Political Risk and Structured Credit Leader – Africa

Marsh; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Inclusive culture

Career opportunities

Job summary

Marsh is seeking a senior leader to head the Political Risk and Structured Credit practice for Africa from Cape Town. The role involves building a coordinated business-development approach across private equity, banks, and corporate clients, and aligning with Marsh IMEA and UK teams.

You will own the strategy, lead senior stakeholder engagements, and oversee revenue, risk, and client renewal plans across Africa.

Qualifications

• 8+ years' experience in political risk, structured credit, or related fields
• 3+ years' management or senior leadership experience, preferably in a client-facing environment
• Strong business-development, communication, influencing and negotiation skills at C-suite, investment committee, or risk levels
• Thorough technical knowledge of political risk and/or structured credit solutions

Responsibilities

• Lead the Political Risk and Structured Credit practice across Africa, aligning with Marsh IMEA and UK colleagues
• Build and execute a multi-year growth strategy focused on business development, client origination, and revenue growth
• Develop senior relationships with private equity, banks, commodity traders, public agencies, multilaterals, and corporates
• Design and deliver an end-to-end client proposition from origination and risk analysis to structuring, placement and renewal
• Own the business-development agenda, originating and converting priority opportunities across key client segments
• Manage revenue reporting, forecasting, budget planning, client retention and margin performance
• Provide market intelligence and thought leadership on developments affecting Africa
• Drive collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the team and Marsh network

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Communication

Negotiation

Job description

We are seeking a talented individual to join our Political Risk and Structured Credit team, part of our risk business at Marsh. This role will be based in Cape Town, South Africa. This is a hybrid role that has a requirement of working at least three days a week in the office.

Our Political Risk and Structured Credit practice supports investors, traders, corporates, financial institutions and public-sector organisations navigating complex political, credit and country risks across Africa and other emerging markets, working closely with colleagues in IMEA and the UK to design and place tailored insurance and risk solutions. As Political Risk and Structured Credit Leader – Africa, you will lead the development of this proposition and build a coordinated business-development approach across private equity, banks, commodity traders, public agencies, multilaterals, infrastructure investors and large corporates operating across the continent.

We will count on you to

• Lead the Political Risk and Structured Credit practice across Africa, in close alignment with Marsh IMEA and UK colleagues, specialist resources and global market relationships
• Build and execute a multi-year growth strategy focused on business development, client origination, pipeline conversion and profitable revenue growth
• Develop senior relationships with private equity investors, banks, commodity traders, public agencies, multilaterals, infrastructure investors and corporates expanding across Africa
• Design and deliver an end-to-end client proposition, from opportunity origination and risk analysis through to structuring, placement, claims support and renewal strategy
• Own the business-development agenda, personally originating, sponsoring and converting priority opportunities across key client segments
• Manage revenue reporting and forecasting, annual budget planning, client retention and margin performance for the practice
• Provide market intelligence, data analysis and thought leadership to clients, prospects and internal stakeholders on political, regulatory, economic and credit developments affecting Africa
• Drive collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the team and wider Marsh network, ensuring appropriate training, coaching and development for colleagues

What you need to have:

• At least 8 years' experience in political risk, structured credit, trade credit, country risk, banking, investment, insurance or a closely related specialty line
• At least 3 years' management or senior leadership experience, preferably in a client-facing commercial environment
• Strong business-development, communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage credibly at C-suite, investment committee, treasury, risk and public-sector levels
• Thorough technical knowledge of political risk and/or structured credit solutions, with experience structuring and placing large, complex or bespoke insurance programmes

What makes you stand out?

• A proven leadership and business-development track record in Political Risk, Structured Credit, Trade Credit, Banking, Private Equity, Infrastructure or Commodity Trading
• A strong network across African markets and established relationships in London and the wider UK financial and insurance markets
• Proven ability to execute cross-border strategies and work effectively across IMEA and the UK

Why join our team:

• We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work and supportive leaders.
• We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can work with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have impact for colleagues, clients and communities.
• Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities, as well as benefits and rewards to enhance your well-being.

Marsh (NYSE: MRSH) is a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit marsh.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Marsh is committed to embracing a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age, background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are also committed to providing reasonable support to any candidate with a disability to allow them to fully participate in the recruitment process. We welcome candidates to contact us at [e-mail] to discuss any specific needs.

Marsh is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one 'anchor day' per week on which their full team will be together in person.