Executive: Strategy & CVP - SME

Job Requisition Details

REQ#144197

Position: Divisional Executive - Strategy & Customer Value Proposition (CVP), SME

Reporting Relationship: Managing Executive - SME

Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng

Closing Date: 26 February 2026

Talent Acquisition: Bongiwe Mchunu

The Company

Nedbank Group is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services organisations, with total assets of R1.4 trillion and 7.7 million clients across South Africa and the SADC region. The Group’s strategic intent is to drive sustainable growth, transformation, and client‑centric innovation, supported by digital modernisation, ecosystem partnerships, and strong governance.

Within BCB, the SME segment is a core growth engine. It is central to the Group’s ambition to deepen market penetration, evolve into a digital‑first business bank, and deliver differentiated value propositions across key SME sectors. The business aims to achieve this through strong leadership, targeted strategy execution, innovation, and agile operating models.

Values Alignment

Candidates must demonstrate alignment to Nedbank’s values:

• Integrity
• Respect
• Accountability
• People‑Centred Leadership
• Client‑Driven Mindset

Job Family

Strategic - Business & Commercial Banking (BCB)

Leadership Pipeline

Manage Function (MF)

Job Purpose

To assume end‑to‑end accountability for the strategic direction, competitive positioning, value proposition design, transformation agenda, and commercial performance of the SME segment, ensuring alignment with Nedbank Group and BCB cluster objectives.The role serves as the strategic architect and business owner responsible for:

• Defining the SME strategy (3–5‑year horizon),
• Designing and evolving CVPs and ecosystem models,
• Driving digital‑first innovation and operational efficiency,
• Ensuring P&L contribution, competitiveness, and sustainable performance,
• Leading and influencing execution across functions including Sales, Credit, Product, Digital, CVM, Risk, Finance, and Operations. 

Job Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Business Direction
  • Lead the formulation and execution of the SME 3–5‑year strategy, ensuring alignment with BCB and Group priorities.
  • Develop and oversee the segment’s strategic plan, commercial roadmap, and annual budgets.
  • Drive portfolio tilt, growth vectors, and strategic investments to achieve the SME value creation agenda.
  • Champion transformation and guide the cluster’s BEE and corporate citizenship objectives.
  • Strengthen Nedbank’s positioning as a responsible corporate citizen through purposeful strategic initiatives.
• Customer Value Proposition (CVP) Ownership
• Lead the design, refresh, and continuous improvement of market‑leading SME value propositions across:
  • Transactional banking
  • Lending (secured & unsecured)
  • Working‑capital solutions
  • Payments & merchant services
  • Digital‑first services
  • Sector‑specific and vertical propositions
  • Ecosystem partnerships (e.g., marketplaces, industry networks)
  • Define pricing, incentives, bundling, and product constructs to maximise revenue and client value.
  • Ensure CVPs deliver improved client experience, competitiveness, and measurable commercial outcomes.
• Strategic Insight, Research & Market Intelligence
  • Build deep, data‑driven understanding of SME needs, behaviours, value pools, and lifecycle economics.
  • Conduct market modelling, competitor assessments, and opportunity sizing to guide proposition design.
  • Use insights to shape sales tactics, digital journeys, credit innovation, and sector plays.
• Strategic Programme Leadership & Execution Governance
• Lead cross‑functional delivery of the SME transformation agenda, including programmes such as:
  • Digital SME onboarding
  • Digital lending & automated credit
  • Ecosystem & partnership strategy
  • SME analytics roadmap
  • Sector‑/vertical‑led CVPs
  • Pricing & revenue design
  • Oversee execution, ensure cross‑cluster coordination, remove bottlenecks, and track progress across BCB Exco forums.
  • Ensure alignment of processes, systems, structures, and people to enable delivery.
• Financial & Commercial Management
  • Shape the financial plan for SME including revenue, margins, capital optimisation, cost‑to‑serve, and productivity targets.
  • Manage delivery of key financial metrics such as ROE, CTI, headline earnings, and market share.
  • Evaluate commercial viability of new propositions, business models, and partnerships.
  • Leverage analytics to improve cluster growth and profitability.
• Stakeholder Collaboration & Influence
  • Influence and collaborate with leaders across Sales, Credit, Product, Risk, Digital, Operations, and Finance to ensure unified segment delivery.
  • Represent SME Strategy and CVP at Group strategy forums, governance committees, and BCB executive sessions.
  • Strengthen Nedbank’s external reputation through engagement with industry partners, regulators, and professional bodies.
• People Leadership & Organisational Culture
  • Build and lead a high‑calibre team of strategists, analysts, and proposition specialists.
  • Create a culture of innovation, transformation, and continuous improvement within the SME segment.
  • Manage recruitment, capability development, coaching, performance management, and succession planning.
  • Ensure alignment with Nedbank’s leadership framework and culture objectives.

Essential Qualifications - NQF Level

Preferred Qualification

• Minimum: Bachelor’s degree
• Preferred: Master’s degree (MBA, M.Com, Economics, or related fields).

Preferred Certifications

Executive Development Programme (EDP) - preferred

Minimum Experience Level

• 10+ years’ experience in strategy, SME banking, business banking, or financial services.
• At least 5 years’ experience at senior management level within financial services.
• Strong track record in:
  • Strategy formulation & execution
  • CVP creation and commercialisation
  • Leading strategic transformation programmes
  • Client insight, research, analytics, and segmentation
  • Multi‑stakeholder leadership and governance
  • Managing P&L‑linked strategic portfolios

Competencies:

• Scenario modelling
• Business administration and management
• Governance, risk, and controls
• Financial principles & commercial modelling
• Pricing and behavioural economics
• Digital platforms, analytics, data‑driven decisioning
• SME banking, value pools, and market dynamics
• Strategic Influence
• Building Organisational Talent
• Driving Execution
• Business Savvy
• Comfort with ambiguity, innovation, and transformation

Technical / Professional Knowledge

Behavioural Competencies