Absa has named Dawn Mthombeni as an executive within the office of newly appointed CEO Arrie Rautenbach.
Mthombeni’s appointment is in line with Absa’s “commitment to growing its own timber”, the bank said on Wednesday.
In the new role, which will take effect on August 1, Mthombeni will provide Rautenbach with operational support and strategic advice to ensure the mandates, priorities and agenda of the CEO’s office are delivered efficiently.
“As we intensify our efforts to compete and excite our clients, Absa Group remains committed to rewarding and promoting dedicated and talented individuals,” Rautenbach said of the new appointment.
“Dawn is a seasoned and highly capable executive who will be an asset to my office. Her appointment is yet another key step in our ongoing journey to build a leading African bank with a diverse and inclusive leadership.”
The appointment of Mthombeni follows a recently announced organisational rejig of Absa’s operating model that sees the bank move from its two previous commercial business units, retail and business banking (RBB) as well as corporate and investment banking (CIB), to a new five-pillar model.
Mthombeni has extensive experience in the financial services industry, having previously worked for FNB and Standard Bank. She began working at Absa in October 2013 when it was known as Barclays Africa and has served the group in a number of executive roles, most recently as chief risk officer in the information and technology office.
She previously held the roles of chief control officer in operations and technology and COO for the bank’s enterprise and supply chain unit. She has also acted as COO of Absa’s non-SA corporate and investment banking business when it was part of Barclays Africa.
Mthombeni holds a BCom degree with industrial psychology and economics from the University of Johannesburg as majors that she later augmented by completing an honours in industrial psychology. She also holds an MBA from the University of KwaZulu-Natal as well as an MPhil in development finance from Stellenbosch University.
Mthombeni recently completed an advanced management programme at the IMD business school in Switzerland.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.