Valeta Mthimkhulu is one of Southern Africa’s most and experienced accomplished banking executives. With a career distinguished by strategic leadership, resilience, institutional transformation, visionary leadership and deep expertise across retail, corporate, and suitable growth in business banking.
As Bank Managing Director at CBZ Holdings Limited, . She leads a flagship enterprise delivering comprehensive banking solutions while championing innovation, customer-centric excellence, operational integrity, and broad economic participation across the value chain.
Her career trajectory includes pivotal senior roles at global and regional banking powerhouses such as Absa Bank Botswana, where she served as Retail Director driving transformative customer strategies and digital initiatives; Standard Chartered Bank, as Country Head for Retail and Business Banking overseeing portfolio growth; and Barclays (now rebranded in parts), where she spent 19 years in progressive leadership positions, including Southern Region Head of Corporate Affairs and Head of Corporate Affairs, mastering retail banking, corporate communications, change management, and stakeholder-driven success.
These experiences forged her strategic acumen in digital transformation, client strategy, team development, regulatory navigation, and fostering inclusive growth in competitive, evolving markets.
Beyond her executive achievements, Valeta Mthimkhulu is a respected advisor and advocate in the financial sector, recognized for her values-driven approach and contributions to advancing diversity, inclusion, and women’s leadership in a traditionally competitive industry. She has led initiatives that promote sustainable innovation, strong team cultures, and equitable access to financial services, inspiring progress across local and regional landscapes.
At CBZ Bank, Mthimkhulu drives the institution’s strategic growth and operational excellence with a strong focus on delivering reliable, high-quality banking solutions tailored to diverse and demanding client needs in Zimbabwe’s economic environment.
Under her leadership, CBZ Bank continues to strengthen its reputation for professionalism, innovation, and responsiveness, supporting retail, business, digital, and corporate banking while contributing to the empowerment of local talent, communities, and SMEs within the financial ecosystem. Her work directly supports national economic ambitions by enhancing financial inclusion, institutional resilience, and sustainable development in the banking sector.
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Mthimkhulu’s leadership journey is marked by entrepreneurial spirit within corporate structures and exceptional commercial insight. She has successfully navigated a highly regulated and competitive industry, building CBZ Bank into an even more trusted leader through a focus on operational discipline, customer-first standards, and enduring stakeholder relationships. Her experience spans retail and business banking leadership, digital and customer experience transformation, corporate affairs, change management, and executive oversight in high-stakes, performance-oriented environments.
Beyond her role as Managing Director, Mthimkhulu is a passionate advocate for women’s leadership and youth empowerment in finance, STEM-related fields, and broader economic participation. She actively contributes to industry dialogue around inclusive finance, digital innovation, sustainable growth, and equitable development, serving as a role model for aspiring professionals across Southern Africa. Her leadership style is widely admired for blending determination with mentorship, values-driven innovation, and a commitment to unlocking opportunity where barriers have historically existed.
InstinctWomen’s Woman of the Week recognizes outstanding women leaders whose influence, innovation, and leadership are shaping industries across the globe and Valeta Mthimkhulu exemplifies this impact in Southern Africa’s banking and financial services sector.
