resources to the region and to those who are courageous enough to dream big, share their ideas in a collaborative environment and who are willing to work hard at making these a reality. Kotze believes that there is very little standing in MLab SA's way to achieve great things.

CSIR Meraka Institute Executive Director and chairman of the mLab SA steering committee, Laurens Cloete, comments: "We are excited about Kotze joining the initiative driven by Meraka, The Innovation Hub and Ungana-Afrika. He has strong capabilities and experience in building the mobile ecosystem, which is exactly what we are looking for so that we can give developers opportunities to realise the power of mobile computing."