James Formby has had a distinguished career in the financial and retail sectors. He is currently Chairman of Boxer Retail and Lead Independent Director at Pick n Pay, becoming Chairman on 5 August. Additionally, he serves as a Non-Executive Director at Vukile Property Fund, Nimble Group, and Infinite Capital Partners.

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James began his career at Deloitte and Touche, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and completed his articles. He then obtained an MPhil in Management Studies at Cambridge University. In 1997, James joined the FirstRand Group as a corporate finance transactor and adviser. Over the years, he held various significant roles, including Deputy Head of RMB’s Investment Banking Division in 2009, Head of Client Coverage in 2010 and a member of the RMB Management Board. In 2015, he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), where he was responsible for the overall business strategy, client relations, and market positioning. His expertise in structuring large transactions, including BEE deals, IPOs, and M&As, has been instrumental in his leadership roles. In recent years, James has been involved in the recapitalization and turnaround of Pick n Pay and the IPO of Boxer. His contributions to the financial and retail sectors have been widely recognised, making him a key figure in the industry.