Momentum’s Stellar Year: Jeanette Marais on Leading Success

In this COVER exclusive, Group CEO of Momentum, Jeanette Marais, reflects on the company’s stellar year of results and the strategic direction driving its success. With all nine of Momentum Metropolitan’s businesses performing strongly, an unusual and exceptional outcome, Marais highlights how a renewed sense of purpose, collaboration, and strategic focus has energised the group.

She explains that while diversification usually means balancing strengths in some business areas against challenges in others, this year was different: every division fired on all cylinders. Even in Africa, where results varied across markets, the group’s diversified approach ensured resilience and strong overall performance.

A central driver of Momentum’s success has been its Impact Strategy, a three-year plan introduced in mid-2023. This strategy emphasises collaboration across business lines, leveraging synergies between health, corporate, investment, and insurance divisions to deliver more integrated client solutions. It also reinforces Momentum’s long-standing commitment to the independent financial adviser (IFA) market while expanding its advice footprint to reach more South Africans.

Marais notes the remarkable turnaround at Momentum Insure, where repricing, better claims management, and innovative use of geolocation data have dramatically improved profitability and stability. These deliberate interventions, combined with more benign weather conditions, positioned the insurer as a sustainable and competitive player.

Equally important, Marais points to culture and engagement as key success factors. More than 1,700 employees dialled in for the latest results announcement, reflecting the groundswell of energy created by the group’s purpose: “We build and protect our clients’ financial dreams.”

Looking ahead, Marais emphasises the importance of advice in uncertain times, describing it as “like oxygen” for financial well-being. With strong momentum, a clear strategy, and engaged employees, Momentum is well-positioned to continue growing, even in a challenging economic climate.

Key Points

• Momentum Metropolitan delivered exceptional results, with all nine businesses performing strongly.
• The Impact Strategy (launched 2023) is driving collaboration, integration, and growth.
• Strong focus on the IFA market and expanding the group’s advice footprint.
• Momentum Insure turnaround: repricing, risk management, and technology driving profitability.
• A purpose-driven culture (“building and protecting financial dreams”) boosting employee engagement.
• In uncertain times, financial advice is essential, described by Marais as “like oxygen.”