Jeanette Marais

Jeanette Christina Marais-Cilliers (; born 1967 or 1968) is a South African businesswoman who has been chief executive officer of the Momentum Group since August 2023. She formerly held executive positions at Stanlib, Old Mutual, and Allan Gray.

Early life and education The eldest of five siblings, Marais was born in 1967 or 1968. Her father and grandfather were Afrikaans-speaking farmers, and she grew up on the family farm near Reddersburg in the southern Free State. She completed a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and statistics at the University of the Free State. Later in her career, she completed a part-time Master of Business Administration at the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Career in business Marais began her first job in March 1990 at Momentum, an insurance company. Thereafter she moved to sales and marketing roles, including as part of the team that launched Momentum Administration Services. In 1999 she left Momentum to join PSG, where she helped set up the group's unit trust, Between 2009 and 2018, she worked at investment management firm Allan Gray, first as co-head of retail and then as an executive director for distribution and client services. Her appointment was part of a leadership reshuffle that also included the appointment of Hillie Meyer as chief executive officer; In May 2023, at the end of Meyer's five-year term as chief executive, Marais was announced as Meyer's successor with effect from 1 August 2023. She became the first woman to lead the company.

Personal life She is married to Johann Cilliers. Marais has completed several ultramarathons.