Mariam Cassim

Mariam Cassim is the Chief Executive Officer of Vodacom Financial and Digital Services and a member of the Vodacom Group’s Executive Committee. Vodacom Financial and Digital Services is a diversification business undertaken by the cell-phone giant, designed to offer its massive customer base value-added services in addition to its core businesses. Since joining Vodacom, Mariam has successfully formulated and implemented a clear Financial Services strategy with three core focus areas (Payments, Lending and Insurance) growing it to become not just a meaningful contributor to the Vodacom Group but also a meaningful player in the Financial Services and Fintech industry in South Africa specifically and Africa more broadly. 

Mariam’s professional experience includes Corporate Finance and Deal Structuring, Mergers and Acquisitions, Debt Structuring, Commercial Evaluation and now, full CEO responsibility. Under her leadership, Vodacom Financial and Digital Services made an impressive turnaround from what used to be a loss-making business to a multi-billion rand profit making entity that now contributes to 6% of Vodacom Group‘s overall profits. 

Mariam joined the Vodacom Group from Telesure Group Services (one of South Africa's largest Short-term insurers) where she served as the Commercial Executive leading both the Commercial and Business Intelligence business units. Prior to her tenure at Telesure, Mariam held various roles at Thebe Investment Corporation, a leading South African investment company, building a career in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Debt Structuring and Synergy extraction within the portfolio of companies. 

Mariam believes that her flair for innovation, new business development and ultimate value creation allows her to generate creative business solutions which have a strong purpose element thereby benefiting business as well as society. In 2021, Vodacom Financial Services launched a first of its kind super app on the African continent in partnership with Global payments giant Alipay which makes digital financial inclusion a reality for more people than ever before. Mariam is also extremely passionate about female empowerment and diversity - 50% of her current 350 member team are women and just over 50% are IT/Tech professionals. 

“At Vodacom Financial Services, we believe that we have a responsibility to connect everyone and make a positive difference in the lives of all Africans. This is why we are focused on developing solutions that foster financial inclusion and economic growth through Mobile-first and Digital-first solutions, hence creating meaningful opportunities for all Africans.” Mariam Cassim. Mariam is a qualified Chartered Accountant with a MBA degree from the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business where she graduated Cum Laude.