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PERSONAL
BUSINESS
Contact Us
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English
South Africa English
Botswana English
Kenya English
Malawi English
Namibia English
Rwanda English
Tanzania English
Uganda English
Zambia English
Zimbabwe English

ABOUT THE SUMMIT

Amid a rapidly evolving South African credit market where borrowers are seeking new ways to manage debt in the face of high inflation and interest rates, lenders must respond with innovative strategies based on robust and reliable intelligence.

On Thursday, Aug. 17, TransUnion's 6th Annual Financial Services Summit will feature value-packed sessions complete with data-driven insights and best practices to help fortify your consumer lending strategies.

With our theme — Finding Opportunities for Confident Growth — in mind, experts will lead relevant discussions around timely topics, including:

  • Understanding the debt behaviours of stressed borrowers
  • Decoding the credit journeys of new-to-credit consumers
  • Unravelling the needs of first-time homebuyers
  • Uncovering shifts in consumer wallets
  • Hidden opportunities in lending to delinquent consumers
  • Promoting financial inclusion and expanding asset growth into new segments

Register now to secure your spot and collaborate with industry experts as we all strive to achieve our business goals.

Read on for more details about our thoughtfully planned agenda for this year’s can’t-miss Summit.

Hear From a Stimulating Mix of Speakers

Lee Naik
Chief Executive Officer
TransUnion Africa
Lee Naik Chief Executive Officer TransUnion Africa

Lee Naik serves as the Chief Executive Officer of TransUnion Africa, where he stands as a prominent figure in the continent's digital and technology transformation landscape. With oversight of a diverse portfolio spanning 8 countries, Lee plays a pivotal role in collaborating with governments and businesses to drive digital and financial inclusion initiatives, catalysing Africa's economic growth trajectory.

Drawing from over two decades of experience, Lee's tenure as the former Managing Director of Accenture Digital underscores his commitment to assisting organisations in navigating the complexities of digital transformation amidst evolving landscapes.

Beyond his executive role, Lee garners global recognition as a distinguished technology commentator and speaker. His insights have earned him accolades, including acknowledgment as an official influencer in the esteemed LinkedIn Top Voice awards. Moreover, Lee champions diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, earning accolades such as being voted among the top Inclusive leaders on the continent by the Gender Mainstreaming Awards.

Lee's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Computer Science, complemented by a PgDip in Futures Studies, earned with distinction (cum laude). Lee is also a Fellow of the Gordan Institute of Business Science (GIBS) it’s in Centre for Africa Management and Markets. His academic pursuits reflect his dedication to staying at the forefront of emerging trends and innovative practices within the digital realm.

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Stephen de Blanche
Chief Revenue Officer
TransUnion Africa
Stephen de Blanche Chief Revenue Officer TransUnion Africa

Stephen De Blanche is Chief Revenue Officer TransUnion. He has 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, having held a number of roles, including Head of Vehicle and Asset Finance at Nedbank, and COO for AA Financial Services. Prior to TransUnion, De Blanche led the technology consulting practice for financial services at Accenture and performed the role of CIO at Liberty Life.

He holds a BCom Honours degree in economics and business information systems.

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Dries Zietsman
Chief Revenue Officer
TransUnion Africa
Dries Zietsman Chief Revenue Officer TransUnion Africa

Dries Zietsman is the Chief Revenue Officer at TransUnion Africa and leads the enablement of the sales operating model across Africa, go-to-market strategies, creation of economic value and strengthening of our client relationships. 

Shortly after joining TransUnion Africa in 2018, Zietsman was promoted to Sales Vice President and subsequently led the Strategic Sales portfolio across Financial Services, Diversified Markets, Insurance, and Channel Distribution. These verticals include industries like banking, retail, telco, fintech, public sector, gaming and others. 

He has extensive strategic leadership experience in large, international organisations, including Alexander Forbes, British Airways, Virgin Management and MasterCard International. Zietsman specialises in P&L management, strategy, financial deal structuring, business case formulation, organisational IT transformation, customer loyalty programs, risk management and product and process innovation. 

Zietsman holds an MBA in Business Management Finance from Bond University and has been involved in a number of high-profile digital-first projects designed to enable commerce across Africa.

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Charlie Wise
Senior Vice President, International Research and Consulting,
TransUnion
Charlie Wise Senior Vice President, International Research and Consulting, TransUnion

Charlie Wise is responsible for leading financial services research, industry analysis, sales consulting and thought leadership across TransUnion’s global organization spanning five continents. Previously at TransUnion, he drove similar research and consulting efforts for the company’s U.S. Financial Services business, separately heading these efforts across international regions. He also led business development activities and strategy for TransUnion’s trended and alternative data credit solutions.

 

Wise’s career also includes senior roles in marketing, data analytics, customer strategy, credit and risk analysis, and business development at major financial institutions, including JP Morgan Chase and BMO Harris Bank.

He received an MBA with Distinction from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce.

