Oliver Wyman appoints Sandra Villars to Financial Services practice
Global strategy and management consulting firm Oliver Wyman has welcomed Sandra Villars to its partnership in South Africa.
An expert in finance, risk management, sustainability, and regulation, Sandra Villars brings more than 20 years of experience to her new role, which marks her return to Oliver Wyman. She previously served the firm between 2004 and 2012, working across multiple markets, predominantly in Africa. She most recently acted as a senior advisor to the consulting firm from October 2021 until her appointment this month.
In her role as partner, Villars will be based in Johannesburg and will contribute to some of the most pressing challenges facing Oliver Wyman’s clients in the African financial services sector. She will, among other things, provide strategic advisory on topics such as treasury management, sustainable financing, risk governance, and business transformation.
“I’m incredibly excited to take on this new role at Oliver Wyman, a company that has already been an instrumental part of my career. Africa’s financial services sector, like so much of the continent, has immense potential for sustainable growth. It’s an honour to be part of a team that’s so dedicated to unlocking that potential and delivering impact,” said Villars.
After her first spell at Oliver Wyman, Villars worked with financial institutions in the US, UK, Africa, Europe, and Middle East. This includes time spent as the Head of Treasury and Capital Management for Standard Bank’s Africa Regions, during which she focused on 17 countries in Africa. She was also the Head of Capital and Treasury Management for the Ecobank Group, where she helped to establish a sustainable financing platform while managing the corporate treasury.
Welcoming Villars to the firm, Paul Calvey, Partner and Head of South Africa at Oliver Wyman, said: “It’s a privilege to have someone with Sandra’s depth of experience working across Africa at Oliver Wyman. Her expertise will be very valuable as we continue to build our presence across the continent, offering both global insights and best-in-class market knowledge to help support our clients.”
