Standard Bank CIB has appointed Bohani Hlungwane as head of Africa regions and international, transaction banking.
He is taking over from, and will report to, Thabo Makoko, who’s been promoted to head of transaction banking at the lender.
Hlungwane has more than 20 years of experience across corporate banking, cash and liquidity management, payments, trade finance and working capital, spanning roles at Absa, HSBC, Citi and Barclays.
Based in Johannesburg, he will be responsible for driving commercial outcomes for transaction banking across Standard Bank’s Africa regions, with a mandate to “strengthen the region as a growth engine for transaction banking and corporate and investment banking at large”, the lender said.
He joins from Absa CIB, where he worked for over eight years, most recently as interim managing executive for transactional banking, overseeing payments and cash management, trade and working capital, and custody and trustee services.
Prior to his role at Absa, Hlungwane spent six years in Hong Kong with HSBC, where he was a senior product manager and senior vice-president in the bank’s global trade and receivable finance business.
At HSBC, he also covered Europe, the Americas and the Middle East and North Africa as director and global lead for guarantees and standby credits within trade finance.
His background has given him “invaluable international perspective on trade and receivable finance”, a spokesperson for Standard Bank said.
“Bohani brings a rare and highly valuable combination of local market insight and global operational standards,” they added.
“Defined by his values-driven approach, a commitment to delivering results, and a deep-seated passion for the African continent’s growth, Bohani is exceptionally well-positioned to lead us forward in this mandate.”
Hlungwane told GTR of this new role: “I’m excited to join the biggest bank in Africa by assets and looking forward to making a positive contribution to the Africa growth story. Africa is our home; we drive her growth.”
His appointment is one of a handful of recent moves between South African rivals. Just this week, fellow Johannesburg-based lender Absa brought in former Standard Bank’s head of global market sales Sola Adegbesan as its new managing executive of CIB, Africa regions.
“Sola’s career has been defined by leading pan-African client coverage, building strategic partnerships and delivering growth across complex and dynamic markets,” Absa said in a LinkedIn statement.
“Known for his collaborative leadership style and strong understanding of the African business landscape, Sola has built trusted relationships with clients, regulators and stakeholders across the continent.”
His appointment “underscores the important role CIB Africa regions plays in advancing our Pan-African strategy” as it continues to grow its presence across the continent, the bank added.