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Nidhi Verma
Vice President, International Research and Consulting,
TransUnion
Nidhi Verma Vice President, International Research and Consulting, TransUnion

Nidhi Verma currently leads International Financial Services Research and Consulting — supporting thought leadership efforts globally. Previously at TransUnion, she led the customer consulting team within the Innovative Solutions Group, responsible for diagnosing underlying business issues and imparting strategic insights from credit and alternative data assets. Verma also led the U.S. Financial Services Research and Consulting Group, delivering insights relevant to the consumer credit marketplace, and conducting research studies to address critical themes informing business strategies.

Prior to TransUnion, Verma held prominent positions at Discover Financial Services, Citigroup, Citi EMEA, and Fifth Third Bank where she served as CFO of the bank card business. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in commerce from the University of Delhi and an MBA in finance from the Loyola University of Chicago.

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Weihan Sun
Principal, Research & Consulting
Asia, Pacific, TransUnion
Weihan Sun Principal, Research & Consulting Asia, Pacific, TransUnion

Weihan Sun currently serves as the Principal of Research and Consulting at TransUnion APAC and was formerly the Director of Research and Consulting at TransUnion Africa. In this role he is responsible for analysing and developing consumer lending insights, conducting research studies and delivering thought leadership across the APAC Region. He is highly skilled in storytelling, making the data come to life in a way that truly allows the business decision maker and the consumer to understand the value in the data.

He is well known within the industry as a commentator on market related credit and financial inclusion trends. Weihan joined TransUnion Africa in 2021 from Absa Insurance Company where he was Head of Strategy and Innovation. He has extensive experience in strategic planning, market intelligence, customer analytics, along with a deep understanding of the South African insurance landscape. He holds a master’s degree in financial management sciences from the University of Pretoria.

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Lauren Chittenden
Manager, International Research and Consulting
TransUnion
Lauren Chittenden Manager, International Research and Consulting TransUnion

Lauren Chittenden is responsible for financial services research and consulting for our international markets, exploring trends and insights in consumer credit. She works on research studies for the Financial Services Summits and Seminars, cultivating trends for advisory boards and customer meetings. Before joining TransUnion, she gained experience in financial strategies and loss forecasting.

Chittenden earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and statistics with a concentration in finance, along with a master’s degree in statistics from Carnegie Mellon University.

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Elrika Haasbroek
Director, Data Acquisition
TransUnion Africa
Elrika Haasbroek Director, Data Acquisition TransUnion Africa

Elrika Haasbroek has over 10 years of experience in applying analytics, business intelligence, data mining and statistics within the South African banking industry. She has a unique mix of technical, business and research skills which she uses to develop strategies and solutions that significantly impact revenue and ROI. Prior to TransUnion, Haasbroek served as Manager of Absa’s Unsecured Analytics team. Skilled in conveying complex concepts to audiences at all levels and sizes, she fosters an environment for creative thinking and innovative, real-world solutions to business and technical challenges. Haasbroek has a MSc. degree in quantitative risk management from North-West University where she majored in stats, maths and data mining.

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Amritha Reddy
Director, Fraud Solutions
TransUnion Africa
Amritha Reddy Director, Fraud Solutions TransUnion Africa

Amritha Reddy is a seasoned executive with experience across the financial services, banking and healthcare sectors. She has held various leadership positions in the industry, including as executive head of fraud risk management at a leading bank, and is active in developing strategies to mitigate fraud risk across different sectors. She served as a board member for the SA Fraud Prevention Services, as a risk council member for Visa and a fraud council member for MasterCard. Ms. Reddy holds a Business Mng Certification from UCT’s Graduate School of Business and is a certified fraud examiner (CFE).

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Daniel Silke
Guest Economist
Speaker
Daniel Silke Guest Economist Speaker

Daniel Silke is one of South Africa's leading political economy analysts, keynote and virtual speakers. Acclaimed presenter with over 20 years experience in delivering outstanding presentations, seminars & workshops for corporates and conventions globally. Specialises in Global Future Trends, African & South African political, social & economic developments. Clients include Bank of America, Mazars, Delta Airlines, Jersey Finance, SunGard, Standard Bank, Maersk, ABSA, Barclays, E&Y, Marriott International, Investec, Engen, RMB, FNB, Lafarge, FirstRand & Sanlam. Regular TV guest on CNBC Africa, ENCA, SABC, News 24, Deutsche Welle, BBC & quoted on Bloomberg & AFP news services. Column writer for News 24 and Fin24. Author of "Tracking the Future" (Tafelberg). 

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Mteto Nyati
Guest Keynote
Speaker
Mteto Nyati Guest Keynote Speaker

Mteto Nyati is a South African businessperson who has been at the helm of 7 different companies. Presently, he holds the position of Chairman at Wazo Investments. Mr. Nyati is also on the board of 7 other companies.

In the past he was Group Chief Enterprise Officer at MTN Group Ltd. Chairman for Afrihost Pty Ltd. and Chief Executive Officer of MTN SA (Pty) Ltd. (both are subsidiaries of MTN Group Ltd.), Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director at Altron Ltd., Director-South African Operations at International Business Machines Corp., General Manager-Middle East & African Region at Microsoft South Africa and Chief Executive Officer for ALTRON GROUP.

