A seasoned banker and strategic leader, Mike brings extensive experience in driving growth and transformation across Africa’s financial sector. He has held CEO, executive management and strategic roles, including serving as the Managing Director of Stanbic Bank Kenya Limited, where he led the merger of the Stanbic and CFC groups. He is now working as family business succession planning consultant and sits on various boards covering a wide spectrum of industries in East Africa. Having lived and worked in Kenya, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Uganda, he has developed a deep understanding of the continent’s diverse economies and business landscapes.
Currently based in Nairobi, he still has a heartfelt connection to his Cape Town roots and remains a passionate proponent for the city. “Cape Town has managed to shine in the face of immense national and global pressures, a city that blends resilience, creativity and opportunity in equal measure,” he says.
Mike serves as Chairperson of the Kenya-South Africa Business Forum, where he plays a pivotal role in promoting trade and investment between the two countries. Passionate about building sustainable economic linkages, he is excited about showcasing the city’s potential. Beyond his formal roles, he is committed to mentoring emerging leaders and contributing to initiatives that strengthen Africa’s financial and business ecosystem.
For him, representing Cape Town across the continent is a personal and professional privilege: “This city has such vibrance and potential, it deserves to be known for all the good that’s happening there. My role is simply to help others see it too.” His goal is simple but impactful; to contribute, in any way possible, to a city whose potential he deeply believes in his current advisory and succession-planning work, Mike finds that the human element is often the most challenging and rewarding part of the process. “Half of it is the business side but the other half is family dynamics and that can be both challenging and rewarding to navigate,” he says. He notes that conflicts within families can become deeply emotional and require a careful and steady approach. “You’re dealing with people who may not be reasonable in the moment, so part of the work becomes helping them get back to a place where meaningful decisions can be made,” he explains.
He also strongly believes in the cumulative power of small opportunities to elevate Cape Town’s global profile. “It’s about keeping your eyes and ears open because something small can turn into something significant for the City,” he says. He sees the ambassador network as a catalyst for this type of organic momentum: “It is that snowball starting to roll. Once it gets going, it becomes easier for Cape Town to gather more and more positive attention,” he adds.
Get in touch with Mike du Toit