Alexander Forbes has announced three key executive appointments: Naidene Ford-Hoon as Group chief financial officer (GCFO), Christian Schaub as Group chief human resources officer (GCHRO), and Thabo Mashaba, who is assuming a new role of Group chief empowerment & transformation officer (GCETO).
- Andrew Darfoor appointed new Alexander Forbes CEO
- CFO of the Year 2015 Deon Viljoen leaves Alexander Forbes to join Discovery.
Ford-Hoon joins the Group from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) where she was also GCFO. Andrew Darfoor (pictured), Group Chief Executive, said of her appointment:
"Naidene is a high-calibre individual and an exceptional addition to our management team. She brings outstanding financial acumen, a combination of comprehensive corporate and public-sector experience at the highest levels at the central bank of South Africa, SARB. Naidene will provide sound judgement and strong challenge - qualities I value highly. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Bruce Bydawell for his substantial contribution over the past several months in his role as acting GCFO. Bruce will revert to his previous role and support Naidene in building a best-in-class finance team."
Schaub comes from the Marsh & McLennan Companies, where he was Global Change Leader, Human Resources Transformation, based in New York, US. Mashaba was formerly GCHRO at Alexander Forbes and previously at ABSA bank, and thus his understanding of the financial sector and the B-BBEE transformation imperative is extensive.
Darfoor said the three executives join a highly experienced and driven leadership team that is already strongly executing the Group's strategy to grow its business in the three business pillars of institutional, retail and emerging market sectors. Darfood added:
"We have a crystal clear strategy and value proposition, a strong leadership team that is aligned and focused on the delivery of our strategy with speed and precision, and a focus on delivering on the significant upside potential that exists for Alexander Forbes in building a globally distinctive pan-African financial services leader operating in South Africa and selected emerging markets. We have been strengthening our leadership team with executive appointments in key roles. Working with my colleagues, I am confident of the future success of our strategy in helping our clients achieve a lifetime of financial well-being and security."
All appointments are effective 1 September 2017.