 

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AGENDA

8:30–8:40 a.m.

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WELCOME AND HOUSEKEEPING

Speaker: Andries Zietsman, VP Financial Services, TransUnion

8:40–8:55 a.m.

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WELCOME TO FS SUMMIT 2023

Speaker: Lee Naik, CEO, Regional President, TransUnion Africa

8:55–9:35 a.m.

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STATE OF THE ECONOMY 2023

Speaker: Daniel Silke

9:35–10:15 a.m.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INDUSTRY POINT OF VIEW

Speaker: Weihan Sun, Director, Financial Services Research and Consulting, TransUnion Africa

Understanding market performance is a shared goal among product, portfolio and risk managers, especially for lenders that need to benchmark against industry movements to identify opportunities and gaps in lending strategies. Yet, obtaining a robust view of industry trends can be difficult, and creating a compelling narrative that connects to business strategy is even more complex.

In this session, we'll examine the South African credit market's key trends and potential dynamics. Our experts will analyse credit-active consumer behaviour and performance across product classes. Lenders will gain insights into growth and portfolio management during recalibration and a deeper understanding of the South African credit landscape.

10:15–10:35 a.m.

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BREAK

10:35–11:15 a.m.

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EMPOWERING CREDIT INCLUSION: A NEW-TO-CREDIT PERSPECTIVE

Speaker: Nidhi Verma, VP, International Research and Consulting, TransUnion

A recent TransUnion global study revealed the new-to-credit (NTC) consumer segment holds real growth potential. But first, we must provide a more robust view of this often neglected, misunderstood and credit-invisible cohort to debunk common myths and facilitate more confident lending. 

In this session, we'll highlight the importance of NTC consumers from a growth perspective and discuss their behavioural and demographic features. By better understanding their credit journeys, lenders can identify and act on acquisition opportunities.

11:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

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SERVING FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS’ BROADER NEEDS

Speaker: Charlie Wise, SVP, Financial Services Research and Consulting, TransUnion

Homeownership in South Africa is crucial for stable living environments, security and long-term investment opportunities. Despite economic challenges, property values have risen, and due to record-low interest rates there’s been a surge of first-time homebuyers. The new home loans market rebounded faster than other credit products, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 2022. With legislation favouring first-time homebuyers, especially in affordable housing, this trend may continue.

In this session, we'll examine the dynamics and impacts of the 2022 interest rate hike cycle on first-time homebuyers. To prepare for resilient growth, lenders must understand legislative changes, economic stability and interest rate normalisation to respond effectively to market trends and offer appropriate credit products. Join us as we unpack these insights to better serve South Africa’s first-time homebuyers.

12:00 – 12:45 p.m.

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UNDERSTANDING RECENT SHIFTS IN WALLET COMPOSITION

Speaker: Elrika Haasbroek, Director, Marketing Services and Solutions, TransUnion Africa

As South Africa's diverse credit market continuously adapts to meet borrowers' evolving needs and preferences, understanding changes in wallet composition becomes increasingly essential for lenders seeking to optimise their product offerings and services. With a deeper understanding of these trends, lenders can make more informed decisions and tailor their offerings to better cater to their customers' needs.

This session will focus on a study which aims to analyse the transformation of credit product composition within South African borrowers' wallets over time, the driving factors behind these shifts, and implications for lenders. Join us as we provide valuable insights to help you navigate the ever-changing South African credit landscape.

12:45–1:30 p.m.

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LUNCH

1:30–2:10 p.m.

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THE HIDDEN OPPORTUNITIES IN LENDING TO DELINQUENT CONSUMERS

Speaker: Lauren Miller, Manager, International Research and Consulting, TransUnion

The Hidden Opportunities in Lending to Delinquent Consumers: 

In this session, we delve into unexplored opportunities in lending to delinquent consumers. Challenging traditional lending norms, we reveal the potential for both profitability and sustainability within this often misunderstood segment. Our goal is to broaden your perspective, showcasing how these lending practices can foster financial inclusion. We will provide actionable insights that you can immediately integrate into your lending strategies to stimulate smart growth. 

2:10–2:20 p.m.

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BREAK

 

2:20–3:00 p.m.

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PANEL DISCUSSION ON DELIVERING FRICTION-RIGHT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES

Speaker: Amritha Reddy (Moderator)

3:00–3:40 p.m.

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GUEST KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Speaker: Mteto Nyati 

3:40–3:45 p.m.

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EVENT CLOSING

Speaker: Stephen de Blanche, CRO, TransUnion Africa 

3:45 p.m.

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NETWORKING AND RECEPTION

The Polo Room, The Inanda Club, Forrest Road & 6th Avenue, Inanda, Sandton
Inanda Club: Find Us using Google Maps, click here to open the map.
GPS coordinates:
26°07’05.02” S
28°03’21.64” E

Tel: 011 8841414 / 5 / 6 / 7
Fax: 011 8842918

2023 Financial Services Summit

This event is by invitation-only and non-transferable.

Register Now