Business Talk – ADP Country Head Wayne Francis on the challenges facing South African HR leaders

In this Business Talk with Michael Avery interview, Wayne Francis discusses the South African labour market and why workers are confident in the future.

Francis is the Country Head of South African Operations for ADP and boasts over 25 years of experience in leading operations, driving growth, and assisting businesses with their transformation efforts.

He has held multiple notable positions at leading companies, allowing him to refine and expand his knowledge.

These roles include:

• Managing Director and Founder at Exponential Risk and Consulting
• Advisory Board Member at Tshwane University of Technology
• Vice President of Operations at EXL
• Group Executive at Clientele Limited
• Team Leader at Discovery Limited

Leveraging this experience, Francis and ADP are helping organisations navigate change, empower their people, and build a modern workplace.

Francis holds various certificates and qualifications, including courses at the London Executive Education Academy, the Advanced Innovation Group Pro Excellence, and GIBS Business School.

The interview

In this Business Talk interview, Francis outlines how he’d characterise the current state of South Africa’s labour market and what is driving these trends.

Francis then explains the potential issues with overconfidence in the market and provides his thoughts on the low number of workers concerned about AI taking their jobs.

He also discusses the top challenges facing South African HR leaders and the biggest opportunities he sees in the future.

Francis concludes the interview by sharing his advice for business leaders preparing for the future of work in South Africa and how ADP can support them.

Watch the full interview with Wayne Francis below.