Daniel Kaan
Chief Executive Officer: Core Banking and Lending
Johannesburg
Summary
A results-driven executive with over 20 years of experience at FirstRand (FSR), leading transformational initiatives across South Africa, Broader Africa, India, and the UK. Skilled in strategic leadership, business development, credit lifecycle management, and data-driven decision-making within the Retail, Commercial, and Corporate segments. Proven ability to innovate, manage large teams, and deliver exceptional financial performance across diverse markets and product offerings.
Results-oriented achiever with proven ability to exceed targets and drive success in fast-paced environments. Combines strategic thinking with hands-on experience to deliver impactful solutions and enhance organizational performance.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
24
24
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Interim CEO: Merchant Services
First National Bank
01.2024 - Current
- Increased company revenue by implementing innovative business strategies and expanding product offerings.
- Managed high-performing teams to successfully execute corporate objectives and drive organizational success.
- Built productive relationships with industry partners and competitors to support strategic business objectives.
- Established key strategic partnerships with industry leaders to enhance business development opportunities.
- Cultivated forward-thinking, inclusive, and performance-oriented business culture to lead industry in innovation and push progress.
- Oversaw major infrastructure upgrades to support rapid growth while minimizing downtime or disruptions to existing services.
- Engaged positively with staff and leadership colleagues, soliciting and encouraging feedback and collaborative spirit.
- Coached and guided senior managers to improve employee job satisfaction and achieve higher performance levels.
- Implemented strong financial controls, ensuring accurate reporting and solid decision-making capabilities.
- Streamlined operations for improved efficiency, reducing overall costs and increasing profitability.
- Identified new revenue generation opportunities to maximize bottom-line profitability.
CEO: Core Banking and Lending (TxP)
First National Bank
02.2020 - Current
- Increased company revenue by implementing innovative business strategies and expanding product offerings.
- Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.
- Drove profitability with thorough financial analysis and strategic decisionmaking.
- Established new revenue streams by identifying market opportunities and launching innovative products or services.
- Developed a high-performance executive team for improved productivity and efficiency.
- Created a positive work culture, resulting in increased employee satisfaction and retention rates.
- Streamlined business processes, resulting in increased operational efficiency across all departments.
- Led successful turnaround efforts for underperforming divisions or subsidiaries, restoring profitability within tight timeframes.
- Delivered consistent revenue growth by identifying new markets and devising targeted expansion strategies.
- Achieved company growth by implementing strategic plans and streamlining operations.
- Improved organizational structure by reallocating resources and redefining roles for greater efficiency.
- Implemented cost-saving initiatives to reduce operational expenses without sacrificing quality.
- Enhanced brand reputation with effective marketing campaigns and public relations efforts.
- Ensured regulatory compliance by developing robust policies, procedures, and internal controls.
- Directed launch of innovative products, capturing new market segments and driving revenue growth.
- Enhanced stakeholder value by consistently exceeding financial targets and delivering robust shareholder returns.
- Orchestrated company-wide digital transformation, enhancing data analytics capabilities and operational agility.
- Championed data-driven decision-making culture, enhancing business intelligence and strategic planning capabilities.
- Developed high-performing executive team by recruiting top talent and implementing comprehensive training programs.
- Developed innovative sales and marketing strategies to facilitate business expansion.
- Cultivated company-wide culture of innovation and collaboration.
CEO: Business Core Banking (BCB)
First National Bank
11.2017 - 01.2020
- To provide world-class transactional and lending solutions to Commercial customers, through a platform driven approach
- Proud to have established a great culture in a short space of time by having highly engaged staff
- Good track record of running a core business, supported by clean audit results
- Track record of sustainable PBT growth with strong cost management focus
- Assisted in delivering one of the first X-products within FirstRand; First Business Zero, which has pathed the way for other Commercial solutions to also be X'ed
- Transformed the SME lending space into a fully digitized business across all interfaces
- Responsible for 70% of the FNB Commercial profits
CEO: Core Lending Products (CLP)
First National Bank
11.2014 - 10.2017
- CLP is a product house within the FNB Business segment where we deliver end-to-end credit sales and management solutions across the credit life cycle including product development
- We have approximately 220 staff and manage R11bn worth of assets spread across several products such as Overdrafts, Credit Card, Term Loans and Revolving Loans
