Standard Bank Vision
The ultimate test of the group’s strategy is whether it will enable us to deliver superior ROE and sustainable growth in earnings- either immediately or in the very near future, and whether superior performance will be sustained over the long term. We refreshed our strategy during the year to express this goal more explicitly, and to provide a strategic construct to guide the execution of the group strategy within our business units and enabling functions. Each of them are responsible for ensuring that their plans are aligned with the group strategy and values.
The rearticulated elements of our strategy encompass the group’s purpose, the factors that underpin our legitimacy, our guiding principles and our vision. All of these elements express our belief that the long-term profitability of our group depends on the stability and wellbeing of our continent, and that our pursuit of profit in a competitive market will lead, in the main, to socially beneficial outcomes.
Our people and culture will determine our success in executing our strategy. As the foundation of our culture, our legitimacy is vitally important. It stems from our over 150-year heritage and is vested in the relationships we build with our customers, clients, employees, shareholders, regulators and other stakeholders. Our values underpin our legitimacy and are intended to reinforce the trust our stakeholders have in our organisation.
Our guiding principles are designed to enable us to make well-considered decisions quickly and effectively. They pertain to keeping the promises we make to our clients and the speed, efficiency and thoughtfulness with which we fulfil those promises; the culture of accountability, effective decision-making and social relevance we wish to build; and the way in which we execute our strategy. We are currently rolling out our guiding principles to the organisation, which is involving broad-based consultation on the practical implications of these principles for the way we work.
Our vision is to be the leading financial services organisation in, for and across Africa, delivering exceptional client experiences and superior value. Africa is our home, we drive her growth, and our vision provides us with a set of primary goals and a standard of excellence that ensures we deliver on our purpose.