NEDBANK Namibia has come up with an innovative programme to boost the morale of its employees.
Titled ‘Exco Plus’, the initiative was established to provide an inclusive and diverse platform for innovation.
Through the initiative, Nedbank employees in junior and middle management positions are encouraged to contribute to the bank’s turnaround strategy by being creative and innovative with the goal of maximising efficiencies and leadership.
Silke van der Merwe, Nedbank’s executive: strategy and human capital explained:
“Committed people who can think strategically and execute diligently are our priority, and we are driving our employee engagement quite aggressively to meet the bank’s ambitious goals. This is driven through our talent management framework, and our continued investment in leadership development.
“With the establishment of a junior exco, our concerted efforts will contribute towards positioning Nedbank Namibia as the most popular financial services provider in our country,” said Van der Merwe.
The banking sector is prone to change and disruption, and Nedbank wants to create a high-performance culture which encourages innovation and contributions at various levels, and one that values the voice of the next generation that is willing to tackle an already challenging environment, she added.
The bank, therefore, saw it fit that with its new crop of leaders, it can focus on creating opportunities by cultivating bottoms-up improvement and feedback mechanisms, while remaining sufficiently prudent and preserving the interests of its stakeholders.
Christopher Chipeio from the retail division was elected chairperson of the forum.
“We are steering Nedbank to becoming the employer and bank of choice as part of our overall strategic objectives. Exco Plus is a manifestation of that, and our managing director, Lionel Matthews, is exceptionally excited about the prospects and the potential outcomes of this platform. Our members are committed to matching and exceeding expectations in terms of delivering on the goals we have set ourselves,” he added.
The Exco Plus members, who will serve a term of one year, have identified specific values to which they will align strategic initiatives such as integrity, accountability, execution, respect, focus and innovation, all of which allow the forum to create a platform for debate, engagement, problem-solving and conversation.
“Individually, our members will also use opportunities in a learning, peer-to-peer environment to grow. They have been tasked to identify a specific project, and set down the ground principles as to how they will conduct themselves through regular meetings to discuss projects that will benefit us in fulfilling our overall strategy. It also affords a platform with consistent engagement with our executive committee members,” Van der Merwe added.
Exco Plus will report on the progress of their projects at quarterly business review meetings. Monitoring components include benefits and impact analysis, as well as process efficiencies that will aid in increasing market share and revenue.
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
