In 2019, Ruth was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Investec Bank plc which includes the Investec Group’s businesses in the UK, Europe, Channel Islands, US and India. Investec Bank plc is the 6th largest banking group in the UK (by revenue and PBT) and focuses on Corporate and Investment Banking in the mid-market as well as Private Banking and Wealth Management for High Net Worth individuals. Ruth has led the Bank through a critical period of transformation, and the business is now firmly focused on accelerating growth. Ruth has deep knowledge of Investec and banking having joined the Investec Group in South Africa in 1998 and moving to London in 2002 where she has been for the past 23 years. Prior to joining Investec, Ruth worked for Gencor (now Billiton) in South Africa
Ruth is a non-executive director of Rathbones Group plc and also serves as one of the 30 CEO members of the UN Global Investors for Sustainable Development (UN GISD). She currently sits on the Cambridge Judge Business School Advisory Board and the CityUK Business Council.
As one of the few female CEOs in the FTSE 250, Ruth is particularly focused on driving belonging, diversity and inclusion at Investec and in the financial services industry. She has a passion for education and mentoring young people, and is very active in the social enterprise programme Investec Beyond Business which identifies, supports and funds social impact entrepreneurs.
Ruth holds an M. Phil Degree from Cambridge University, as well as an honours degree in economics from University of the Witwatersrand, SA.