The African Development Bank Group announces, on 1 August 2018, the appointment of Ms. Bajabulile “Swazi” Tshabalala as Vice President Finance / Chief Financial Officer of the Group effective 1 August 2018.
A South African national, Ms. Tshabalala is currently Executive Director at Barbican Advisory Group in South Africa, where she is responsible for financial, engineering and financial transaction advisory services.
Ms. Tshabalala brings 26 years of experience in the areas of finance, treasury management and financial market operations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Lawrence University, USA in 1989, and a master’s degree in business administration from Wake Forest University in the United States in 1992.
Early in her career, she worked as a client trainee manager for Old Mutual Employee Benefits (1992-1993) and later as a corporate broker for Standard Bank Group for two years. She then joined the conglomerate Transnet Limited in South Africa, where she initially held the position of Deputy Director of Treasury (1996-1998) and then Director of Treasury (1998-2001), before being promoted Director General of General Services (2001-2004). In the latter role, she oversaw the transformation of the former Portnet into a new Transnet National Ports Authority and Transnet Limited to control and manage South Africa’s eight commercial ports.
Ms. Tshabalala was then promoted to Treasurer of the Transnet Group (2004-2006). In this capacity, she oversaw all treasury operations of all divisions of the company, with the exception of South African Airways. She left Transnet in 2006 to become General Manager of the Industrial Development Group (IDG), where she worked until 2014. The activities of the IDG group focused on oil, mineral resources, energy and real estate.
Since 2015, Ms. Tshabalala has been Executive Director at Barbican Advisory Group, where she is responsible for financial, engineering and financial transaction consulting services. She has also created her own consulting company, Kupanua Investments.
Ms. Tshabalala has extensive experience serving as a non-executive director on the boards of several large corporations, including MTN, Tiger Brands (South Africa) and South African Airways. She has also served on the boards of several companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, including Liberty Group South Africa, Standard Bank Group, STANLIB Asset Management Limited, Transnet Pension Fund and V & A Waterfront Holdings. Ms. Tshabalala is also a founder and former vice-president of the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals in South Africa.
Ms. Tshabalala brings a wealth of leadership experience to senior management positions. In addition to her achievements in the banking sector, she has extensive experience in financial operations and treasury, as well as in-depth knowledge of national and international financial markets.
Referring to her appointment, Ms. Tshabalala said, “I am very pleased to join the African Development Bank Group and be part of the talented senior management team that President Adesina has managed to bring to the Bank. I am passionate about the Bank’s perceived international development agenda as an ambitious and innovative initiative to accelerate Africa’s development. ”
“The African Development Bank Group already has world-class financial and treasury teams that perform well. I am honored to join these exceptional teams, to further strengthen the Bank’s financial strength and its ability to help Africa accelerate its development, “she added.
African Development Bank Group Chair Akinwumi Adesina said, “I am delighted that Ms. Tshabalala is joining the Bank as the new Vice President of Finance / Chief Financial Officer of the Group. She has extensive experience in financial management and treasury operations in large public and private sector companies, where she has distinguished herself by her results. Swazi’s extensive experience in the private sector will be invaluable to the African Development Bank Group, as we continue to build on the Bank’s very strong financial performance and adopt innovative financial approaches to mobilize more resources and accelerate the development of African countries and the private sector. “
