Full Name: Sean Wegerhoff

Position and Company Name: Head of Diversified Industries Client Coverage: South Africa at Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking

Main Activity of the Company: Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking is a leading financial services provider serving businesses across a range of strategic industries in Africa and beyond

Date and Place of Birth: March 4, 1971, Gqeberha

Schools and Tertiary Education: Rondebosch Boys’ School; University of Cape Town (BCom, Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting); CFA charter holder

First Job: Trainee accountant at PriceWaterhouse in Cape Town

Size of First Pay Packet: R1 800 a month

Career Path to Date: Upon qualifying as a chartered accountant (South Africa), I went to London and, after a couple of years of temporary work and travelling, I joined ABN Amro in 1999 in the Corporate Finance team in a division called Hoare Govett. I then returned to South Africa in 2007 to join Citi in Johannesburg, where I worked in the Investment Banking team. I joined Standard Bank’s Corporate Finance team in 2013 and transitioned to the Diversified Industries Client Coverage team within Corporate and Investment Banking in 2025. Diversified Industries covers manufacturing, automobiles, healthcare, hospitality and professional firms

Value of Assets under Your Control: Standard Bank’s market capitalisation is R550-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 12

Management Style: My management style is collaborative and grounded in trust. I value input from the team and believe the best outcomes come from open discussion, diverse perspectives and constructive challenge. At the same time, I like to give capable people the space and responsibility to take ownership of their work, with the freedom to perform without unnecessary supervision

Personal Best Achievement: Producing three wonderful daughters

Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents and my family

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: The person who told a future employer of mine in the UK that Rondebosch Boys’ High was the South African equivalent of Eton – I ended up getting the job! And that is how I ended up doing 25 years of corporate finance

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I would have liked to meet Alexander the Great. Beyond his military achievements, I would have been fascinated to understand how he inspired loyalty, built capable teams and united people from different cultures behind a common vision

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Jacko Maree – he is a very astute businessperson and is a gentleman

Philosophy of Life: It’s up to you to make it happen

Biggest Ever Opportunity: My first full-time job in London

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I would have liked to have had more experiences when I was younger, especially back-packing travel

Hope for the Future: That South Africa realises its full potential

Favourite Reading: I mostly read fiction, but also a bit of history. I am currently reading Iron Kingdom, a history of Prussia

Favourite TV Programme: We mostly watch European and British series on Netflix – usually crime related

Favourite Food/Drink: I like to try different types of food, but my favourites are lamb and fish

Favourite Music: Indie music, usually British Indie

Favourite Sport: Rugby

Hobbies: Mountain biking, the occasional round of golf and a bit of reading

Car: Toyota Prado, now on 300 000 km and still going strong

Pets: I have two Ridgebacks and my wife has a poodle

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Bad and selfish drivers

Married: To Cheryl, for 28 years

Children: Thandi, 21; Caitlin, 18; Georgia, 15

Clubs: Cycle Lab Fourways and Country Club Johannesburg