Alewyn Burger


Alewyn Burger is a South African banker and former chief operating officer of Standard Bank. He has a PhD in mathematics from the University of South Africa and attended Harvard Business School's six-week Advanced Management Program.
He semi-retired from his position at Standard Bank in 2011 and currently acts as an advisor for PwC and SAP. He also teaches as a visiting professor at the University of Stellenbosch Business School.

Academic life and early career

His studies started at the Rand Afrikaans University in Johannesburg where he received an MSc degree in mathematical statistics in 1974 and subsequently earned a PhD in mathematical statistics at the University of South Africa in 1981.
In 1991 he completed an Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

ABSA Bank merger

Burger had a key position during the Absa Bank Group merger between 1992 and 1997, which included amalgamating United Bank, Allied Bank, the Volkskas Group as well as the Sage Group. Burger was instrumental in integrating the IT systems into a single integrated operation, and transforming the organization from a product silo structure to a more customer centric.

Current and previous directorships

Board and advisory positions
  • Absa Bank Group
  • * Commercial Bank Divisional Board
  • * Corporate Bank Divisional Board
  • * Financial Services
  • * Private Banking and Investment Services
  • * Bankfin
  • * Cortal Direct
  • SA Banking Council
  • Global Access SA
  • Destiny Electronic Commerce
  • Smartec Technonologies
  • Payments Association of SA
  • Transwitch Services, Easypay
  • Visa International Regional Board
  • MasterCard Regional Board for Middle East and Africa
  • Maestro Global Board

Awards and recognitions

He is married and has three children.