Classic Business

Investec became the first SA bank to release a separate climate risk disclosure report aligned with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). It provides shareholders with a clear breakdown of the bank’s fossil fuel exposures and, crucially, correctly categorises natural gas as a fossil fuel.

And Shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of Investec’s climate risk-related resolution at last week’s AGM.Tracey Davies, executive director of Just Share, an environmental lobby group, chats to Michael Avery about how Investec set a new benchmark for climate risk disclosure.

Karen Nadasen, South African CEO of Naspers' PayU, and recently appointed Chairperson of the Ecommerce Forum South Africa (EFSA), is fulfilling her promise of a committed shift towards women in technology, and women in her community. She heads up diversity and inclusion for PayU across the continent and is an advocate and avid supporter of women in STEM. Michael Avery speaks o Nadasen about how, in her dual roles as Chairperson at EFSA and as CEO of PayU South Africa, she has taken a clear stance that diversity and inclusion need to move beyond lip service and into meaningful action and impact. What the current data around women in technology is telling us and how can this be changed within the ecommerce and technology industry.

On day 133 of the world’s most severe, stringent, economically damaging, irrational and disproportionate lockdowns, in which South Africa is still the only country in the world to ban the sale of tobacco and alcohol while the black market thrives, The Brandfather, Jeremy Sampson MD of Brand Finance Africa, calls out a ruling party embarrassed by its own corruption addiction

“Brands are about trust and there is none left in the ANC,” says Michael Avery.

To which Sampon replies, “the ANC's utterances: delusional, unbelievable, brazen, disingenuous, beyond corruption. As the FM puts it: the end of accountability”

Prof Adrian Puren, head of the Centre for HIV and STIs at NICD

Janina Slawski, head of investments consulting at Alexander Forbes

Chantal Marx, head of equity research at FNB Wealth and Investments & Petri Redelinghuys, founder of Herenya Capital Advisors

August marks five months without gyms; and that means five months without work for the fitness industry. For some, it means five months without the mental sanity that gyms offer – whether you work in the industry, or a fitness fan. Michael Avery spoke to Gisele Wertheim Aymes - Founder World of Longevity; Nikki Cockroft, the Global Chief Marketing and Technology Officer for Virgin Active Global; Boris Leyck, the Founder and Managing Director of Bodytec South Africa; Emma Heap, the Director of UK based Sudor.fit; Jenni Rivett, an international fitness and wellness consultant who once trained the late Princess Diana; about the impact of the continued shutdown of gyms on the industry.

CEO Bruce Strong

Cobie Legrange, co-founder of Rex Solom Invest

Liberty, founded by the iconic Donald Gordon in 1957, reported first half results largely in line with the guidance provided in its trading update. A loss of R2.2bn came in at mid-point of guided range. But some market participants were a little surprised that the Group has cut its interim dividend CEO David Munro, spoke to Michael Avery about the decision an response to Covid 19, which couldn’t have come at worse time for the CEO on a trunaround mission. Earlier this year Munro had hailed the company's step-change from a “turnaround” to a “growth” path as it announced a 42% increase in annual headline earnings.