Divisional Head: Asset and Liability Management at South African Reserve Bank, South Africa
Pierre Nkou Mananga is a seasoned financial expert and systemic risk scholar with over 19 years of multifaceted experience spanning financial institution regulation, treasury and balance sheet management, and academic research in finance. Based in Sandton, South Africa, Pierre currently serves as the Divisional Head of Asset & Liability Management at the South African Reserve Bank – Prudential Authority. He is widely recognized for pioneering strategies in liquidity, interest rate, and capital risk management, and for his influential academic contributions in interbank contagion and systemic risk analysis. A strong advocate for disability inclusion, Pierre is also a dynamic leader, consultant, and mentor across the Southern African financial landscape.
🔹Professional Profile:
Orcid Profile
🎓Education Background
-
PhD in Finance (Ongoing)
Antwerp Management School, Belgium
Focus: Systemic Risk and Interconnectedness in the Non-Banking Sector
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hairui Zhang
-
Master in Finance & Investment (With Distinction)
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Thesis: Liquidity Risk Management in the Banking Book (Cited in regulatory policy by SARB)
-
B.Sc. in Pure Mathematics & Operations Research
University of South Africa
Graduated Top 5% | Specialization: Stochastic Processes, Linear Programming, Statistics
-
Professional Certifications & Development
-
Senior Management Program, University of Cape Town
-
Advanced Treasury Risk Management, ACT
-
Advanced Certificate in Banking & Insurance, VU University Amsterdam
-
Mechanics of Financial Markets, Beaufort Institute
💼 Professional Development
Pierre began his career as a Quantitative Analyst at Standard Bank and later held critical treasury and risk management roles at Absa-Barclays and MMI Holdings. At MMI, he led major liquidity risk framework transformations and merger integrations. As Group Head of Treasury at Letshego Holdings, he optimized FX and funding strategies across 11 African nations. In 2018, he assumed leadership at the South African Reserve Bank, where he currently drives the regulatory agenda for banking, insurance, and asset management sectors. He also founded Treasury & ALM Consulting, providing training and strategic advisory to top-tier institutions across Southern Africa.
🔬Research Focus
-
Systemic risk and financial stability
-
Interbank contagion and multilayer network theory
-
Balance sheet optimization and liquidity stress testing
-
Treasury innovation and risk hedging methodologies
His research bridges the gap between academic rigor and regulatory application, notably with his peer-reviewed work on interbank contagion in The Journal of Financial Stability. His current PhD explores interconnectedness in South Africa’s non-banking sector.
📈Author Metrics:
-
Peer-reviewed publications:
-
“A Network Approach to Interbank Contagion Risk in South Africa” – Journal of Financial Stability
-
“Dissecting the Nexus of Systemic Risk: An Integrated Analysis of Banks, Insurance Firms, and Asset Managers” (2025, upcoming)
-
Research impact: Cited in policy frameworks by SARB
-
Active contributor to scholarly and regulatory dialogues on financial risk
🏆Awards and Honors:
-
2023: Team Excellence Award, RCAP Assessment
-
2020: Special Recognition, SARB COVID-19 Regulatory Relief Response
-
2015: Innovation Award, MMI Holdings – Liquidity Risk Framework
-
2007: Outstanding Contribution, Absa-Barclays – Global Financial Crisis Response
📝Publication Top Notes
1. A Network Approach to Interbank Contagion Risk in South Africa
Abstract :
This study investigates the resilience of the South African banking sector by applying a dynamic agent-based model and the DebtRank algorithm. Unlike previous studies that focus solely on listed banks, this methodology encompasses both listed and non-listed institutions, capturing the systemic importance and vulnerability of all banks within the interbank market network. Findings indicate that while larger banks exhibit greater systemic importance, a statistically significant correlation exists between a bank’s interbank-lending-to-equity ratio and its vulnerability. Additionally, a bank’s size and specific interbank activities influence its systemic contribution in terms of both importance and vulnerability. These insights offer policymakers an empirically grounded framework for enhancing financial stability monitoring and risk mitigation efforts.
Conclusion:
Based on his deep expertise in systemic risk, policy relevance, innovative methodology, and broad professional impact, Mr. Pierre Nkou Mananga is a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award.
He exemplifies the ideal profile of a scholar-practitioner—bringing together rigorous academic research, regulatory foresight, and real-world leadership in one profile.
✅ Recommendation: Strongly Recommend for Best Researcher Award – Systemic Risk Category