Chief Legal and Risk Officer at Pepkor Lifestyle

The Role

• We are seeking a commercially-astute Chief Legal and Risk Officer to join our Executive Management team. This is a role designed for a leader who can bridge the gap between complex legal/regulatory requirements, across multiple jurisdictions, and the fast-paced demands of a large-scale retail and financial services portfolio. 

Key Performance Areas

• Integrated Risk & Combined Assurance: Architect the Group’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework. Implement a unified reporting model that integrates Legal, Risk, and Compliance into a single executive decision-making engine.
• Commercial Strategy & Advisory: Providing expert counsel on the legal/risk implications of multi-year business decisions.
• Data-Driven Fraud & Compliance: Develop proactive fraud prevention strategies and Group-wide compliance frameworks. Leverage BI and Data Analytics to ensure "on-time" information for decision-making.
• Governance & Legal Advisory: Deliver expert counsel on legal and regulatory obligations impacting corporate decisions and commercial operations.
• Credit Risk & Decision Support: Transform complex legal and regulatory requirements, alongside operational processes, into robust analytical frameworks to ensure optimal credit risk management execution and assist in establishing measurable, compliance-driven performance and efficiency criteria for the financial services brand, Pepkor Lifestyle Finance.
• ESG & Sustainability Leadership: Lead the implementation of sustainability reporting and manage interventions to fulfill Group requirements. 

What We Require

• Qualifications: LLB or B.Proc degree and admission as an Attorney or Advocate. Professional certifications in Risk Management (IRMSA) or Fraud Prevention are a plus.
• Experience: Approximately 12 years of career experience, with 5–8 years in a senior leadership role.
• Technical Mastery: Deep expertise in Corporate Law and Credit Risk. Familiarity with Data Analytics and BI tools is essential.
• Executive Presence: Exceptional negotiation skills and the "commercial street-smarts" to simplify complex legal/risk issues for non-legal stakeholders.

Skills

• Business Acumen: The ability to see legal and risk functions as business enablers.
• Executive Presence & Board Reporting: Experience presenting high-stakes risk profiles and legal strategies to a Board of Directors or Audit Committee.
• Crisis Management: A proven track record of leading an organisation through regulatory investigations, data breaches, or reputational crises.
• Change Management: The skill to instill a "culture of compliance" across global, decentralised teams.
• ESG Oversight: Skills in managing Environmental, Social, and Governance reporting and legal risks.
• Corporate Governance: Proficiency in board relations, subsidiary management, and secretarial duties.
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution: Strategic oversight of complex legal claims and external counsel.
• Transaction Excellence: Experience in M&A and due diligence.

Competencies

• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Leading and Supervising
• Adhering to Principles and Values
• Persuading and Influencing
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts
• Adapting and Responding to Change
• Entrepreneurial and Commercial Thinking

Closing Date 30 April 2026