Letshego Africa Holdings Appoints Reinette van der Merwe as Group CEO
The Board of Directors of Letshego Africa Holdings Limited (LAHL) has announced the appointment of Ms. Reinette Estelle van der Merwe as the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective October 1, 2025.
Ms. van der Merwe assumes the role following approval by the Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA). She brings to Letshego over three decades of experience in the banking and financial services sector, having held senior executive positions across leading financial institutions in Botswana and South Africa.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and an Honours in Accounting from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and is a qualified Chartered Accountant CA (SA) as well as a member of the Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA). She also holds a Master of Commerce (M.Comm) degree.
Prior to joining Letshego, Ms. van der Merwe served as Chief Executive Officer of First Capital Bank Botswana and as Managing Director of Barclays Bank Botswana, now Absa Bank Botswana. She also held senior roles within Absa Africa Group, where she led strategic transformation initiatives and strengthened stakeholder engagement across the region.
According to the Board, Ms. van der Merwe’s extensive leadership experience and track record in financial operations, governance, and strategic transformation are expected to further advance Letshego’s mission of inclusive finance and sustainable growth.
Meanwhile, the Board of Directors expressed its appreciation to Mr. Brighton Banda for his leadership as Interim Group Chief Executive Officer since February 2025. It commended Mr. Banda for his stewardship in maintaining strategic continuity and operational stability during the transition period.
The Board further extended its gratitude to Mr. Banda for his dedication and contribution to advancing Letshego’s mission and values.
