Jeanette Marais was appointed as CEO for Momentum Group in August 2023, making her the first female CEO of a large, listed life insurance and asset management group in South Africa.
With an Executive MBA (cum laude) from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the Free State, Jeanette cut her business teeth in her first corporate stretch at Momentum, after which she gained valuable experience as a C-suite executive at other financial services firms in South Africa. She has a performance history of building strong, profitable businesses and has extensive knowledge of financial services, the retail investments market, intermediary distribution and operational aspects of investment management. She appears regularly in the media and is an active participant in relevant industry bodies. Her decades-long executive career has equipped her with an excellent leadership track record.
Jeanette is a country girl who grew up on a farm in the Free State. She is married to Johann Cilliers, who runs their farm on the West Coast near Paternoster. Jeanette believes in keeping fit and has completed several marathons, ultra-marathons and trailruns over the last 20 years. She loves flowers and has a dream of owning her own flower shop one day. Making a difference in the lives of clients, her colleagues and empowering women are what energise her daily.