Overview

Historically, Group Strategy and Corporate Affairs (GSCA) has been responsible for leading the management of the group’s image and reputation as well as the strategic planning process.

GSCA review of the year 2009

The group’s marketing programmes in support of building the Nedbank brand were successful in 2009. The improving brand equity growth trend of recent years was continued and indeed accelerated, and the gap between Nedbank and its competitors continued to narrow. Nedbank’s major sponsorships continued to play an important role in the profiling and building of the brand and consumer engagement. The new soccer sponsorship property – the Nedbank Cup – surpassed all expectations in its second year, and independent research revealed it to be the most impactful soccer sponsorship of the year in South Africa. Our ‘green’ positioning programme was given a high profile, and succeeded in retaining the high ground in this domain for Nedbank. The Nedbank Affinity Programme proved to be resilient in extremely tough market conditions, showing above-average growth relative to non-affinity products.

Nedbank Group concentrated on the deliverables in terms of the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) Codes by publishing its verified black economic empowerment scorecard. This is a first in the financial industry. In addition, Nedbank Group has continued to drive the agreed targets for 2016 in all elements of the scorecard in conjunction with all areas of the business.

In the light of the deteriorating global and local landscape, economic comment, insight and advice continued to be sought by both internal and external stakeholders.

GSCA continued to refine the group strategy, with specific emphasis on scenario planning with the Nedbank Group board in the uncertain environment.

The Nedbank Foundation won the National Business CSI/SED Award 2009 and Nedbank was recognised as the Social Responsibility Bank of the Year 2009 in the African Banker Awards. This acknowledged Nedbank for its commitment to the communities it serves. Nedbank Group’s total financial contribution to socioeconomic development amounts to R59,5 million for the period under review.

Outlook

A decision was made to split the cluster into two separate clusters, effective January 2010:

• Group Marketing, Communications and Corporate Affairs; and
  
• Group Strategic Planning.