Africa’s economic ascent continues unabated, with six of the world’s ten fastest-growing economies now located on the continent.
As sectors like technology, consumer goods, and infrastructure drive unprecedented expansion, the custodians of this transformation sit in the executive suites of Africa’s stock exchanges.
These CEOs and Managing Directors, through a combination of expertise, opportunity, and strategic positioning, now help the institutions that power Africa’s economic infrastructure.
From the historic Johannesburg Stock Exchange to the rapidly growing Nigerian Exchange, these leaders represent diverse backgrounds but share the privilege of guiding markets that collectively surpassed $1.4 trillion in capitalization.
Their boardrooms make decisions affecting millions of investors, from local pension funds to international institutions seeking African exposure. This profile examines the select group of CEOs and MDs entrusted with steering these vital financial institutions.
From capturing the market capitalization of the exchanges, to the last three-month percentage growth so far in 2025. Let’s take a look.
- Market cap: $1.1 trillion (ZAR 20.28 trillion)
- YTD: 5.40%
- Stocks listed: 438
Dr. Leila Fourie is Group CEO of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), Africa’s largest bourse. Appointed in 2019, she leads the JSE’s strategy, ensuring its competitiveness in capital markets. With 25+ years’ global financial experience, she has held leadership roles at Standard Bank (including Card Division MD and Global Credit Director), Australia’s Commonwealth Bank (Consumer Finance Executive), and as CEO of the Australian Payments Network.
An influential voice in sustainable finance, Dr. Fourie serves as Co-Chair of the UN’s Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) and helps shape climate disclosure standards with the London Stock Exchange.
- She sits on multiple boards, including Strate (CSD) and Business Leadership South Africa, and previously served on the Economic Society of Australia’s NSW committee.
- Educated to PhD level in Economic Sciences, she won South Africa’s 2012 Founders’ Award for best Economics Master’s thesis.
- Her career spans investment banking, payments, and exchange operations across South Africa, Australia, UK, Asia, and South America, giving her a unique perspective on emerging markets.
Founded in 1887 during South Africa’s gold rush and headquartered in Sandton, Johannesburg, the JSE is the engine of the nation’s economy, facilitating capital raising for listed companies and providing an orderly securities market.
After demutualizing and listing itself in 2005, the exchange has grown into a modern financial hub under Dr. Fourie’s leadership since 2019.
