THE BIHL GROUP CELEBRATES EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP, AS BIFM CEO WINS ILLUSTRIOUS SANLAM CEO AWARD

The Botswana Insurance Holdings Limited (BIHL) Group adds to a brimming chest of accolades across the Group and its Subsidiaries, as Botswana Insurance Fund Management (BIFM) CEO, Neo L. Bogatsu, receives a coveted award at the Sanlam Group CEO Awards 2020 at a virtual ceremony held on the 16th of September 2020. Bogatsu was one of 3 individual CEO winners atthis year’s ceremony, and the second recipient of the award for Botswana, the first being the BIHL Group CEO, Catherine Lesetedi, then Botswana Life Insurance Limited CEO. This is the first time this prestigious award has been awarded to the

same country twice, BIHL Group making history in this respect.

The Sanlam Group CEO Awards recognize excellence across the Sanlam Group, of which the

BIHL Group is a member. The platform shines a light on those who create meaningful and valuable solutions for the Group and all its stakeholders. Bogatsu was nominated by the BIHL Group CEO, Catherine Lesetedi, for her contribution to engineering legacies for Batswana through BIFM and indeed the wider Group, and for her contribution to the financial services ecosystem of Botswana.

The BIHL Group CEO, Catherine Lesetedi, said: “In such a fluid time as this, to receive such

deserved and wonderful news is an incredible feat and blessing. We congratulate Neo on this esteemed accomplishment, and indeed the team that supports her in all that she does. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the BIHL Group and our efforts and investment in engineering legacies for and with Batswana. I can think of no better time to see recognition and celebration of an individual and leader whose talents are an integral part of this journey. This is a true demonstration of what we call Strength in Numbers.”

A Chartered Accountant, Bogatsu’s work experience includes auditing, banking and now asset management. She joined BIFM in 2011 as Chief Financial Officer and became the CEO in 2015.

Commented Bogatsu: “I am grateful and humbled by this recognition for the years of dedication to our industry and growing and supporting the wealth of talent in Botswana and indeed the region. I consider it a true blessing to be able to lead a team of such passionate and disciplined professionals, and indeed to work alongside such colleagues as those at Sanlam and at the BIHL Group, a giant in the financial services spaces whom we have the

distinct honour to stand upon the shoulders of. I am grateful too to our fellow subsidiaries at Botswana Life Insurance Limited and Botswana Insurance Company (BIC). This journey was certainly not one travelled alone, and it is the support of family, friends, colleagues, clients and mentors that has made this possible. To them, I remain eternally grateful.”

Bogatsu credits her strong career trajectory to the leadership ethos of “having a lateral and end to end vision of the business.” What is clear for all to see is that her passion, vision, resolve and unrivalled depth of talent which have been clear for all she works with on a daily basis have now also become duly recognised in an international arena.

No leader can be great without a strong team on their side. It takes a dedicated, passionate and united team to make progress a reality, and for this reason it would be remiss of me not to thank the entire BIFM team for the growth and progress and across BIFM and indeed the Group, Well done to you all, and let us continue to inspire each other to all soar.