South African executive Melanie Da Costa named CEO of $1.4 billion healthcare group, Netcare

After two decades inside one of South Africa’s biggest private healthcare groups, South African executive Melanie Da Costa is preparing to take over the top job at Netcare Limited, marking a major leadership change at the Johannesburg-listed group valued at about $1.4 billion. The company said Da Costa, currently executive director for strategy and health policy, will become CEO-designate on June 1, 2026. She will work alongside longtime chief executive Richard Friedland during a six-month transition before officially assuming the CEO role on Jan. 1, 2027.

Friedland, one of Netcare’s co-founders, will retire from the board at the end of December 2026 after more than 30 years leading the healthcare provider. At the board’s request, he will remain involved as a strategic adviser to the board and incoming CEO until June 2027. The leadership change comes as South Africa’s healthcare industry faces growing pressure to adapt to policy reforms, rising demand for healthcare access, and rapid changes in medical technology. The rollout of the country’s National Health Insurance framework, combined with increased investment in digital healthcare systems, has pushed healthcare operators to restrategize.

Operational excellence focus continues

Da Costa’s appointment is viewed as a move toward sustained growth at a time of change. Since joining Netcare in 2006, she has worked across health policy, funding negotiations, capital allocation, and corporate strategy, helping shape several of the group’s long-term healthcare initiatives. “Ms Da Costa is a respected industry leader with the capacity to deliver operational excellence and continue the execution of Netcare’s strategy,” said Alex Maditsi, chairman of the Netcare board. He said her experience in healthcare policy, technology, and operations made her the right executive to lead the company through its next phase of growth.

Da Costa described the appointment as the defining moment of her professional career, saying the healthcare sector is changing quickly as patients demand better access, more connected care systems and improved treatment outcomes. “It is the honor of my career to be entrusted with leading Netcare,” she said. “Our strategy is clear, our people are exceptional, and our commitment to person-centered healthcare remains firm.” She also paid tribute to Friedland, saying the company had changed significantly under his leadership over the past two decades. 

Under Friedland, Netcare grew from a traditional hospital operator into a broader healthcare group with businesses spanning emergency response, oncology, mental healthcare, renal care and primary healthcare services. It employs over 18,000 people across its operations. During his tenure, Netcare also increased investment in digital healthcare systems aimed at improving patient management, treatment coordination and efficiency across hospitals and outpatient facilities. As Da Costa prepares to take over, the group is expected to continue expanding beyond its acute hospital business while strengthening its digital healthcare operations.

Post-Friedland expansion strategy sustained

Netcare’s healthcare network includes oncology services through Netcare Cancer Care, emergency medical support through Netcare 911, and primary healthcare clinics under Netcare Medicross. Its mental healthcare division, Netcare Akeso, focuses on psychiatric and behavioral healthcare services, while National Renal Care provides dialysis treatment for patients requiring long-term kidney support. Netcare has also widened its focus on affordable healthcare access through NetcarePlus, a platform designed to connect more South Africans to private healthcare services as demand for quality care continues to rise.

Beyond healthcare delivery, the company remains one of South Africa’s largest private-sector trainers of nurses and emergency medical personnel, supporting the development of healthcare professionals needed across the country’s healthcare system. For investors and healthcare analysts, the leadership handover signals a carefully managed succession plan at one of South Africa’s largest private healthcare providers, as the company positions itself for a healthcare sector increasingly shaped by technology, policy reform and changing patient expectations.