Published: November 5, 2015
Coverage of this year's winning firms across the continent.
Welcome to EMEA Finance’s eighth African Banking Awards. Since launching these in our first year in print, each set of awards has demonstrated more clearly than the last the exceptional opportunities open to financial firms in fast-growing economies across the continent.
Our winners also exemplify the sound management of the market’s best banks, executive teams that have balanced expansion with an awareness of risks. New regional networks have been forged, non-performing loans brought under control, unbanked populations have been reached – these and other accomplishments deserve recognition.
As usual, the awards cover commercial banks, investment banks, asset managers and brokerage houses. We highlight locally owned firms as well as local divisions of global firms that are expanding their businesses on the continent.
Over the following pages we profile this year’s winners and offer some insights into the operating environments in which these firms have made their achievements. The coverage begins with our pan-African section, including awards for our CEO of the year, and two inaugural awards for financial inclusion and best product launch, followed by the individual country awards.
Africa
Best investment bank: Standard Bank
Best foreign investment bank: HSBC
Most innovative bank: Guaranty Trust Bank
Best product launch: Mauritius Commercial Bank
Best law firm: White & Case
Best asset manager: Investec Asset Management
Corporate social responsibility: Ecobank
Financial inclusion: Trust Merchant Bank
CEO of the year: Diana Layfield, Standard Chartered Bank
We played a key role in a number of landmark and transformative deals, which reflects our ability to place our sector expertise at the heart of our client engagement. While further industry recognition as a leading and innovative player needs to be celebrated, it is the fast pace of growth and development of our clients’ businesses that is the ultimate accolade,” says Anne Aliker, head, investment banking, Africa (Ex SA) at Standard Bank in response to the bank receiving its eighth consecutive best investment bank in Africa award.
Clients remain at the heart of the bank’s successful performance, and adjectives like ‘complex’, ‘watershed’, ‘landmark’ and ‘largest’ are often the norm when detailing the bank’s deals. Deals span the bank’s 20 country platform, and across all industries.