Ex-Absa heavyweight to take independent investment banking firm to new heights
Johannesburg – 18 June 2013 – Meet Bravura’s new CEO
Bravura is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Andries du Plessis who joins the firm today as Chief Executive Officer. Known to everyone as Adie, his deep financial services expertise and experience with financial governance, coupled with his finely honed entrepreneurial skills, make him the ideal person to strengthen the management of Bravura and lead it into the next stage of its growth.
Looking back, shortly after Bravura was founded in Johannesburg in 1999, the South African banking industry faced a crisis that saw several large established financial services companies fail. Through this crisis Bravura focused on its core business and the delivery of extraordinary client service, steadily growing the firm from one office in Johannesburg to a group that now employs 148 people (including its investment companies) in South Africa, Namibia, Mauritius and Australia. In 14 years Bravura has stayed the course through several more global financial crises, achieving a remarkable 42% compounded annual growth since 2003.
Looking forward, it is time for Bravura to move on to the next level in its development. Adie du Plessis’s remit is to lead the exponential growth of the group, imparting new impetus and implementing corporate-scale processes whilst developing the skills of the existing management team.
Adie has spent the past nine years in various leadership positions within the Absa Group, heading up divisions such as Specialised Finance and Specialised Funding Solutions, the latter a division he was asked to build during the takeover by Barclays Bank. As an EXCO member he was a key part of the team that saw Absa Corporate Business Bank reach growth rates of 36% per annum over a four-year period before 2011. Prior to Absa he was with the Nedcor Group for fifteen years, in a wide range of positions with responsibility for key divisions and large teams of people.
Being able to attract someone of Adie’s calibre and experience to Bravura speaks volumes for the group’s values and track record. Soria Hay, Founding Executive Director, said that the time was right to extend its size and scope.
“We recognise that it needs particular skills to get us to the next level. We have known Adie for many years as a leader of great integrity with a high level of skill in the financial services arena and a pronounced entrepreneurial flair. He understands our vision and knows what needs to be done to lead us there.”
Du Plessis said he had been impressed with the Bravura team and their bold thinking about the future. “Bravura has achieved exceptional growth over the last fourteen years, and I look forward to become part of this success story and assist with the attainment of its next level of success.”
The management team, who will report to Adie, look forward to the renewed focus, energy and strategic growth that Adie will bring to Bravura. He will be based in the group’s Johannesburg office.
URL: http://www.bravura.net
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Author: Jennifer Kann from Lingo Communications. Originally distributed by MyPR.co.za.
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Mr Andries (Adie) du Plessis, Bravura’s new CEO
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