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New WesBank Motor CIO prioritises digital transformation

Admire Moyo
By Admire Moyo, ITWeb's news editor.
Johannesburg, 01 Oct 2020
WesBank Motor CIO Gudani Mukatuni.
WesBank Motor CIO Gudani Mukatuni.

Motor vehicle finance provider WesBank Motor’s chief information officer (CIO) Gudani Mukatuni’s immediate task is to accelerate digital transformation at the organisation.

Reporting to WesBank CIO Nenzeni Duma, Mukatuni’s focus is on the motor portfolio of the business at the vehicle and asset finance company.

According to the firm, her appointment in February 2020 acknowledges and is testament to her vast knowledge in the industry in defining and executing IT transformation and digital strategies.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Gudani, with her leadership skills and extensive sector experience, driving the WesBank technology platform,” says Ghana Msibi, WesBank Motor CEO.

“Her passion to enable and transform the organisation through the implementation of digital solutions and using data to make informed business decisions, are central to maintaining and growing our position at the forefront of innovation and customer-centricity.”

Business catalyst

WesBank notes that having spent more than nine years in the banking and financial services sector, Mukatuni has acquired valuable insights and experience in implementing data centre infrastructure, systems and applications, data warehouse and digital projects to improve business efficiencies.

“As CIO for WesBank Motor, I see my pivotal role as a catalyst to drive business growth through technology and digitisation,” Mukatuni says.

“IT is central to creating business value, and I am responsible for leading the teams that transform the business operations and distribution channels through implementing core IT assets.”

The company notes that defining and executing the IT and digital transformation strategy to ensure its alignment with the business priorities across WesBank and the greater FirstRand Group is one of her key deliverables.

“Having said that, the current marketplace is a tough and competitive environment. New companies are entering the industry with disruptive technologies and without the complexities that legacy systems bring, compared to organisations that have existed for decades,” Mukatuni says.

“At the same time, digitalisation has brought a new paradigm shift, enabling organisations to operate across myriad channels. Technology has also empowered customers to obtain the services and products they need across devices, at an affordable rate and at any time. My job is to ensure WesBank remains relevant as the market leader in terms of innovation and customer-centricity through the use of technology,” she adds.

Prior to joining WesBank, Mukatuni was head of IT for AIG Africa for the Middle East-Africa region. She also gained industry experience working for organisations such as Nedbank, Ernst & Young, MTN and SNG, where she was responsible for leading IT teams (both operations and advisory) and aligning IT strategies to derive business value and growth.

Mukatuni was born in Limpopo and grew up in various cities around SA but spent a large part of her life in Soweto, Johannesburg.

Having completed her matric at Milner High School in Klerksdorp, she studied for a BSc degree in Computer Science and Mathematics at Wits University. Mukatuni has also completed an MBA through the University of Reading’s Henley Business School in the UK. She is married and has a 14-year-old son.

“I have learnt over the years that it is possible to have it all, but not necessarily all at once. My roles at home and work require different priorities,” she says.

Swift decision-making

Mukatuni joined WesBank in February, and a few weeks later the country was placed under lockdown level five to manage the global coronavirus pandemic.

According to the company, the IT team had to move swiftly, in terms of decision-making, to enable the bank’s almost 2 500 employees to work remotely from home with minimal disruption in terms of productivity.

“My many years of work experience in the financial services industry has enabled me to learn and adapt quickly,” Mukatuni says.

“The key learnings are that one has to be adaptive, resilient, be comfortable with uncertainty and agile to understand the areas were IT can solve business problems and derive real value. The lines between the IT function and other functions within the organisation are blurring as collaboration and co-operation take centre stage.

“The IT function is no longer an area relegated to a ‘dark corner’ – we have earned our right to occupy a strategic seat at the top table to contribute towards the growth and success of the business,” she concludes.

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