Mary Vilakazi

"The core business philosophy of owner management is still deeply ingrained in our culture. We believe in empowering exceptional people, giving them ownership and trusting them to deliver. This ethos continues to attract talent, which we're very proud of. When I joined in 2018, a company-wide survey showed that this culture is still very much alive and valued across all our jurisdictions."

"I joined FirstRand for the opportunity to get into banking. I was also drawn to the opportunity to work closely with Alan Pullinger, whom I held in high regard. It was a compelling and exciting opportunity that leveraged my experience with risk and compliance. Alan's sponsorship was also a factor, but I always operated with the mindset that I was there to learn. I'm grateful for the board's decision."

"While it's crucial to use every opportunity to learn, I was never complacent. I focused on doing my best rather than being preoccupied with leadership succession."

"Jacques has been leading FNB for 10 years successfully. He has now been given a new mandate to develop future business models. He is a builder. We are counting on his skills to build something new and exciting."

"Johan has been on the board for several years. I've observed his interactions with Alan over time. It's always interesting to see someone transition from an executive to a non-executive director role. Johan has been quite mindful of this. I've worked with him in a different context before, and I believe having experienced bankers on the board is crucial. They challenge us constructively, and I look forward to working with them."

"I had done some vacation jobs at PwC during my studies and when I signed up to do articles, so I had a two week advantage over most people in my group. During articles I gained great experience in the financial services sector, especially working in insurance, working with firms like Fedsure, African Life, Alexander Forbes and Regent Life."

"During articles I used to win the awards for the most productive employee in my group and billing hours is what counts at a firm like PwC."

"During the last year of articles I was given a lot of responsibility, because I was always dedicated to ensuring I add value and go the extra mile for the client. The quality of the companies I worked with on audits was high and I worked with some really smart PwC people, some of whom I am still in contact with now."