Werner Alberts is the new group finance and operations director at Capital International.

Werner is responsible for the group finance, operations, IT, HR, and compliance departments.

After qualifying as a chartered accountant at a big four accountancy firm in his home country of South Africa, Werner has had a distinguished career in the financial services industry.

In 2001, he joined Old Mutual where he held various positions within the corporate finance, debt and leveraged finance business.

During his time there, Werner became involved in a new retail finance joint venture between the group and an Isle of Man based business, where he was initially appointed to finance director and later, to CEO.

In 2015, Werner relocated with the business to the Isle of Man, where he worked full-time in building additional joint venture businesses for the group in other territories.

Werner considers his biggest career achievement so far as taking on an integral role in a new business build and development, which expanded so successfully that over 10 years, it grew to hold more than 300 retail branches across South Africa and Namibia, whilst its employee count went from a handful of people to over 3,000.

Werner believes this success was achieved by building a winning team culture based on solid values, being customer focused, and supporting the delivery with efficient processes and systems; which are values he carries into his new role at Capital International Group.

Capital is in the process of implementing its ambitious strategic plan.

Werner will be focused on enhancing and strengthening the foundations and internal procedures to enable the group to grow its current business and successfully launch various new initiatives including a new bank under the island’s Alternative Banking Regime.

Werner is most looking forward to being part of the team that will establish the first new generation digital corporate bank in the Isle of Man, especially at such an exciting time of rebranding the Group.

He also looks forward to overseeing the development, advancements and growth within the existing business in an integrated manner that will exceed customer expectations and challenge team members.

Since joining the team, Werner has already spent time in the Capital International South Africa office in Cape Town, getting to know the team that work there and building his knowledge of the significant acquisition completed by the Group in October.

About his appointment, he said: ’It is a privilege to be part of the Capital International Group that has been growing over 21 years on the strong foundations of ’’innovation, integrity and excellence’’.

’These are values that I have seen for myself, since joining, which are truly lived daily by the people that work here. I am delighted to have the opportunity to play a key role in our journey ahead, to grow the Group into an international technology-driven advanced financial services institution.’

Group chief executive Greg Ellison said: ’Werner is already playing a really significant role in the Group and brings with him extensive experience from an outstanding career.

’His appointment is another signal of the growth and ambition within the firm and I look forward to working with him on a number of very exciting and ambitious plans in the months and years ahead.’

Werner Alberts