Western Cape Business 2018 edition

INTERVIEW
Building shared value
John Tshabalala, Managing Executive Western
Cape, expands on the shared growth approach.
John Tshabalala
Tell us about your new premises.
Absa has consolidated its 14 Western Cape offices into one centrally
located regional office, which facilitates better collaboration between
our various business units to improve client service and solutions development.
The new office also offers a more professional environment
for client meetings and even allows clients to use dedicated spaces
for their own meetings. Bringing everything under one roof further
helps to create a dynamic, agile environment that stimulates internal
creativity and productivity.
What is Absa’s take on the regional economy?
Our Western Cape regional office, through the investment in our new
premises in Century City, speaks to Absa’s continued commitment to
the region.
BIOGRAPHY
John Tshabalala joined Absa
in 2000 and has held a variety
of roles from Branch Manager,
Sales Manager and Regional
Head for Retail to Regional
Executive for Private Bank. In
2014, Tshabalala expanded
his experience and joined the
wealth, investment management
and insurance division as
a provincial General Manager in
the Eastern Cape, later expanding
to the other Cape regions.
In October 2017 Tshabalala
assumed the role of Managing
Executive, Western Cape.
Please explain the concept of “Shared Growth”.
Absa is leading a shift away from traditional grant-making and corporate
responsibility programmes towards an integrated approach
that delivers both shareholder and social returns. By embracing a
philosophy of shared value, the bank is seeking to apply its substantial
resources more deliberately – both assets and expertise – to unlock
solutions to social challenges through innovative products, services,
and partnerships. This is Shared Growth.
So you are looking for some solutions for social ills?
Because so much of South Africa’s potential remains untapped and
limited by social challenges, strategically tackling those challenges will
unlock substantial new growth opportunities. Absa is committed to
ensuring that every business decision made not only contributes to the
bottom line but also improves the lives of the communities in which
the bank operates. There is a link between society’s progress and our
own success. We strive to be a good corporate citizen and contribute
meaningfully to society
How can the bank drive growth?
Healthy economies need strong banks to drive economic growth and
social progress, and as a business the bank has an opportunity to play
a pivotal role in fostering innovation and facilitating inclusive Shared
Growth for current and future generations. It’s this concept of Shared
Growth that lies at the heart of our strategy in Africa.
WESTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2018
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