FirstRand Nam names new homegrown CEO

Conrad Dempsey will become the new chief executive officer of FirstRand Namibia on 1 October this year, following in the footsteps of current CEO Sarel van Zyl who retires on 30 September.

Dempsey, currently the CEO of RMB Namibia, grew up and went to school in Windhoek. He will become the group CEO designate effective 1 July.

He is a qualified chartered accountant, global chartered management accountant, associate corporate treasurer and holds a masters’ degree of philosophy in futures studies.

“He brings a wealth of work experience from around the world as well as Africa and successfully has led and developed RMB into the most successful corporate and investment bank in Namibia. He has an incredibly deep understanding of the group’s businesses and our culture and I know he will take FirstRand to even greater heights,” said Van Zyl.

‘Delighted’

The chairperson of FirstRand Namibia, Inge Zaamwani-Kamwe, said the board is “delighted” with Dempsey’s appointment.

“Before Conrad’s career in investment banking with RMB he worked in Europe, Australia, South America and across Africa in financial services and the natural resources sector. He filled a number of roles in M&A and corporate finance locally and internationally,” Zaamwani-Kamwe said.

Van Zyl, has been at FNB Namibia, and subsequently the FNB Holdings Group, then FirstRand Namibia, for more than 38 years.

He has also relinquished his role as chairman of the Bankers’ Association of Namibia (BAN).