About
Dionne Van Zyl
Dionne Van Zyl is the CEO of i49 Group, Inc., where he continues to shape unstoppable teams with global cutting-edge practices for game-changing results. An accomplished senior executive with a rich history spanning over 34 years in the realms of high technology and financial services, Dionne has a reputation for leading early-stage growth companies to success. He has held three CEO positions and has been instrumental in forming high-leverage alliances and partnerships with Fortune 100 giants such as DST Systems, CSC Continuum, Financial Holding Corporation, BMC Intelligent Technologies, and more. His clientele roster boasts industry leaders like ING, Aegon, American Express, and Zurich Kemper Life, to name a few.
Dionne’s leadership style is characterized by his ability to bring clarity to complex situations, aptly described as an ability to “cut through the fog.” His track record showcases his prowess in creating teams that not only focus but also deliver substantial return on equity to stakeholders. As a testament to his versatility, Dionne has built five new businesses from the ground up, offered CEO consulting services, and restructured nine companies, enhancing their economic viability and business models.
His educational background is as diverse as his professional journey. After earning a BSc (Engineering) degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, Dionne served as an officer in the South African military’s Electronic Warfare regiment. Later, he pursued a BA (Theology) degree and became a full-time pastor at the Hatfield Christian Church in Pretoria. Notably, he was a pivotal figure in the formation of Interyouth, a national movement in South Africa aimed at fostering inter-racial harmony, drawing crowds of over 11,000 attendees from diverse racial backgrounds.
In the early ’90s, Dionne transitioned to the tech industry, founding Silicon Systems, CC, which initially provided military defense technologies. The company later diversified into factory automation systems. Subsequently, in collaboration with a German firm, he co-founded BMC Intelligent Technologies (Pty) Ltd, focusing on financial services technologies for insurance companies. Before moving to the United States in 1994, BMC had grown into a R20 million venture.
In the U.S., Dionne established Exchange America, a financial services technology business, in partnership with Dexus Technologies, Inc., DST Systems, Inc., and Financial Holding Corporation, Inc.