Where the connection began
Celerity was founded in 2000 by Richard Simpson and Dr Piet Streicher – long-time friends, technologists, and problem-solvers at heart. The company didn’t begin with a grand corporate plan. It started with a simple, shared love of windsurfing.
Frustrated by having to constantly check the weather for ideal conditions, Piet and Richard developed a small system that sent SMS alerts the moment the wind picked up.
It was just for their friends at first – a clever workaround to maximise time on the water. But that personal solution quickly sparked a bigger idea.
People began asking: “Could this work for other things? Like the price of agricultural products? Stock movements? Customer updates?” That curiosity uncovered a gap – a way for people and businesses to share timely, important information instantly and at scale. And so, BulkSMS.com was born — Celerity’s flagship product and one of the first web-based SMS platforms in South Africa.
What began as a local innovation soon became a global tool. BulkSMS.com enabled individuals and businesses of all sizes to send high-volume messages quickly, affordably and reliably, helping to build trusted communication between brands and their customers – across industries, and across borders.
In 2021, after over two decades of leadership, Dr Piet Streicher moved into a non-executive director role, with Richard Simpson taking over as Managing Director. Pete Reynolds, who had joined the company in 2020 as the General Manager, then joined the executive team as a director. Together, Richard Simpson and Pete Reynolds continue to lead the company with the same bold spirit of innovation and intent that shaped its origins.
Today, Celerity has grown from a single product into a wider portfolio of business messaging solutions. Our newest offering, Kero.chat, brings Rich Business Messaging (RBM) to life – creating more dynamic, engaging customer interactions through mobile messaging channels like RCS.
Through it all, our mission stays the same: to create messaging technology that’s reliable, secure, and built around people – smartly designed, easy to use, and packed with the features that matter – so mobile communication feels clearer, faster, and more meaningful.
Because at Celerity, connection starts with people. Just like it always has.
Experience and
quality service at Celerity
Tired of delays, failed sends and unreliable support? At Celerity, we understand that message delivery isn’t just technical – it’s critical. That’s why, through BulkSMS, we send millions of messages each month with consistently high delivery rates and reliable performance across networks. Whether you’re sending OTPs or customer alerts, we help you deliver with confidence, speed and quality service you can count on.
The Celerity Team
Leadership
Our leaders are operators as much as strategists, committed to building systems and cultures that balance innovation with accountability. We believe the role of leadership is to remove friction, unlock potential, and create an environment where good ideas become great outcomes.
What sets Celerity apart is how we lead through transformation. Whether it’s launching a new platform or adapting to shifting markets, our leadership team steers with a steady hand and a bias toward action. We value transparency, constructive tension, and pace – because how we show up in the everyday is how we shape the extraordinary. At Celerity, leadership isn’t a title. It’s a responsibility to the work, the people, and the possibilities ahead.
Athene is a dynamic project and service delivery leader with 18+ years’ experience driving customer-focused solutions. Known for her strategic thinking and collaborative approach, she champions operational excellence and measurable impact. Her work blends precision with innovation – enhancing service value, team performance, and long-term client success through purposeful execution and leadership.