![][1] CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER

Location: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
Industry: Investment Management / Financial Services
Department: Investments
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director
Executive Level: C-Suite

Role Purpose

The Chief Investment Officer (CIO) will provide executive leadership and strategic direction for the organisation's investment function, with overall accountability for investment philosophy, asset allocation, portfolio construction, investment performance and governance.

The CIO will lead a high-performing investment team and ensure that investment strategies deliver sustainable, risk-adjusted returns aligned with client mandates, organisational objectives and applicable regulatory requirements.

As a key member of the Executive Committee, the CIO will play a central role in shaping the organisation's overall strategy, strengthening its investment proposition and representing the business with institutional clients, boards, investment committees and other key stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Investment Strategy and Leadership

• Develop, implement and continuously evolve the organisation's overarching investment strategy and philosophy.

• Provide strategic leadership across asset allocation, portfolio construction, manager selection and investment research.

• Translate macroeconomic, market and industry developments into actionable investment views and portfolio positioning.

• Ensure investment strategies remain aligned with client objectives, risk parameters and long-term return expectations.

• Lead the development of new investment capabilities, products and solutions in response to changing client and market requirements.

Investment Performance

• Assume overall accountability for investment performance across relevant portfolios, mandates and/or investment strategies.

• Establish appropriate return, risk and benchmark frameworks.

• Monitor portfolio performance and identify opportunities to enhance investment outcomes.

• Lead investment performance reviews and provide clear analysis of attribution, positioning and investment decisions.

• Ensure disciplined decision-making through clearly defined investment processes.

Asset Allocation and Portfolio Construction

• Provide leadership regarding strategic and tactical asset allocation.

• Oversee portfolio construction across relevant asset classes, which may include:

• Listed equities

• Fixed income

• Multi-asset portfolios

• Alternative investments

• Private markets

• Property

• Cash and money markets

• Offshore investments

• Ensure appropriate diversification and optimisation of portfolios within agreed risk parameters.

• Evaluate investment opportunities from both a return and risk perspective.

Investment Research

• Establish and maintain a rigorous investment research framework.

• Ensure investment decisions are supported by robust quantitative and qualitative analysis.

• Oversee economic, market, manager, security and asset-class research.

• Encourage independent thinking, intellectual challenge and evidence-based investment decision-making.

Investment Risk and Governance

• Work closely with Risk, Compliance and Executive Management to maintain effective investment governance.

• Ensure investment activities operate within approved mandates, risk limits and governance frameworks.

• Participate in and/or chair relevant Investment Committees.

• Maintain appropriate oversight of portfolio risk, liquidity, concentration, counterparty exposure and market risk.

• Ensure compliance with relevant South African financial services legislation, regulatory requirements and fiduciary responsibilities.

Investment Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor and develop senior investment professionals, portfolio managers, analysts and supporting investment teams.

• Build a performance-driven investment culture characterised by accountability, collaboration and intellectual rigour.

• Attract and retain high-calibre investment talent.

• Establish succession plans and develop future investment leaders.

• Define clear performance objectives for the investment function and its leadership team.

Client and Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a senior investment spokesperson for the organisation.

• Engage with institutional investors, pension funds, consultants, trustees, boards and other sophisticated investment stakeholders.

• Present investment strategy, positioning, market outlook and portfolio performance to clients and governance structures.

• Support client acquisition, retention and business development initiatives where senior investment leadership is required.

• Strengthen the organisation's reputation and credibility within the investment industry.

Executive and Business Strategy

• Serve as an active member of the Executive Committee.

• Contribute to organisational strategy, growth priorities and long-term business planning.

• Provide investment-related input into product strategy, distribution, client strategy and business development.

• Assess market trends, competitor developments and structural changes affecting the investment management industry.

• Partner with the CEO and executive leadership team on strategic initiatives, acquisitions, partnerships and new market opportunities where relevant.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance will typically be measured against:

• Consistent delivery of competitive risk-adjusted investment performance.

• Performance against agreed benchmarks and investment objectives.

• Effective implementation of the organisation's investment philosophy and strategy.

• Strength and consistency of investment processes.

• Portfolio risk management and governance.

• Client retention and confidence in the investment proposition.

• Development and retention of investment talent.

• Successful development of investment products and capabilities.

• Contribution to assets under management and broader organisational growth.

• Regulatory and governance compliance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Relevant postgraduate degree in Investments, Finance, Economics, Commerce, Financial Mathematics or a related discipline.

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Investment Management, Accounting, Actuarial Science or a related field.

• CA(SA) strongly preferred.

• Additional postgraduate qualifications such as an MBA, Master's in Finance, Economics or Investment Management would be advantageous.

Experience

• Approximately 15+ years' professional experience within investment management, asset management, wealth management, institutional investments or a closely related financial services environment.

• Significant experience in senior investment leadership.

• Demonstrated responsibility for investment strategy, portfolio management and/or asset allocation.

• Proven track record of managing substantial investment portfolios or assets under management.

• Extensive experience participating in or leading investment committees.

• Strong understanding of institutional and professional investment markets.

• Experience engaging with boards, trustees, institutional investors and investment consultants.

• Demonstrable success leading and developing senior investment professionals.

• South African investment industry experience is strongly preferred.

• International or offshore investment exposure would be advantageous.

Technical Competencies

The successful candidate should demonstrate advanced expertise in:

• Investment strategy

• Asset allocation

• Portfolio construction

• Investment research

• Capital markets

• Macroeconomic analysis

• Portfolio and investment risk

• Performance attribution

• Manager research and selection

• Investment governance

• Financial modelling

• Institutional investment management

• Alternative investments

• Local and global financial markets

A strong working knowledge of the South African regulatory and financial services environment is essential.

Leadership Competencies

Strategic Leadership

Ability to formulate a compelling long-term investment strategy while remaining responsive to changing market conditions.

Investment Judgement

Highly developed ability to assess complex investment opportunities, balance risk and return and make sound decisions under uncertainty.

Commercial Acumen

Strong understanding of the commercial drivers of an investment management organisation and the relationship between investment performance, client outcomes and business growth.

Executive Influence

Ability to operate credibly at board, executive and institutional-client level and influence senior stakeholders.

People Leadership

Demonstrated ability to build, motivate and retain high-performing investment teams.

Intellectual Rigour

Strong analytical capability combined with curiosity, independent thinking and willingness to challenge established investment assumptions.

Communication

Exceptional ability to communicate complex investment concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Integrity

High ethical standards and a strong appreciation of fiduciary responsibility, governance and stewardship of client capital.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a highly credible investment leader with a strong investment track record and extensive exposure to institutional financial markets.

They will combine deep technical investment expertise with executive-level commercial judgement and will be equally comfortable analysing complex portfolios, leading investment professionals, presenting to institutional clients and contributing to broader corporate strategy.

The successful individual should possess the gravitas required to represent the organisation externally while retaining a hands-on understanding of investment markets and decision-making.

Key Stakeholders

Internal

• Board of Directors

• Chief Executive Officer

• Executive Committee

• Investment Committee

• Portfolio Managers

• Investment Analysts

• Risk and Compliance

• Product and Distribution teams

• Finance

• Operations

External

• Institutional investors

• Pension and retirement funds

• Trustees

• Investment consultants

• Asset managers

• Fund managers

• Regulators

• Research providers

• Banks and financial institutions

• Strategic investment partners

Employment Equity

Appointment will be made in accordance with the organisation's employment equity strategy and applicable South African legislation.