Our Leadership

Global Executives

Al Lalji

Founder, Chief Executive Officer

Al Lalji, founder of SmarTek21 and Group of Companies. Al has over 22 years of experience in technology management and consulting with Fortune 500 and entrepreneurial firms. Al has helped take software products and services to market for one of the largest software companies in the world. His extensive experience spans Operations, Software Development, and Customer Support to Sales and Marketing. Al holds a Master’s Degree in Information Systems and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Pepperdine University. Al has hands-on technology experience in Banking, Insurance, Healthcare, and Software Technology. Key IT companies worked on includes Microsoft, Equifax, McKesson, Bank of America, and others.

Martyn Molnar

Executive, head of AI Solutions

Martyn Molnar has 23 years of experience in growing technology sales companies and consulting lines of business for Fortune 500s and high-growth technology start-ups. A pioneering sales leader and former CEO of 5 years, Martyn has a successful track record of fast-tracking Hi-tech Silicon Valley firms into international and emerging markets. His responsibilities have spanned international and regional solution sales, global alliance leadership, direct and indirect go-to-market enablement, OEM business development, and management of distributed, international sales organizations delivering revenues above $300M. Martyn had extensive industry expertise in the field ranging from healthcare and oil & gas to finance, ratio, and media. He has a strong background in Big Data, AI, RPA, analytics, SaaS, Cloud, and mission-critical infrastructure. Martyn graduated from Kingston University in London with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Information System Design.

Scott Lawrence

Chief Revenue Officer, Chief Operating Officer

Scott brings over 25 years of expertise in digital strategy, consulting, and leadership across the communications, technology, healthcare, financial services, and utilities industries. He has a proven track record in delivering award-winning results and leading high-performing teams. Scott holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Florida. Prior to joining SmarTek21, he was instrumental in the acquisition of Tekzenit by CSG, where he also served as Chief Operating Officer. His experience includes roles at CSG, Tekzenit, and Ambit Energy.

Pradeep Upad

Chief Delivery Officer

Pradeep Upad has joined SmarTek21 as our Chief Delivery Officer. Pradeep brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our organization with over 25 years of experience in the digital space and a proven track record in leadership roles within the IT services industry.

Pradeep is a customer-focused leader known for driving digital transformation strategies, offering CIO/CXO advisory services, and fostering innovation through cutting-edge technologies. His commitment to enhancing customer and employee experiences, improving operational efficiency, and fueling overall business growth makes him a valuable addition to our team.

Dion Nair

CEO of SmarTek21 South Africa, Middle East and Europe

Dion Nair brings over 20 years of leadership experience across technology, financial services, and insurance sectors. As CEO of Retro Rabbit, he has driven innovation, operational excellence and international expansion. Dion’s career includes executive roles at AIG, where he led strategic growth initiatives across Africa, and at Nedbank, where he oversaw insurance distribution and operational strategy. With expertise in risk management, strategic distribution, and business transformation, Dion is committed to delivering sustainable growth and building high-performing teams. He holds an MBA from the University of Pretoria and GIBS Business School, a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of South Africa, and advanced leadership certifications from INSEAD.

Theo Crous

Chief Design Officer for SmarTek21 Design and Product Engineering Services

Theo Crous is an accomplished business leader and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in leadership, product design, innovation and software engineering.

With an extensive background in design and engineering environments he has demonstrated a commitment to driving innovation, fostering growth as well as exhibiting exceptional strategic thinking and ideation. A lifelong learner and visionary, Theo holds multiple Masters degrees in Computer Science and Project Management from the University of Pretoria.

Theo specializes in strategy, operational excellence, and building high-performing teams. Passionate about mentorship and sustainability, he is dedicated to empowering others and contributing to impactful change and driving shareholder value.

David Betz

Vice President of Finance

David Betz brings over 25 years of finance and technology experience to SmarTek21. He has held significant roles at Microsoft and Amazon (AWS), where he led finance process improvements and automation initiatives. David's expertise spans operations, analytics, and strategic decision-making. He previously served as Controller at Wapato Point Resort and has experience in public accounting and financial litigation support at Arthur Andersen. David holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting from Seattle University.

Vivek Jumnani

Vice President of Services, India

Vivek Jumnani brings over 22 years of extensive experience in leading and delivering successful outcomes for Fortune 500 companies and high-growth technology firms. His career is marked by pivotal roles in major technology organizations where he spearheaded transformative digital engagements for global clients and directed engineering efforts resulting in the delivery of advanced multi-brand platforms and data ecosystems.

His expertise spans a broad range of industries, with a strong emphasis on digital strategy, cloud technologies, and data engineering. Vivek has overseen large-scale initiatives, managed distributed teams, and aligned technology solutions with strategic business goals, demonstrating his leadership and project management capabilities.

