Luminance appoints Africa VP as demand for legal AI accelerates
February 24, 2026 | 2:55 pm
Global legal artificial intelligence provider Luminance, has appointed Jonty Koekemoer as Vice President for Africa, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion strategy as demand for advanced legal AI solutions surges across the continent.
The company confirmed that Koekemoer will lead a newly established regional hub in South Africa, designed to strengthen customer support and scale operations throughout Africa. South Africa was selected as the base for the new hub due to its mature and sophisticated legal ecosystem, where both law firms and in-house legal teams are increasingly turning to AI to manage complex transactions, navigate mounting regulatory pressures and enhance operational efficiency.
The move follows a period of strong growth for Luminance globally and rising interest in its platform locally. Over the past year, the company recorded a 66% increase in subscription customers headquartered in South Africa, alongside growth in deal volume and total contract value. Adoption has been particularly pronounced in the financial services, energy and professional services sectors.
Several prominent South African organizations including Sasol, OM Bank, Purple Group and Standard Bank, have already deployed Luminance’s AI platform within their legal departments and broader business operations.
Sascha Graham, Vice President of Legal at Purple Group, said the technology has enabled the company to maintain speed and consistency in a fast-moving financial services environment. She noted that the platform supports legal teams in working more efficiently across complex contracts while helping the wider business make faster, better-informed decisions.
According to Luminance, establishing a physical presence in South Africa will allow the company to deepen relationships with existing clients while providing faster, more localized support. The hub is also expected to serve as a springboard for expansion into other high-growth African markets, including Kenya and Nigeria.
“Africa represents an incredibly exciting opportunity for Luminance,” said Chief Executive Officer Eleanor Lightbody. “We are seeing growing demand from teams seeking to harness AI responsibly to manage complexity and scale. Establishing a presence in South Africa enables us to better support our customers today while laying the foundations for long-term growth across the continent.”
Koekemoer described Africa’s legal sector as being at a pivotal inflection point, with organizations under increasing pressure to deliver more with fewer resources while navigating complex regulatory and commercial environments. He said Luminance’s Legal-Grade™ AI is well positioned to support this transformation and help legal teams modernize their operations.
A South African native, Koekemoer brings more than 13 years of corporate experience across African markets, with a background spanning enterprise technology, commercial leadership and market expansion. He has previously held senior roles at AI-driven technology companies, leading strategic partnerships and regional growth initiatives, and holds a PhD focused on innovation and the future of technology in Africa.
In his new role, Koekemoer will oversee the build-out of Luminance’s continental footprint, driving adoption of legal AI solutions among law firms, corporate legal teams and partners as the company accelerates its African growth strategy.