Imraan Noorbhai

Imraan Noorbhai, the Head of Personal and Private Banking for Standard Bank in KwaZulu-Natal, has a diverse background in finance and banking. He began his educational journey at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he studied accounting. After completing honours, Imraan started his articles at a medium-sized firm called Desai Jadwat Incorporated. “It was there that I really learned to be an entrepreneur,” he recalls.

Following his articles, Imraan earned his Associate General Accounting certification from SAICA, along-side his professional accounting certification. His first job after qualifying as an accountant was with Competition Motors, which was a challenge for him as it was his first experience of running a business. “Within two months of being employed, I was seconded to run the entire Johannesburg operation,” Imraan explains. As general manager at Competition Motors Johannesburg, the company’s largest operation at that time, he was responsible for overseeing finance, operations, and some of the technical aspects of the business. “It was a huge learning curve, but a wonderful experience,” he reflects, describing his experience of managing complex operations.

Imraan’s career continued to evolve as he moved to the machinery and equipment division of the company, which focused on the importation of large motor manufacturing components. After spending a year and a half gaining exposure to the import- export industry and the intricacies of motor manufacturing, he saw an opportunity to pivot into financial services.

TRANSITION TO STANDARD BANK
In search of new opportunities Imraan joined Standard Bank as Head of Measurement, building balanced scorecards and productivity tools to manage and measure banker performance across Retail and Business Banking.

Imraan’s progress at Standard Bank was swift, within three years he was promoted to head of Finance for Retail Banking and later Executive Head of Finance for Retail and Business Banking, Client Coverage South Africa.

In 2010, Imraan considered moving to a more business-oriented role. Around this time, Lincoln Mali, one of Standard Bank’s leaders, offered him a position as Head of Retail Banking in KwaZulu- Natal. Over the course of 14 years, Imraan has held multiple senior roles at Standard Bank, including Provincial Head of KwaZulu-Natal, Head of Retail and Business Banking, and now Head of Personal and Private Banking. His journey through various business units and customer propositions within Standard Bank has been marked by numerous accomplishments.

Another of Imraan’s key achievements was spear- heading the launch of Sharia banking at Standard Bank in 2014. Today, the bank proudly holds the second-largest market share of Sharia banking in South Africa. “It was one of those moments that I always treasure,” he says, reflecting on the vision, collaboration, and energy that went into making the proposition a success.

FULFILLING ASPIRATIONS
Having worked at Standard Bank for 27 years, Imraan aligns closely with the organisation’s purpose: “Africa is our home; we drive our growth.” He believes deeply in improving lives and fulfilling aspirations through banking, both for customers and staff. “My purpose is about seeing my customers transition through various challenges as they develop their businesses to new heights,” he explains. “It is also about seeing my staff excel from cradle to grave in terms of their career trajectory within the bank.”

Imraan’s leadership is defined by empathy, humanity, justice, and honesty. He believes these principles are crucial in leading teams effectively. “The fundamental departure point that is lacking in many organisations, locally and globally, is how we lead our teams with empathy and respect,” he asserts. This belief was further solidified during an immersion in Kenya, where he was inspired by the words of the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Kenya: “Africa is blessed with problems, and we have an opportunity to turn those problems into solutions.” For Imraan, this meant viewing every challenge as an opportunity for prosperity.

GENERATE MIRACLES
Reflecting on the challenges faced in KwaZulu- Natal, a province that has seen its share of adversity, Imraan attributes the success of his team to resilience and empowerment which is unparalleled in terms of how they can adapt to the changing environment and produce exceptional results. Imraan believes in empowering his teams by providing them with the tools and clearing obstacles from their path. “If we empower our teams, they will generate miracles,” he says.

When discussing his inspirations, Imraan mentions both religious and corporate influences. “On a personal level, my major inspiration is the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who is the living example of how one should live one’s life in terms of values and principles,” he says.

In the corporate sphere, he looks up to the “giants of Standard Bank,” past and present, such as Lincoln Mali, Peter Schlebusch, Funeka Montjane, and Sim Tshabalala. “These are the great leaders on whose shoulders we stand today,” he reflects, adding that they have helped shape an organisation that has stood strong for over 160 years and continue to shape the future.

Imraan’s vision for KwaZulu-Natal and its people is one of prosperity and growth. “We see ourselves as a gateway to Africa and to the world,” he declares. He believes the province’s rich diversity, natural beauty and strategic location has a lot more to offer and can be harnessed so that everyone benefits.

“I believe in leading with humanity, justice, and empathy,” he concludes. “And if we adopt this approach, business results will follow.”