Africa Business Media Innovators Conversations

Erana Stennett

Director, Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa

Bloomberg

Erana M. Stennett managed Bloomberg’s philanthropic initiatives in the Americas in the areas of health, human services, education, arts, and the environment. In addition to directing the company’s grants and sponsorship programs, Erana managed Bloomberg's employee engagement activities, including the employee matching program, service initiatives and disaster relief campaigns. In 2014, Erana was appointed Director of the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa, a pan-African program to advance business journalism on the continent through cross disciplinary education programs, to strengthen business and economic reporting among mid-level journalists and non-profit media, and to convene African and international leaders to examine worldwide best practices in media to accelerate the development of a globally competitive media and financial reporting sector, and to improve the access and reliability of economic data. Prior to Bloomberg, Ms. Stennett served as Vice President for the Central Park Conservancy, and held senior positions in New York City government. Erana currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Central Park Conservancy, the Board of Directors for New York City Center, and The New York Community Trust, and is an Emeritus Director of the Public Art Fund.

Matt Winkler

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

Bloomberg L.P.

Matthew Winkler is editor-in-chief emeritus of Bloomberg News, the global news organization of 2,700 he founded with Michael Bloomberg in 1990 when he became its first employee and leader for 25 years. Winkler created the Bloomberg Business Journalism Diversity Program in 2015, an international partnership with universities conceived to inspire careers in all aspects of economic reporting among students of color. Winkler also is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion and convenes news makers in business, financial markets and governments worldwide for Bloomberg L.P. During Winkler's quarter-century as editor-in-chief, Bloomberg became the only news organization to receive every top award in every form of print, broadcast and digital media, including: the Pulitzer Prize, the Emmy'' of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the National Magazine Award from the American Society of Magazine Editors.

Sim Tshabalala

Chief Executive Officer

Standard Bank Group

Simpiwe “Sim” Tshabalala is Chief Executive of the Standard Bank Group. Sim was born in Hlabisa, in rural KwaZulu-Natal. He grew up in Soweto and was educated at Sacred Heart College in Johannesburg. Sim attended Rhodes University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988, and a Bachelor of Laws in 1990. He served his articles at Bowman Gilfillan, and went on to do a Master of Laws at Notre Dame in the US, which he was awarded summa cum laude, in 1993. Sim was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 1994. He joined Real Africa Durolink Investment Bank in 1994 and worked in its structured finance division until 2000. In that time he continued his studies on a part-time basis, and completed the Higher Diploma in taxation law from the University of the Witwatersrand (‘Wits’) in 1996. Sim joined the Project Finance Division of Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank as head of structured finance in 2000, becoming a Director in 2000 and Managing Director of Stanbic Africa in 2001. In 2006 he was appointed Chief Executive of Personal and Business Banking, South Africa. In the same year, he completed Harvard University’s Advanced Management Programme. In March 2008, Sim was appointed as Chief Executive of Standard Bank South Africa. He was appointed as one of three Deputy Chief Executives of the Standard Bank Group in April 2009. In June 2012, Sim took on the additional responsibility for Corporate and Investment Banking’s client franchise in South Africa. In March 2013, Sim was appointed joint Chief Executive of the Standard Bank Group, extending his responsibilities to the banking businesses on the African continent outside South Africa and to the bank’s Wealth business, including Liberty Holdings. In September 2017, Sim was appointed as the sole Chief Executive of the Standard Bank Group. Sim serves on the boards of the Liberty Group, the International Monetary Conference, and the Institute of International Finance, of which he is Vice-Chairman and Treasurer. In August 2018, Sim was made a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers of South Africa.