BY VICTOR BAATWENG
It just a matter of time before local unit of the international banker ÔÇô Barclays, also known as Absa in other jurisdiction names Keabetswe Pheko as the first ever Motswana female managing director.
Pheko is replacing a South African national – Reinette van der Merwe whose contract has been extended more than twice in 2018. der Merwe’s latest contract extension which was done in December 2018 ends at the end of March 2019 ÔÇô a time at which Pheko is expected to substantively hold the highest post from her current spot ÔÇô Chief Operating Officer.
While the local banker ÔÇô Barclays Bank Botswana is yet to make a formal announcement to some of its key stakeholders, Sunday Standard has it on good authority that Pheko has ticked all the boxes required to be a managing director at the Botswana Stock Exchange Limited (BSEL) quoted banker.
“She started her new roles on March 1 BUT Merwe is leaving end of month”, said a source close to the developments late Friday.
Pheko holds a Bachelor of Administration in Information Technology specialising in IT Management, and Business Applications from Tshwane University of Technology and has attended several leadership training programmes including Management Development Programme at Stellenbosch, and a Chief Operating Officer Excellence Programme. She is currently studying towards her Masters in Business Administration.
Pheko’s appointment comes at the time when the central bank has also been aggressively calling on local commercial bank, mostly with foreign ownership to localise their executive positions.
