David Hodnett has officially assumed his role as Chief Executive Officer of Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (SBSA).
Hodnett, who previously served as the Group’s Chief Risk Officer (CRO) and led its Corporate Affairs portfolio, brings over 30 years of leadership experience and deep institutional knowledge to his new role.
Before joining Standard Bank, Hodnett had an extensive career at Absa, which he joined in 2008. His portfolio there expanded significantly over time, and he held several senior positions, including Chief Risk Officer, Finance Director, and eventually Deputy CEO for South Africa. In this capacity, he oversaw strategic areas such as IT, operations, and the bank’s “Rest of Africa” business.
In February 2010, Absa announced his appointment as Group Finance Director, a position he took on while continuing to manage risk responsibilities during a transitional period. Throughout his tenure at Absa, Hodnett played a key role in driving growth and structural transformation, with a strong focus on capital deployment, strengthening risk frameworks, and integrating cross-border operations.
He joined the Standard Bank Group in March 2019 as Group Chief Risk and Ethics Officer. Following changes to the Group’s operating model, his role evolved to Chief Risk and Corporate Affairs Officer, effective 1 January 2021.
Between August and December 2021, he stepped in as Interim Chief Executive Officer for Business and Commercial Clients after the departure of Zweli Manyathi. He then returned to his role as Chief Risk and Corporate Affairs Officer from 1 January 2022.
With Hodnett now stepping into the role of CEO of SBSA, the Group has announced that Thabani Ndwandwe will succeed him as Group Chief Risk Officer and join the Group Leadership Council.
Ndwandwe will retain his responsibilities as CRO for SBSA. Having joined the Group in 2004, he brings two decades of experience and has demonstrated strong expertise in managing risk portfolios across multiple jurisdictions.
