The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), Africa’s largest pension scheme, has appointed Linda Mateza as Head of Investments and Actuarial Services.

She took up her position on October 5, 2015.

Abel Sithole, Principal Executive Officer, said: "Mateza brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the post, from her early days as a financial analyst with the Reserve Bank of South Africa to her role as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of the Eskom Pension and Provident Fund."

During her career, she has managed assets for and consulted to pension funds.

At Eskom, Mateza managed a portfolio of investments across asset classes including equities, bonds, property, and money market investments.

She also had oversight of investments in hedge funds, infrastructure, and private equity.

The portfolio, valued at R59bn in 2009, delivered consistent returns above inflation, and had grown to R90bn by 2013.

Mateza holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Investments from the University of the Witwatersrand.

She is also a Fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative (South Africa) and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Sithole said he looked forward to having Mateza on the GEPF’s executive committee.