Mary Vilakazi

Mary Vilakazi became CEO of FirstRand Group in April 2024, stepping into history as the first woman to lead the financial services provider and marking a milestone in Vilakazi’s ascendant story. Vilakazi was one of PwC’s youngest partners globally at 27 and rose through MMI Holdings and FirstRand’s COO role before assuming the top job. FirstRand, the financial powerhouse behind FNB, RMB, and WesBank, held roughly $150 billion in total assets as of June 2025, cementing its status as one of Africa’s largest financial institutions by market capitalization. Under Vilakazi’s leadership, the group posted full-year 2025 earnings growth of 10%. Beyond the balance sheet, Vilakazi has emerged as a high‑profile advocate for channeling more global capital into Africa.