Lionel Jacobs was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He has more than 40 years’ experience in the South African Corporate Business Sector. He has been instrumental in the establishment of Black Economic Empowerment ventures. Lionel further served on the boards of listed and unlisted companies. 

He has extensive and immeasurable experience in the Agricultural, Fishing, Food Services and Investment Banking sectors of the South African economy.

Lionel is a founding shareholder of Siphumelele Investments Ltd, one of the first empowerment companies based in the Western Cape. Lionel served as a director at African Merchant Bank Ltd, Johnnic Ltd, Fedics Food Services Ltd, Sea Harvest Corporation Ltd, Ster-Kinekor Ltd, Cape Talk (Pty) Ltd, I & J Ltd, Vinimark (Pty) Ltd. Perdeberg Wines Ltd, The Bidvest Group Ltd, Bidvest Bank Ltd, Long4Life Ltd, Vunani Ltd, Saldanha Foods and many other unlisted companies. 

He has an ongoing interest in Renewable Energy as a director of Specialised Solar Systems, Roggeveld Wind Farms and Nu Water Solutions. He has a continuing interest in community-based and charitable organizations and especially supports the welfare of the visually impaired through The League of Friends of The Blind (LOFOB), an organisation founded 85 years ago by his father, Isaac Jacobs.