he expansion of STADIO’s student base and academic offerings has necessitated a leadership structure that ensures continued excellence and innovation. Until now, Chris Vorster has served as CEO of both STADIO Holdings and STADIO Higher Education, but with the institution’s rapid growth, the time is right to appoint a dedicated CEO for the higher education arm, whilst allowing Vorster, to take on a more dedicated focus on the overarching strategic vision of the group, as he continues as CEO of STADIO Holdings. In turn, Professor Stan du Plessis has been appointed as the new CEO of STADIO Higher Education, effective 1 August 2025.
“This transition is an exciting milestone for STADIO. Our vision has always been to build STADIO into South Africa’s first-choice tertiary institution, and our growth trajectory has reinforced the need for a leadership structure that allows us to focus on every aspect of our mission.
By welcoming Prof du Plessis as CEO of STADIO Higher Education, we are positioning ourselves to accelerate our plans and better serve our growing student community and achieve university status, when regulations allow,” says Vorster. Currently, in South Africa, the regulations do not allow private higher education institutions to call themselves universities, despite holding the same qualification accreditations.
In August 2024, STADIO surpassed the 50,000-student enrolment milestone across its three registered private higher education institutions and is well on track to meeting its 2017 pre-listing target of 56,000 students by 2026 and its longer-term goal of 100,000 students.
We are excited to welcome Prof du Plessis to the STADIO family. He has extensive expertise in the higher education sector and has an in-depth understanding of the evolving needs of South African students and institutions. We are confident that under his strong leadership, we can reach our goal of 100,000 students even faster, while also ensuring we continue delivering cutting-edge academic excellence.
As STADIO continues to expand and solidify its position as a leader in higher education, du Plessis will play a key role in accelerating the institution’s mission. Meanwhile, Vorster’s leadership at STADIO Holdings will drive strategic alignment across the group’s initiatives, ensuring continued innovation and long-term sustainability. Vorster remains firmly committed to STADIO’s vision, emphasising that this new appointment will “allow the institution to fast-track its ambitious goals and continue to breach the gap for so many without access to quality higher education.”
“This leadership appointment is a natural progression of STADIO’s success,” adds Vorster.
It enables us to focus on our core strengths and objectives while ensuring our students continue to receive world-class education tailored to their needs and the changing demands of tomorrow’s workplace.
STADIO has always been committed to widening access to high-quality and future-focused education. With Vorster leading STADIO Holdings, the addition of Du Plessis to the leadership team aligns with this mission, bringing fresh insights and experience to enhance STADIO’s academic offerings and institutional credibility.
