Momentum Metropolitan has announced that Jeanette Marais will step into the CEO role in August.
Jeanette Marais will succeed Hillie Meyer as Momentum Metropolitan’s group CEO from 1 August 2023, making her the first woman CEO of a large, listed life insurance and asset management group in South Africa.
In a statement, Jeanette said:
“This is full circle for me. It was Momentum that provided the very first growth and leadership opportunities in my career, and I am honoured that I get the chance to give back and lead this company that is so close to my heart."
Jeanette currently oversees a portfolio of businesses, including Momentum Investments, Momentum Distribution Services, Consult by Momentum and Momentum Money in an executive capacity.
She joined the company in 1990 as head of sales and marketing. After nine years in the role, she left the group and became a director at Stanlib. She went on to serve as an executive general manager at Old Mutual and as an executive director at Allan Gray Investment Services before joining Momentum again in 2018 as the deputy CEO.
Jeanette has an MBA from the International Institute of Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, and a BSc degree from the University of the Free State.
“I thank Hillie for his exceptional leadership over the last five years, during which he streamlined Momentum Metropolitan’s structure, refocused the strategy and unleashed the group’s potential. I am excited to work with the leadership team to further harness the company’s strong brands and talented people, and to successfully execute our growth plans,” she concluded.
