“Not only has the University lost an extremely talented council chairperson, but a valued and loyal friend of the University.”
This is according to Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU). The University learnt of the passing yesterday (31 January 2023) of Mr Ainsley Moos, Chairperson of the SU Council and passionate Matie alumnus.
“This is obviously a huge shock to the university community and it comes, to say the least, at a time when the University has depended heavily on his management expertise and his proven experience as a communications specialist, but also in terms of his skills as manager of stakeholder relations in the corporate world. His support to me personally was inspirational. Matieland has indeed lost a great friend. His family and loved ones are in our thoughts at this sad time,” says Prof De Villiers.
“Ainsley was passionate about Stellenbosch University and the role the University, its staff and students should play both in the country and on the global stage and he worked hard to share this vision,” said Dr Nicky Newton-King, Deputy Chair of Council. “His humility and calm leadership stood the Council in good stead as it dealt with a series of critical challenges in the past year. The University has been so lucky to have counted Ainsley amongst its leaders at this crucial time in its history.”
Mr Moos was a member of the executive team of the financial services company African Rainbow Capital.
He has served on the Council since 2014 and was, amongst others, Chair of the Council’s Remuneration Committee, a member of the Executive Committee and the Human Resources Committee. He was elected Deputy Chairperson in 2018 and started his terms as chair on 3 December 2021.
Mr Moos is an SU alumnus who obtained the degrees BA, BPhil (Journalism) and an MBA from the University. He has also completed leadership programmes at GIBS, Wits and Harvard.
- The SU Council has a supervisory responsibility for academic and operational matters, as well as institutional policy and strategy at the institution.
