FirstRand Names Vilakazi as Lender’s First Female CEO (2)

FirstRand Ltd. named Mary Vilakazi as the first black female chief executive officer of Africa’s biggest lender by market value.

Vilakazi, the South Africa-based lender’s chief operating officer, will take over from Alan Pullinger, 57, effective April 1, FirstRand said in a statement on Wednesday. Pullinger’s career at the bank has spanned 26 years and he became group CEO in early 2018.

Mary Vilakazi

Source: FirstRand Ltd.

Vilakazi will be the only female CEO among South Africa’s top six banks. The nation’s companies have been under pressure to appoint more Black and female executives. Currently, none of the heads of the 10 largest ...