Gerald van Wyk, the CEO of Santam Client Solutions, will become the new CEO of AfroCentric Group, a black-owned investment holding company with interests in healthcare.
- Van Wyk will assume the position on August 1, succeeding Ahmed Banderker, who will step down on November 1.
- Banderker has been credited with leading AfroCentric through the challenging Covid-19 period and overseeing the successful conclusion of the Sanlam transaction.
- In May, Sanlam Group obtained a controlling stake in Afrocentric, valued at about R3.3bn on the JSE, allowing Sanlam to add a healthcare offering to its existing suite of financial products.
- AfroCentric praised Van Wyk’s experience in strategic business development, market and business development, and leadership positions at Discovery Insure, Mutual & Federal, and Hollard.
- Van Wyk is a past president and former executive council member of the Insurance Institute of Gauteng (IIG) and holds strong reinsurer, insurer, broker, and service provider networks across Southern Africa.
- Andrew Schwulst, former CEO of Liberty Health, has been hired as the CEO of Medscheme, AfroCentric’s medical scheme administrator subsidiary, and will report to Van Wyk.
- Van Wyk’s appointment is seen as a positive development for AfroCentric, which operates in a highly competitive healthcare industry in South Africa.