The FirstRand Group
Headquartered in Johannesburg, The FirstRand Group is one of South Africa’s largest and most highly rated financial services groups. It employs over 43,000 people worldwide and is one of the top ten listed companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Assets Under Management exceeded US$124 billion as at 30 June 2009.
The FirstRand Group was created in South Africa through the merger of Wesbank, First National Bank (FNB), Southern Life, Momentum and Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) in 1998. A mega financial services group with an entrepreneurial business philosophy was born.
Much of the FirstRand Group’s success can be attributed to this entrepreneurial and empowering culture. Its innovative culture, which permeates throughout the Group and is understood by every staff member, has its roots at Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), one of the most successful investment banks in South Africa.
After ten years, the formation of the FirstRand Group has been considered a resounding success, benefiting from its unique culture and owner/manager businesses. But it is perhaps its focus on its people as its most important resource which has allowed the Group to grow into one which is also known for “liberating ideas”.
FirstRand believes:
- that people are its single most important resource
- in participative, non hierarchical decision-making
- that the role of a leader is not only to make good decisions but also to facilitate good decision-making
- in the potent combination of the exuberance of youth and the wisdom of grey hair
- every issue is up for rational debate
- to win the hearts of customers, a company must demonstrate that it has a heart itself
