Old Mutual announces new CEO 

Old Mutual informed shareholders that it has appointed Jurie Strydom as its Chief Executive Officer, set to replace Iain Williamson when he steps down later this year.

In January 2025, Old Mutual announced that Williamson would be stepping down from his role as CEO after 32 years with the insurance giant.

Following this announcement, the Old Mutual board conducted a rigorous and expedited process to appoint a CEO to lead the company. 

The company said its board considered numerous excellent internal and external candidates and was supported by a leading executive search firm.

Through this process, the board selected Strydom to lead the company after Williamson’s departure.

To ensure a smooth, managed, and rapid transition of executive authority, Strydom will commence working as CEO designate, alongside Williamson, until the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 30 May 2025.

After this meeting, he will become CEO effective from 1 June 2025. Williamson will continue as board director until the conclusion of the AGM, and then remain available to advise and support the CEO and board until his retirement on 31 August 2025.

A qualified actuary and graduate of the University of Cape Town, Strydom also holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is qualified as a Chartered Financial Analyst from the CFA Institute in the United States. 

Old Mutual described him as a highly experienced leader with decades of top management and board experience in financial services and insurance.

He has served as CEO of Sanlam Life and Savings, Regent Insurance Group, Alexander Forbes Life, and was Executive Director at Imperial Holdings. 

Strydom is a fintech investor and the chairman of FSPHub, as well as the Chairman of Common Good, a not-for-profit company that creates transformational opportunities for underprivileged communities in the areas of early childhood support, education and employment.

Ticking all the boxes

Old Mutual chairman Trevor Manuel said the board had a long list of requirements when looking for its future CEO.

Specifically, the board was looking for an experienced financial services CEO with strategic grip, an exceptional operational track record, who had led diverse teams, driven successful transformation, and understood financial technology.

“And we found someone who ticked these boxes. Jurie is a proven leader with outstanding experience of building and leading diverse teams at large and complex insurance and financial services companies,” Manuel said. 

“As a board member, Jurie has demonstrated exceptional strategic vision and has a clear focus on the critical business levers necessary to implement the company’s strategic priorities, enhance our market position, and achieve growing profitability.” 

“He is highly regarded in the industry as a leader who can deliver operational efficiencies, disciplined capital allocation, and continue implementing the financial technology and product innovations that serve our clients and business partners.” 

Manuel added that Strydom’s well-established network of strategic relationships will benefit Old Mutual.

The chairman also thanked Williamson, who plans to go back to business school, for his lifetime of service to Old Mutual.

“Iain has been a true leader, consistently stepping up to provide calm and firm direction whenever the company faced challenges or while the country was in crisis, as happened during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said. 

“Under his leadership, Old Mutual has become a strong, resilient, and innovative company that embraces new technology and is expanding into new areas of financial services and banking.”

“We thank and recognise Iain for his leadership over many years, and for his continued support for Old Mutual.”

Strydom said it is a great privilege to be appointed as the CEO of Old Mutual at an exciting time in the company’s history. 

He said the Company has a strong foundation, exceptional and diverse talent, a proud history, and a promising future as a provider of innovative insurance, banking, and financial services products.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues and engaging with the diverse range of partners and stakeholders who work with us to drive strategic implementation, innovation, operational resilience, and financial performance,” he said.