TUHF Holdings has appointed Aidan-John (AJ) Rothman as Chief Executive Officer of the TUHF Group of Companies, effective 1 October 2025. AJ will succeed founding CEO Paul Jackson, who will formally step down at the end of December this year following more than 22-years at the helm.
The announcement marks the culmination of a structured and transparent succession process, first communicated to stakeholders in July last year, when Jackson confirmed his intention to retire. Over the past 12-months, the TUHF Board, led by Chairperson Cas Coovadia and the Remuneration and Nominations Committee (Remco) under Samson Moraba, has worked closely with two l executive search firms; Macdonald & Company and SPI to identify and appoint a new leader who aligns with TUHF’s long-term growth strategy and impact mandate.
“We are delighted to welcome AJ Rothman as TUHF’s next CEO,” says Coovadia. “His unique blend of Investment Banking, Structured Finance and Securitisation and Affordable housing experience makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead TUHF into its next chapter. The Board has full confidence in his ability to deepen our market relevance, expand regional impact, and unlock new avenues of value for our stakeholders.”
AJ is no stranger to TUHF. Since 2019, he has served as a Capital Markets and Treasury consultant, helping design and implement TUHF’s funding architecture. His work has included securing a R1 billion bank-funded warehouse facility, establishing a R125 million township rental housing fund, and leading the securitisation of R1.65 billion of TUHF’s loan book through Urban Ubomi, the first social bond listed on the JSE Sustainable Bond Segment, which went on to win GFC Media’s Local Currency Bank/FI Bond Deal of the Year (2022).
AJ holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering as well as an MBA from the University of the Witwatersrand and brings over two decades of leadership experience spanning AECI, Standard Bank, RBA Housing, and multiple entrepreneurial ventures in housing finance, structured products, and fintech.
As Head of Securitisation at Standard Bank, AJ was instrumental in developing South Africa’s securitisation market, pioneering the country’s first public RMBS for SA Home Loans in 2001, and launching a series of market-first transactions including the Blue Titanium conduit and Africa’s first global award-winning mortgage conduit.
“I am deeply honoured and excited by the opportunity to lead TUHF in this next phase of its journey. Paul has built a company that proves the model of access to finance that is both commercially sound and socially transformative. I look forward to working with the executive team to scale TUHF’s impact in South Africa and across the region, and to help support the next generation of property entrepreneurs,” says AJ.
In line with the succession strategy announced in 2024, AJ and Jackson have already begun a phased handover process. Rothman will assume full operational leadership from 1 October, with Jackson remaining in an executive advisory capacity until 31 December to ensure continuity.
“There is a strong sense of stewardship in handing the baton to AJ. He understands our business, our people, and our purpose. TUHF’s momentum is real, and I am confident that, under his leadership, the company will continue to thrive as a catalyst for inclusive urban regeneration and sustainable growth,” says Jackson.
Since its founding in 2003, TUHF has financed more than R8.3 billion in affordable rental housing projects, funding over 50,000 affordable rental units across eleven South African metros. Its dual-purpose model combines competitive returns for investors with measurable impact in communities, a model that continues to draw strong interest from local and international development finance institutions.
“We are entering an exciting new era. The market opportunity from township housing to regional expansion is immense. We look forward to what AJ and the team will achieve,” concludes Moraba.
