Deshan Naidoo

MD Afrivolt

Deshan Naidoo is the Founder and Managing Director of Afrivolt, a pioneering company based in Cape Town, South Africa, with a bold vision to develop Africa’s first gigafactory.  
In this role, he oversees all aspects of the business’s operations. Prior to Afrivolt, Deshan served as the CEO of an automotive component company, where he led a successful turnaround strategy, transforming the business into a 99% export-focused operation. His leadership earned the company the prestigious Exporter of the Year award from the President of South Africa in 2022. Deshan also contributed to the automotive industry as a member of the National Executive Committee of South Africa’s automotive component association for several years. 
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Cape Town and has earned various executive certificates in finance and entrepreneurship from some of the world’s top business schools, including a BatteryMBA certification. He is a Fellow of the Presidential Precinct in the USA and one of the youngest INSEAD-certified International Directors in the world.