Virginia Magapatona | Influence 100

Virginia Magapatona

Group Head of Communications & Reputation Management
Standard Bank
South Africa

 

 

Virginia Magapatona was appointed to the top comms job at Standard Bank in March this year, with a remit to oversee all communications activities for the major South African bank and financial services group. The company is Africa’s biggest lender by assets.

This is Magapatona’s second stint with Africa’s biggest lender by assets. She initially joined Standard Bank’s corporate and investment banking division in 2005 and stayed for four years. Chief group operating officer Margaret Nienaber said the organisation was excited to welcome Magapatona home.

Magapatona has more than 20 years of leadership expertise in corporate comms and reputation management. She previously worked at FNB, where she held numerous leadership positions including corporate affairs executive, reporting in to the CEO, and sat on the executive committee. She was also a trustee of the FirstRand Foundation.

Of her new role, Magapatona said: ‘It’s a great honour to once again be a part of Africa’s most valuable banking brand.’