Full Name
Velile Memela
Job Title
Group Chief Legal Officer & Chief Compliance Officer
Company
Sanlam
Speaker Bio
Velile Memela serves as Group Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of Sanlam Limited and Sanlam Life Insurance Limited, one of Africa's largest diversified financial services groups. The organisation maintains operations across insurance, asset management, banking, investment management and financial technology. Mr Memela leads the Group Legal, Compliance and Financial Crime function across multiple jurisdictions, advising the board, executive management and operating clusters on complex legal, regulatory, governance and strategic matters.
An admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa, Mr Memela holds an LLB degree and has built his career at the intersection of law, regulation, risk and strategy. His expertise encompasses insurance regulation, financial services law, corporate governance, AML/CFT, sanctions, conduct risk and financial crime prevention, with experience spanning South Africa and multiple international markets.
In his current role, Mr Memela is responsible for setting and executing the Group's legal, compliance and financial crime strategy across more than 30 jurisdictions. He engages regularly with domestic and international regulators, including the Prudential Authority, Financial Sector Conduct Authority, South African Reserve Bank and offshore supervisory bodies. He serves as a trusted adviser to the Group Board, Group Executive Committee and key board committees on regulatory, governance and risk matters.
Mr Memela has played a central role in strategically significant initiatives for the Sanlam Group, including mergers and acquisitions, disposals, capital raises, banking and fintech partnerships, and complex cross-border restructurings. His work involves overseeing large-scale regulatory approval processes, structuring distribution and banking propositions, and designing governance frameworks for emerging areas such as digital assets and fintech collaborations.
Prior to his current appointment, Mr Memela held senior legal leadership roles within Sanlam, including Head of Legal at Sanlam Specialised Finance, where he strengthened legal and compliance governance, integrated financial crime risk management into business strategy, and modernised operating models through legal technology and data-driven compliance frameworks.
Mr Memela actively participates in industry forums and regulatory engagements, contributing to policy discussions shaping the future of financial services regulation in South Africa and emerging markets. He is recognised for his collaborative leadership style, sound judgement and commitment to developing high-performing teams and mentoring emerging legal and compliance professionals.
An admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa, Mr Memela holds an LLB degree and has built his career at the intersection of law, regulation, risk and strategy. His expertise encompasses insurance regulation, financial services law, corporate governance, AML/CFT, sanctions, conduct risk and financial crime prevention, with experience spanning South Africa and multiple international markets.
In his current role, Mr Memela is responsible for setting and executing the Group's legal, compliance and financial crime strategy across more than 30 jurisdictions. He engages regularly with domestic and international regulators, including the Prudential Authority, Financial Sector Conduct Authority, South African Reserve Bank and offshore supervisory bodies. He serves as a trusted adviser to the Group Board, Group Executive Committee and key board committees on regulatory, governance and risk matters.
Mr Memela has played a central role in strategically significant initiatives for the Sanlam Group, including mergers and acquisitions, disposals, capital raises, banking and fintech partnerships, and complex cross-border restructurings. His work involves overseeing large-scale regulatory approval processes, structuring distribution and banking propositions, and designing governance frameworks for emerging areas such as digital assets and fintech collaborations.
Prior to his current appointment, Mr Memela held senior legal leadership roles within Sanlam, including Head of Legal at Sanlam Specialised Finance, where he strengthened legal and compliance governance, integrated financial crime risk management into business strategy, and modernised operating models through legal technology and data-driven compliance frameworks.
Mr Memela actively participates in industry forums and regulatory engagements, contributing to policy discussions shaping the future of financial services regulation in South Africa and emerging markets. He is recognised for his collaborative leadership style, sound judgement and commitment to developing high-performing teams and mentoring emerging legal and compliance professionals.
Speaking At
