Chief Executive Officer - South Africa

Role Overview 

The CEO South Africa will lead Swissquote’s business leadership in the region, strengthen our institutional and B2B2C footprint, and expand our network of professional intermediaries, wealth managers, family offices, and financial professionals. 

The role requires a business-driven leader with strong Swiss-style operational culture, credibility in the financial community, and the ability to build trust with high-net-worth clients and business partners. 

Ideal Candidate: The role is suited for a dynamic, hands-on leader with deep expertise of the online brokerage business and a track record in new business development in a highly competitive environment. 

Key Responsabilities 

Strategic Leadership 

• Define and execute the growth strategy for the South African market with focus on institutional partnerships, B2B2C distribution, and offshore banking solutions. 

• Position Swissquote as the provider of choice for clients looking to internationally diversify assets. 

• Represent Swissquote with integrity, embodying the Swiss DNA as a unique local differentiator. 

• Align the local strategy tightly with Group priorities and operational execution in Switzerland. 

Business Development & Relationship Management 

• Expand the network of wealth managers, IFAs, multi-family offices, fiduciaries, private banks, corporates and professional investor circles. 

• Drive pipeline development and commercial performance with KPIs and revenue targets. 

• Support and elevate local Sales & Relationship teams, ensuring excellent customer experience. 

Team Management 

• Lead and develop the Cape Town team (Sales, Relationship Management, Administration & Support, Local Compliance). 

• Foster a performance-driven, collaborative, client-centric culture. 

• Collaborate seamlessly with the dedicated Swiss team . 

Compliance & Governance 

• Ensure full compliance with local financial regulatory standards and Group risk and compliance frameworks. 

• Act as the key regulatory contact, supported by local and Swiss compliance specialists 

• Collaborate with compliance experts to stay ahead of regulatory changes and protect customer interests. 

• Oversee operations to maintain efficiency, data security, and effective transaction management. 

• Collaborate with compliance experts to stay ahead of regulatory changes and protect customer interests. 

Performance Monitoring & Reporting 

• Track revenue growth, new client acquisition, pipeline development and 
  operational KPIs. 

• Report insights to leadership, providing data-driven recommendations for improvement. 

Personal Attributes 

• Entrepreneurial mindset with hands-on leadership style. 

• Commercially driven, results-focused, energetic. 

• Respected leader and team builder. 

• Confident public representative and presenter. 

Experience & Skills 

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Business, Marketing, or a related field. 

• Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset with strong decision-making skills. 

• Significant experience in launching new business lines, products, and strategic initiatives. 

• Demonstrated ability to grow business, acquire high-value clients, and manage key partner relationships. 

• Strong understanding of cross-border client management and international structuring. 

• Proven commercial track record and existing network in the South African financial industry or strong ability to rapidly build one. 

• Extensive background in digital banking and experience leading successfully cross-functional teams in competitive environments. 

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills; credible and trustworthy with HNWI/institutional audiences. 

• Culturally aligned to our Swiss values: transparency, reliability, precision, excellence. 

What We offer 

This is a senior executive leadership role within the Swissquote Group, offering a compelling opportunity for experienced, internationally minded leaders to shape and grow the Group’s presence in South Africa. 

Group-Level Leadership & Governance 

• Appointment as Director and Member of Senior Management on Group level, with direct reporting line to the local Board of Directors and close interaction with Group Executive Management in Switzerland. 

Attractive, Performance-Oriented Compensation 

• Competitive fixed remuneration benchmarked to Swiss standards, complemented by a variable bonus reflecting the Group’s overall performance and recognizing the collective contribution to Swissquote’s long-term success. 

Long-Term Incentives & Executive Benefits 

• Participation in a long-term option plan aligning personal success with the sustainable growth of the Group, as well as a monthly executive expense allowance. 

Expat Package 

• A comprehensive and competitive expat package will be offered, tailored to the candidate’s personal situation, supporting relocation, integration and long-term establishment in South Africa. 

The role offers a unique opportunity to shape and grow Swissquote’s presence in South Africa with a high degree of autonomy, entrepreneurial freedom and direct influence on the Group’s international expansion strategy. 

SQ2