Absa Group mourns passing of executive director Peter Matlare |10 March 2021

Peter Matlare

It is with profound sadness that the Absa Group announces the passing of our executive director and deputy group chief executive Peter Matlare on March 7, 2021 due to Covid-19-related complications.

Peter joined the Absa Group Limited board as an independent non-executive director in 2011. In August 2016, he was appointed group deputy chief executive officer, as well as chief executive responsible for Absa Regional Operations, covering our presence on the continent outside of South Africa.

“He played a key role in overseeing our regional operations and safely leading our banks through the major separation from Barclays and rebrand to Absa,” Wendy Lucas-Bull, Absa Group Limited chairman said.

Peter has made a significant contribution to the Group, and Absa has lost a dedicated leader, a visionary and an amazing human being. More recently, Peter’s leadership was critical in ensuring that the separation from Barclays, a complex multi-year project which also included the largest single data and systems migration in Africa, was successful across Absa’s operations on the continent.

“Peter was a seasoned corporate executive, a good leader, inspirational, and passionate about his work, always strongly invested in the success of our continent. I will miss his friendship, collegiality, guidance and wise counsel,” said Daniel Mminele, Absa Group chief executive.

Managing director of Absa Bank Seychelles, Johan Van Schalkwyk, says the news of Peter Matlare’s passing has deeply saddened the Absa Seychelles team.

“Peter was an inspirational leader with so much faith in our potential and ability to achieve the vision for Absa he helped nurture. He elevated Absa Seychelles above our size as a business and never shied away from giving us his unwavering support; demonstrated by his presence with us last February for our brand launch. We have lost a great asset to the business and an inspirational leader in Africa. He will be sorely missed,” he said.

Press release from Absa