FNB gets a new CEO
FirstRand has announced the appointment of Lytania Johnson as CEO of First National Bank (FNB), following 25 years at the institution.
The group announced on Monday that it has restructured parts of its operating model within its banking portfolio, which has resulted in changes in certain senior roles.
Most of the changes relate to FNB, which has for many years operated with a customer segment model encompassing a retail and commercial segment, underneath which were sub-segments.
“This model underpinned FNB’s ability to scale its client franchises and become South Africa’s most profitable retail and commercial bank,” FirstRand stated.
FirstRand now believes the absolute size and scale of the subsegments mean the model requires simplification. As a result, the following segment model changes will be implemented.
The overarching retail and commercial construct will be replaced by a retail and business banking (RBB) segment servicing entry-level to middle-income individuals and SMEs.
Lytania Johnson, who has served as the CEO of the personal subsegment for three years, will step up into the role of CEO of RBB and, at the same time, become the CEO of FNB.
A new standalone segment will sit alongside RBB, representing private banking and wealth management. Sizwe Nxedlana remains the CEO, a role he has held since 2023.
The enterprise and public sector subsegments of commercial will move into the recently established commercial and corporate bank (CCB) run by Muneer Ismail.
Harry Kellan, current CEO of the retail and commercial segment and FNB, will step down and take early retirement at the end of 2026. Kellan has been with the group for 22 years, including 10 years as group CFO.
“He took over the role of FNB CEO in April 2024 and soon embarked on a strategy to reduce structural complexity, improve agility and decision-making and unlock efficiencies,” FirstRand stated.
“The structural changes announced today result from these efforts.”
Reconfiguration of FirstRand’s retail and commercial segment model
Kellan said that in the two years he has been CEO of FNB, his focus has been on simplification, product, platform, and structure.
“The reconfiguration of the retail and commercial segment model is the next step required for the business to be even more agile and responsive to customer needs,” he said.
“I have every confidence in the new leadership team. They have been my colleagues for many years and have the expertise to make sure FNB maintains its market-leading position.”
Johnson said the prospects for FNB remain compelling, as it has many leading customer propositions built on a strong culture of innovation.
“This simplified structure will accelerate the bank’s ability to serve its customers better and offer these propositions in a focused and efficient manner to both existing and new to bank customers,” she said.
“By bringing together retail and business banking, we can better serve entrepreneurs, small businesses and households who require solutions that can cover their personal and business needs.”
In addition to the changes at FNB, FirstRand has appointed Gert Kruger as Chief Operating Officer for the group after serving as group chief risk officer (CRO) since 2017.
Kruger will specifically focus on increasing collaboration, operational effectiveness and disciplined coordination across the group.
Emma Mer, previously the CRO of the retail and commercial segment and FNB, will replace Gert Kruger as group CRO.
Mary Vilakazi, FirstRand CEO, said that the group is confident the new structure will significantly reduce complexity, elevate segment CEO accountability and ensure ongoing execution of growth strategies.
“FNB is in a good place as demonstrated by its recent results, with the South African business delivering 10% growth in pretax profits with the overall FNB franchise increasing its ROE to 41%,” she said.
“Harry has done an excellent job to get the business to a point where it can embark on these changes with clear strategic objectives.”
Vilakazi said the group’s succession and talent management approach has allowed it to undertake this restructuring with minimum disruption to senior talent.
“It has created growth, tenure, and increased accountability for a new generation of leadership.” All changes are effective 1 April 2026 and have received the necessary regulatory approval.
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