Africanbank strengthens leadership team as its journey to JSE gains momentum

Johannesburg  - In line with Africanbank's transformation strategy, Excelerate25, which aims to diversify its business and build a customer-centric, data-driven, scalable and digital-first business, the bank is continually on the lookout for talented professionals with passion and skills to help implement this plan – and is pleased to announce nine senior new appointments to lead the way.

Group Operations

Mogomotsi Mogopodi has been appointed Group Head: Payments Operations. He holds a Master of Management Degree in Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation from Wits Business School and was previously employed at Meta/Facebook Global Operations in Dublin where he led the sub-Saharan (42 countries) operations teams.  

With extensive experience in management, customer experience and the financial services industry, Mogomotsi will be reporting to Darryl Adriaanzen, the group Chief Operations Officer at Africanbank, who says: "We welcome Mogomotsi to the team. Given his demonstrated ability to drive transformation and deliver seamless customer experiences, I am confident that he will thrive in our growing Africanbank family."

Cyber Security Risk Management

Thembile Matolo is Head of Cyber Security Risk Management within the Group Risk department and holds an MBA from GIBS, as well as a BSc Hons in IT & Computer Science.

Matolo joins Africanbank from the Standard Bank Group, where she developed Information Risk and Data Privacy strategies for 17 African countries, guiding the implementation of their risk-based Information Security Strategy, formulating Information Risk and Data Privacy policies, and contributing to the formulation of their digital strategy.

Matolo will report to Piet Swanepoel, Africanbank's Group Deputy Chief Risk Officer, who says: "Thembile is not just a Risk and Security pioneer, she is also a strategist and an energetic leader. With her impressive academic credentials, I am confident she will seamlessly integrate into our growing Africanbank family."

Compliance Team

Passionate about all things compliance, Nthabiseng Mokwena has been appointed Head of Compliance Group Operations, bringing with her more than 16 years' experience in alliance banking, international operations, retail and commercial banking, policy, and governance, as well as support and enablement operations.

Nompumelelo Dube has joined Africanbank as Head of Compliance for Consumer Banking. She has an LLB from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, where she specialised in Information Technology Law, International Trade Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Property Law and Consumer Credit Law.

With over 11 years in the investment and retail banking sectors, she joins from Deloitte & Touche, where she was a senior manager for the Deloitte Africa Risk Advisory, identifying client problems, solution conceptualisation, design and execution, and project team management and delivery oversight.

Dube and Mokwena report to Lindelwa Choma who is the Group Chief Compliance Officer at Africanbank: "I am excited to welcome Nthabiseng and Nompumelelo to the team. Their extensive experience and dedication to our mission will strengthen our operational divisions and support our journey towards excellence."

Consumer Banking

Nico Kritzinger joins the Consumer Banking team as Head of Data Science and Credit Analytics. A highly respected expert in credit and analytics, Kritzinger was the Executive Head of Credit for both the Gomo and Mobalyz (SA Taxi) businesses at Transaction Capital. On the academic front, he holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Risk Analysis, a Master of Commerce in Financial Economics, a Bachelor of Science Honours in Financial Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences & Financial Mathematics.

Kritzinger has held various roles within the financial services industry, including Head of Acquisition Analytics at Wesbank, Manager of Quantitative Analytics at Nedbank, and Senior Risk Analyst at Imperial Bank. His main responsibility will be to review and approve credit proposals in accordance with Africanbank's determined risk appetite and to maintain a good balance between returns and risk exposure.

Kritzinger will report to Sibongiseni Ngundze who is the CEO of Consumer Banking at Africanbank: "We welcome Nico to the Consumer Banking team. With his impressive academic background, extensive career expertise spanning over 17 years, and notable contributions, we anticipate his impact as we move forward towards our 2024 listing."

Group Finance

Thandisizwe Ndlovu is Group Head of Investor Relations at Africanbank. Ndlovu holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Accounting, Finance, Taxation and Auditing from UKZN, as well as an Amplify Executive Development Programme from London Business School. Bringing over 15 years of industry experience, he's made an impressive name for himself working across various sectors including telecommunications, banking, insurance and technology.

He joins Africanbank from ADvTECH Ltd, where he was an Investor Relations Executive. To date, he has made great strides in increasing foreign ownership through the implementation of an investor targeting methodology, expanding the research universe for the company and building an Inaugural UK Roadshow.

Andile Simelela rejoined Africanbank as Group Head of Balance Sheet Management after a stint with Absa, where he served as Manager for Financial Resource Management and Regulatory Strategy.

Simelela holds a Higher Certificate in Financial Markets and Instruments from the Academy of Financial Markets, a Bachelor of Accounting (BCom Accounting) from the UKZN, an MBA from Milpark Business School, and an International Executive Development Programme qualification from Wits Business School in conjunction with London Business School.

With more than 15 years' experience in various South African banks', Simelela has extensive knowledge and an impressive background in financial resource management and regulatory strategy.

Ndlovu and Simelela will both report to Anbann Chetti, Africanbank's Group Chief Financial Officer, who comments: "We welcome Thandisizwe and Andile to Africanbank's finance department. There is no doubt that their insights and expertise will play an important role in driving us forward."

Transformation & Sustainability

Sanele Zondi had been appointed Head of Corporate Affairs, bringing nearly two decades of diverse experience across various sectors. His background includes telecommunications, public relations, marketing, and government affairs, making him a great addition to the Africanbank team.

Percival Maphumulo assumes the role of Head of Sustainability. He joins the bank from Tiger Brands, where he was Group Environment Sustainability Manager. Percy is well-equipped to advise management on community investment strategies and help reinforce Africanbank's commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

Zondi and Maphumulo will be reporting to Edna Montse, who is the Group Chief Transformation & Sustainability Officer: "We are thrilled to welcome Sanele and Percival to Africanbank. They look forward to using their skills and expertise to elevate our efforts toward transformative change and sustainable development."

CEO of Africanbank, Kennedy G. Bungane, concludes: "As a bank for the people, by the people, serving the people, one of our core missions is to advance lives, and this can also be seen in how we have meticulously selected individuals who align perfectly with our core values to join our ranks. The appointment of these 'Movement Makers' reflects Africanbank's dedication to operational excellence, which will ensure continued growth and sustainability for the bank.

"As our bank grows to better meet the needs of our people, it is important that we attract experienced and talented individuals to support our strategic objectives. We wish them every success in this audacious new chapter of their careers."