Absa CEO's R98.5m pay

BUYOUT AWARDS: FIHLA' TOTAL PACKAGE TOPS R148 MILLION FOR 2025

- Hilton Tarrant Moneyweb

Lumpsum was to compensate for awards Fihla lost when he left Standard Bank.

Kenny Fihla, who joined Absa Group as CEO in mid-June 2025, received a R20.7 million cash buyout award and a share-based buyout award valued at R77.7 million during 2025.

The bank says these awards were "in respect of awards forfeited with his previous employer" (Standard Bank Group).

Fihla joined Absa from Standard Bank, where he was deputy CEO of the group and CEO of its South African operations. Previously, he headed up the bank's corporate and investment bank unit, having been with Absa's rival for nearly 20 years.

In total, Fihla was awarded remuneration for the six-and-a-half months of R49.6 million.

This comprised total fixed remuneration of R6.3 million, short-term incentives of R23.3 million, and a long-term incentive award with a value of R20 million.

The short-term incentives were roughly evenly split between a cash award (R12.15 million) and a deferred share award (R11.15 million). The former was paid in March, while the latter will be granted in April.