About SYNAQ
For the last 20 years SYNAQ has been delivering confidence, efficiency & security to South Africa’s biggest brands.
Our Management Team
David Jacobson
In 2004, David co-founded SYNAQ with the vision of delivering cloud communication services powered by Linux and Open-Source technology. By 2010, SYNAQ was recognized by Forbes as one of the top 20 tech companies in Africa. A thought-leader in his field, David is a member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and mentors aspiring founders at organizations such as the Branson Centre, Start-up Bootcamp, and EO Accelerator.
Thirusha Chetty
Thirusha Chetty is the Managing Director of SYNAQ, a Chartered CIO, and one of South Africa's Top 100 Influential Women in Tech. With a Master's in Digital Business Management she is a recognised industry speaker and technology contributor, actively shaping the national digital agenda through editorial contributions and policy work, including the drafting of the South African AI Act. With global executive experience, Thirusha leads SYNAQ's strategic execution and innovation agenda—delivering secure, people-centred solutions that scale with purpose, from Africa to the world.
Sam Gelbart
Sam has been with SYNAQ for over a decade, leading the development of internal products and managing the company's cloud platforms. A passionate technologist with a focus on big data, he oversees SYNAQ's multi-terabyte Elasticsearch data cluster and analyses data for both customers and the business. As a shareholder and one of SYNAQ's initial angel investors, Sam holds a B.Com degree in Economics and Industrial Psychology.
Liza Claassen
Liza oversees the Finance and HR function at SYNAQ. With over two decades of experience in the finance field, she has held various roles related to finance. Passionate about numbers and working with people, she earned her degree in Accounting Sciences at FMISA.
Nicholas Dooling
A seasoned businessman with over 20 years of sales experience across diverse industries, he is passionate about innovation, building brands, and growing businesses. He thrives on finding new opportunities and enjoys providing cyber security solutions to both start-ups and listed entities in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Lodewyk de Kock
Lodewyk oversees SYNAQ's Technical Operations, leading Engineering and Support to deliver secure, high-availability services. He brings deep expertise in infrastructure, email security, and data centre operations, aligning technical delivery with SYNAQ's growth and innovation goals.
Noluthando Sompeta
Noluthando has over a decade of experience in IT management. As a strategic leader with expertise in IT operations, project management, and process optimisation, she is committed to driving continuous improvement and fostering collaboration to achieve organisational goals. Her leadership experience spans diverse industries, where she has consistently delivered value through innovation and excellence.