Table of Contents
Key Points
- Anthony Leeming, CEO of Sun International, earned R23.15 million ($1.23 million) in 2024, reflecting his leadership impact on the company’s growth.
- Leeming will step down as CEO in July 2025, after a transformative tenure marked by strategic acquisitions and expansion in online gaming.
- Sun International’s net profit surged 884.58% under Leeming’s leadership, reaching R2.11 billion ($111.84 million) in 2024.
South African executive Anthony Leeming, CEO of Sun International, a leading hospitality and leisure group, received a total compensation of R23.15 million ($1.23 million) in 2024.
This figure reflects the impact of his leadership, which has been instrumental in driving the growth of the company, strengthening its position in the market, and marking a tenure defined by resilience and strategic expansion.
Leeming to step down after transformative leadership at Sun International
The fiscal year 2024 also marked the twilight of Leeming’s transformative leadership at Sun International. After taking over as CEO from Graeme Stephens in May 2017, Leeming is set to retire at the end of December 2025.
However, he will step down from his role as CEO on July 1, 2025, and remain with the company until the year's end to assist with the leadership transition. Over the next year and a half, Leeming’s departure will close a chapter that saw the company evolve under his direction.
A Chartered Accountant by training, Leeming guided Sun International through the challenges of the pandemic, led its $400 million acquisition of Peermont, and expanded its online gaming presence. These moves played a key role in solidifying Sun International’s status as a dominant force in Africa’s hospitality and gaming industry.
Before his promotion to CEO, Leeming held several senior roles within the company, including CFO and Director of Corporate Finance. Having joined Sun International as Group Financial Manager in 1999, his financial expertise and steady leadership have been integral to the company’s strategic growth and transformation.
Compensation breakdown
Leeming’s 2024 compensation package, totaling R23.15 million ($1.23 million), underscores his significant contributions to the company’s success.
This includes a base salary of R8.62 million ($457,225), along with a short-term incentive of R3.97 million ($210,695), both tied to his impact on Sun International’s financial performance. A substantial part of his earnings came from a long-term incentive of R9.12 million ($483,907), further acknowledging his role in driving the company’s growth.
Under Leeming’s leadership, Sun International has grown to become one of South Africa’s premier hospitality groups, with a market capitalization of R10.1 billion ($535.9 million). His strategic decisions have played a key part in enhancing the group’s competitive edge.
Sun International’s performance under Leeming
Since Leeming became CEO in February 2017, Sun International has strengthened its financial position, expanded its online gaming division, and improved the customer experience across its key properties.
Under his leadership, the company’s net profit for 2024 surged by an impressive 884.58 percent, reaching R2.11 billion ($111.84 million), compared to R214 million ($11.36 million) in 2016. Headline earnings also saw a remarkable rise of 320.07 percent, climbing from R289 million ($15.34 million) in 2016 to R1.21 billion ($64.42 million) in 2024.
However, not all financial metrics have followed this upward trend. Sun International's total assets dropped by 43.96 percent, falling from R24.1 billion ($1.28 billion) in 2016 to R13.51 billion ($716.92 million), largely due to the divestiture of its Nigerian operations in 2024.
Despite this, the group’s overall financial health remains strong, thanks to the strategic decisions made during Leeming's tenure.
