Page 89 - KZN Leaders Portfolio E-BOOK 2107

When asked her perspective on the finest
A Tribute to a respected leader
international example of a development finance
institution, her immediate response was: “The
VONNE ZWANE, throughout her life and
corporate career selflessly served our nation International Finance Corporation (IFC) whose vision
with distinction. Her string of professional it is to eradicate poverty and create prosperity in
Y achievements in the corporate and public developing countries.” This is very much aligned
banking sectors made her a respected leader in the to Ithala’s mandate of economic development and
financial services industry. She was described as a empowerment albeit in a provincial context.
strategic thinker with a passion for development and Zwane was instrumental in driving the Group’s
clean governance. turnaround strategy, which included restructuring,
realignment of the organisation and strengthening
Zwane’s appointment as Ithala Development Finance
Corporation’s first female Group Chief Executive in of institutional governance as top priorities. The
November 2011, marked a significant turning point in results of this drive saw the institution receiving many
the history of the KwaZulu-Natal development agency. accolades, including clean audit outcomes over three
successive years.
Before joining Ithala Development Finance
Corporation (Ithala), Zwane had worked for the First Under Zwane’s leadership, Ithala has been upgraded
National Bank Public Sector Banking, where she held into a state-of-the-art facility to accommodate
the position of chief executive officer and provided customer needs. She passed on at the time when the
strategic direction to her team. Preceding this position Group was hard at work to ensure that Ithala receives
she served as First National Bank’s Provincial Director, a full banking license, which will enable the institution
managing a budget of R20 billion to drive their to compete with all other banks, including managing
banking strategy in KwaZulu-Natal. government accounts. The first phase of the banking
license application was submitted to the South African
Her extensive expertise in retail, commercial, Reserve Bank in November 2016 and every effort is
risk management, credit, insolvent estates and being made towards obtaining a full banking license.
corporate banking held her in good stead as she
surged ahead in the quest to establish Ithala as a Zwane’s management philosophy was characterised
first-class development finance institution. Zwane’s by individual and team engagement. A single encounter
academic qualifications included a Master of Business with Yvonne Zwane revealed just how passionate
Leadership; B Com Accounting; a University Education she was about developmental issues and the growing
Diploma and she was a Certified Associate of the influence of women in the country’s economy. Her
Institute of Bankers in South Africa. continued enthusiasm and vigour to lead, train,
influence and motivate others was inspiring.

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