Leila was appointed as Group CEO of the JSE effective 1 October 2019 and also held the role of inaugural Co-chair for the United Nations Global Investors for Sustainable Development convened by the UN Secretary General.

Prior to her role at the JSE she served as Executive responsible for Consumer Finance at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and served as the NSW Vice President of the Economic Society of Australia and on the Board Audit Committee of Lifeline Australia. Before this, Leila she held the role of CEO of the Australian Payments Network.

Before moving to Australia, Leila served on the Board of the JSE as Executive Director. Leila previously worked for Standard Bank as Card Division Managing Director. She also chaired the board of Diners Club and a Board Member on Discover’s Chicago-based Diners Club International Advisory board. Leila started in Standard Bank’s Investment Bank as Global Director Credit analytics, capital and portfolio management for SA, UK, Hong Kong, Russia, Brazil and Argentina.

Leila has a PhD in Economic and Financial Sciences and won the Economic Society South Africa Founders’ award in 2012 for best Masters Economics thesis in the country. Leila has published several articles in academic journals and actively advocates for policy development in various sectors.

Leila is an active rock climber, mountaineer and cyclist and plays the piano in her spare time.