- We aim to be at the front-line of innovation, analytics and customer experience, driving automated and scalable solutions that enables NIACC growth and ensures sound credit management practices on platform
Head: Credit Product and Growth
FNB Business
03.2014 - 10.2014
- To deliver sustainable NIACC growth through the two key areas of Product and Growth
- The Product team drives and enables new solutions to create market differentiation by developing new or enhancing existing products
- The Growth team's responsibility is to drive sustainable credit sales
Head: Transactional Banking Analytics and Credit
FNB Wealth
02.2013 - 02.2014
- To maintain and drive ownership of Wealth Transactional Banking (WTB) Analytics and Decision Support
- Key functions included driving automation across the credit life cycle as well as the WTB credit custodian
Head: Behavioral Scoring and Credit Automation
FNB Consumer
12.2009 - 01.2013
- To create a decision analytics framework and platform to enable businesses across the FirstRand Group to make optimal and consistent credit and sales related decisions in an automated fashion
Credit Scoring Manager
FNB Consumer
10.2008 - 11.2009
- Responsible for FNB Home Loans' credit and pricing scoring policies and the implementation of business processes
Business Intelligence Manager
FNB Consumer
05.2007 - 09.2008
- To provide mining, analysis, interpretation and presentation of home loans scoring data as well as consultation, implementation and optimisation of scorecard and decision models
Several roles - Behavioral Scoring Data Analyst to the Data Mining Manager
FNB Consumer
02.2002 - 04.2007
- To establish an analytical team that supported FNB Credit Compliance and various businesses within FNB
Education
MCom - Business Management
University of Johannesburg
04.2001 - Current
Senior Management Development Programme (SMDP) - undefined
University of Stellenbosch Business School
Post Graduate Diploma - Information Management
Rand Afrikaans University (RAU)
BCom - Information Management
Oxford Brooks Damelin
Skills
Strategic Leadership
Goal setting
Self motivation
Analytical skills
Executive leadership
Continuous improvement
Client engagement
Sales growth
Profit and loss management
Operations management
Employee coaching
Budget planning
Results orientation
Client relationship building
Adaptable and flexible
Strategic planning
Business development
Decision-making
Risk management
Teamwork and collaboration
Excellent communication
Project management
Analytical and critical thinker
Problem-solving abilities
Innovation management
Inspirational leadership
Executive presence
Global perspective
Digital transformation
Customer focus
Strategic visioning
Corporate governance
Financial acumen
Operational excellence
Succession planning
Crisis management
Talent development
Individualisation
Competition
Learner
Restorative
Achiever
Organisational Development
Team Leadership
P&L Oversight
Financial Management
Portfolio Optimization
Product Innovation
Decision Frameworks
Data Analytics
Credit Lifecycle Management
Business Development
Strategic Leadership
Websites
- https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/fnb-launches-cash-advances-for-small-business-based-on-card-m
- https://www.itweb.co.za/article/local-businesses-dig-deep-into-fnbs-ewallet-pro/PmxVE7KlZW5MQY85
- https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/business-and-economy/2022-03-28-native-sme-lending-returning-to-pr
- https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/life/motoring/2024-11-21-tap-and-go-payments-rolled-out-on-n3-and-
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-kaan-1355a92/
Careermilestones
- Data Analyst, FNB, 02/01/02, 05/31/07, Pioneered analytical projects that laid the foundation for the bank's credit automation processes., Received four promotions, rising to a managerial level.
- Credit Scoring Manager, FNB Home Loans, 01/01/07, 12/31/08, Innovated risk and pricing strategies during a turbulent credit cycle., Created the 'Quick Check' process and lending strategies driven by Loan-to-Value (LTV) and area risk.
- Head of Behavioural Scoring and Credit Automation, FNB, 01/01/09, 12/31/12, Established a comprehensive decision analytics framework across multiple product houses.
- CEO of Core Lending Products, FNB, 01/01/14, 12/31/20, Drove record-breaking sales growth and launched innovative business credit offerings.
- CEO of the Transact Pillar for Commercial and Corporate, FNB, 01/01/20, Present, Oversaw Business Core Banking, Merchant Services, Cash, Forex, EFT, and Liquidity Management.
Timeline
Interim CEO: Merchant Services
First National Bank
01.2024 - Current
CEO: Core Banking and Lending (TxP)
First National Bank
02.2020 - Current
CEO: Business Core Banking (BCB)
First National Bank
11.2017 - 01.2020
CEO: Core Lending Products (CLP)
First National Bank
11.2014 - 10.2017
Head: Credit Product and Growth
FNB Business
03.2014 - 10.2014
Head: Transactional Banking Analytics and Credit
FNB Wealth
02.2013 - 02.2014
Head: Behavioral Scoring and Credit Automation
FNB Consumer
12.2009 - 01.2013
Credit Scoring Manager
FNB Consumer
10.2008 - 11.2009
Business Intelligence Manager
FNB Consumer
05.2007 - 09.2008
Several roles - Behavioral Scoring Data Analyst to the Data Mining Manager
FNB Consumer
02.2002 - 04.2007
MCom - Business Management
University of Johannesburg
04.2001 - Current
Senior Management Development Programme (SMDP) - undefined
University of Stellenbosch Business School
Post Graduate Diploma - Information Management
Rand Afrikaans University (RAU)
BCom - Information Management
Oxford Brooks Damelin
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