Francois Pienaar is a South African former rugby player, playing for the Springboks in South Africa, followed by a career with the Saracens in England. Whilst playing for South Africa, he captained the side in his first match and in every one of his 29 appearances, culminating in the famous... Read more
Francois Pienaar is a South African former rugby player, playing for the Springboks in South Africa, followed by a career with the Saracens in England. Whilst playing for South Africa, he captained the side in his first match and in every one of his 29 appearances, culminating in the famous victory at the World Cup in 1995. He was acknowledged at that time as an inspiring leader, with an uncompromising approach to commitment.
In 1996, Pienaar joined the Saracens Club in England and later became the first player/ coach in game and later the CEO at Saracens. He helped to transform Saracens from an amateur to a professional rugby club. Under Pienaar’s leadership they won their first ever trophy in 127 years. He received an honorary doctorate on 23 November 2000 from the University of Hertfordshire at the age of 33.
Pienaar was chosen to be the ambassador for Guinness and Visa, the main sponsors during the 1999 and 2004 Rugby World Cups. He was also part of the ITV Rugby World Cup commentary team and was twice nominated by the Royal Television Society for an award as best sports pundit. He has been the only amateur to receive such a nomination.
When he returned to live in South Africa, Pienaar was approached by the First Rand Group where he became head of sponsorships and strategic business development. In 2005, Pienaar was seconded by First National Bank as CEO for the 2011 Rugby World cup bid. Pienaar became Provincial Chairman of First National Bank in the Western Cape until 2009.
In March 2009 Pienaar was approached by the Indian Premier League to spearhead their marketing campaign in South Africa.
He left First Rand Bank to follow his passion for sport, media and entertainment and started Advent Sport Entertainment and Media (Pty) Ltd in 2009 in which First Rand Bank became a shareholder.
Francois is involved in numerous charities and was the founder of the Make A Difference (MAD) charitable organisation when he returned to SA.
Nelson Mandela said: “it was under his inspiring leadership that rugby became the pride of the entire county, his leadership extended beyond the field of rugby and he truly represents all South Africans. Under his inspiring leadership a nation was brought together.”
In 2009 Warner Brothers under the direction of Clint Eastwood produced the Oscar nominated movie “Invictus” focusing on the 1995 Rugby World cup in South Africa and how a once divided nation became world champions, with Francois played by Matt Damon.
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You can book Francois Pienaar through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Francois's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Francois Pienaar's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Francois tailored to your event.
Francois Pienaar speaks on Leadership, Leadership & Motivation, Motivation, Sports. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Francois to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Francois Pienaar for events worldwide, subject to Francois's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Francois Pienaar is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Francois can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Francois Pienaar on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Francois can offer.
Francois Pienaar delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Francois Pienaar's areas of expertise include Leadership, Leadership & Motivation, Motivation, Sports. To get a clear sense of Francois's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Francois Pienaar can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Leadership, Leadership & Motivation, Motivation, Sports is relevant. Details of Francois's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Francois Pienaar is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Francois Pienaar, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Francois's current availability for your dates.