Holding a Master’s degree in Information Technology and certifications in industry-recognized methodologies, Vivek is dedicated to applying best practices and innovative strategies to drive growth and deliver exceptional value.

Board Members and Observers

Al Lalji

Al Lalji, founder of SmarTek21 and Group of Companies. Al has over 22 years of experience in technology management and consulting with Fortune 500 and entrepreneurial firms. Al has helped take software products and services to market for one of the largest software companies in the world. His extensive experience spans Operations, Software Development, and Customer Support to Sales and Marketing. Al holds a Master’s Degree in Information Systems and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Pepperdine University. Al has hands-on technology experience in Banking, Insurance, Healthcare, and Software Technology. Key IT companies worked on includes Microsoft, Equifax, McKesson, Bank of America, and others.

Ashray Prasad

Prior to TGP, Ashray worked as head of corporate development at Orion Innovation (One Equity Partners fund VII), Deloitte's M&A strategy team, and held other M&A roles at Bulldog Gin, Great Oak Advisors, and Livingston Securities.

​Ashray attended Michigan State University and Columbia Business School.

Walt Vester

Walt currently serves as an executive at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and prior to BCG, held leadership roles at investment firms such as Blackstone private equity, Alliance Bernstein and Huygens Capital.

Walt attended Case Western University and The Wharton School.

Marty DeMonte

Marty currently serves as an industry advisor for Qarik Group. Prior to joining Qarik he spent 38 years on Wall Street and held several technology management roles, the last of which was a 17-year tenure as CIO of Jefferies.

Rob Strickland

Rob has an extensive background as an executive, providing strategic leadership on technology strategy, product realization, and IT oversight for a wide array of emerging technology companies.

Richard Anfang

A Financial Services industry veteran, Richard has lead information technology, architecture and innovation for prestigious firms including JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley both domestically and internationally.

Industry Advisors

Francois Scheffer

Founder, Advisor

Francois Scheffer is a Director and Co-founder of Retro Rabbit, a leading software development company based in South Africa, headquartered in Pretoria. With over two decades of experience in the industry, Francois has been instrumental in driving the success and growth of Retro Rabbit since its inception in 2003. He holds a Master's degree in Project Management and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the University of Pretoria.

Francois has a strong technical background and extensive experience in software development and project management. He has successfully delivered large-scale projects across various sectors, including state land, forensics, insurance, and digital advertising. His expertise in Agile methodologies has enabled him to support key stakeholders in embracing constant change to deliver high-quality projects.

In addition to his role at Retro Rabbit, Francois enjoys identifying new business opportunities and has established other successful companies in other industries, as well.

Francois has played a pivotal role in structuring Retro Rabbit and stimulating a culture of creativity and innovation, fostering the development of an organization where others learn and strongly collaborate, for increased productivity.

Francois is known for his innovative approach, strong leadership skills, and commitment to excellence. He continues to inspire and lead his teams to achieve outstanding results in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Theo Danzfuss

Founder, Advisor

With over 20 years of experience, Theo Danzfuss is a seasoned leader in driving innovative digital solutions within complex corporate environments. His deep expertise in software engineering, combined with a passion for harnessing new technologies, has enabled him to successfully lead teams in delivering high-impact projects, particularly in the financial services sector.

Theo’s career is marked by a history of implementing transformative software solutions that align with business objectives and deliver measurable value for clients. His strategic mindset and hands-on approach have made him a trusted leader in managing and executing large-scale, high-stakes technology initiatives.

He holds a Master’s in Computer Science from the University of Pretoria and an MBA from GIBS Business School, which have equipped him with a strong technical foundation and a strategic business perspective. A continuous learner, Theo is always looking for ways to enhance his skills and stay at the forefront of emerging technologies to ensure clients remain ahead in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Yasmin Karimli

Telecom and Media Advisor

A vanguard in IT and cybersecurity, Yasmin Karimli has orchestrated pivotal transformations and strategic integrations, notably as VP of Cybersecurity Transformation at T-Mobile. Currently, as a managing partner at Secure Sustainable Technologies Partners, she offers top-tier C-level advisory, focusing on enhancing operational efficiencies and cybersecurity measures across global platforms.

Shawnna DelHierro

Retail and healthcare Advisor

A seasoned technology executive with over 20 years of IT leadership, Shawnna DelHierro has transformed retail and healthcare organizations through innovative technology strategies. As CITO at Sportsman’s Warehouse ($1.4B revenue) and CIO at Visionworks (750+ stores), she spearheaded transformative initiatives such as a $60M cloud-based platform rollout, telehealth solutions enabling 300K+ virtual exams, and enterprise RPA implementations delivering $1.3M annual savings and $24.1M in revenue impact. Shawnna excels in driving operational efficiency, enhancing customer experiences, and achieving measurable growth through innovative technology solutions, consistently maintaining IT operational costs below 2.5% of revenue.