Group Leadership
GROUP LEADERSHIP
Executive Directors
Braam Viljoen
Group Chief Executive Officer
Braam Viljoen
Group Chief Executive Officer
CA(SA), CFA, MCom (Financial Management)
57 years oldSubsequent to his internship with Deloitte and consequent qualification as a Chartered Accountant, Braam Viljoen joined the Risk Management division of Investec Bank Limited. He was later repositioned, and for the succeeding four years, was fundamentally involved in the bank’s Specialised Finance division. In 1998, Braam co-founded Merchant West within the Specialised Finance Division of a JSE-listed corporation. He held the position of Managing Director until 2002 when the business was repurchased and rebranded as Merchant West Holdings. Since then, he has served as the Group Chief Executive Officer. Braam’s tenure with the company spans 25 years. Braam is a CFA® charter holder, a Chartered Accountant and holds a Master of Commerce degree in Financial Management from the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU).
Johan Pretorius
Group Chief Operating Officer
Johan Pretorius
Group Chief Operating Officer
BCom Hons (Accounts), CA(SA)
47 years oldSubsequent to completing his articles at PKF (JHB) Inc. in 2004, Johan Pretorius joined Merchant West, and was appointed as Merchant West’s Group Financial Manager. Progressing within the organisation, Johan was promoted to the role of Group Financial Director in 2005, overseeing the financial affairs of the holding and associate companies. His career trajectory continued in 2013 when he assumed the position of Director of Business Development, contributing to the Specialised Finance team at Merchant West. In pursuit of strategic objectives, Johan relocated to Cape Town at the end of 2013, becoming the Regional Director of the Merchant West Cape Town branch. In October 2018, he expanded his role to Group Regional Director, undertaking responsibilities for all regional branches and spearheading the regional roll-out strategy. In October 2021, Johan was appointed to Group COO. Johans tenure with the company spans 20 years. Johan holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Honours, Accounting from the University of Pretoria and is a Chartered Accountant
Marissa Bellini
Group Chief Financial Officer
Marissa Bellini
Group Chief Financial Officer
BCom Hons (Accounts), CA(SA)
48 years oldMarissa Bellini brings extensive experience across financial services, hospitality and leisure sectors, with a strong focus on financial governance, regulatory compliance and strategic financial leadership. After completing her articles at Deloitte (Cape Town) in 2003, Marissa joined BDO Inc, progressing to Associate Director, where she was responsible for managing external audit engagements and client relationships across multiple industries. She transitioned into industry in 2014 as Finance Director at Capfin, where she played a key role in strengthening financial governance, regulatory compliance and strategic planning within a multi-jurisdictional financial services group. She subsequently served as Chief Financial Officer of a diversified hospitality, property and asset management group, leading group finance, treasury, risk management and governance functions, before most recently holding the role of Chief Financial Officer of Virgin Active Padel Group in a high-growth leisure business. Marissa joined Merchant West in 2025 as Group Chief Financial Officer, where she is responsible for the Group’s financial management, reporting and governance, and supports the execution of Merchant West’s long-term strategy. She holds a BCom Honours in Accounting from the University of Stellenbosch and is a Chartered Accountant (SA).
GROUP LEADERSHIP
Non-Executive Directors
Tladi Ditshego
Non-Executive Director
Tladi Ditshego
Non-Executive Director
BA - Georgetown University, Wash, DC; MA - Columbia University, NYC
65 years oldTladi Ditshego, a research fellow at the Georgetown University Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, is the current chairman of the board of Merchant West, an asset finance holdings company in South Africa, and non-executive director of eNL Mutual Bank, the first women owned bank in South Africa. Both companies are based in Johannesburg. He has extensive experience in corporate leadership and investment management and a demonstrated dedication to social and economic development. Ditshego has previously served as the chairman of Export Credit Insurance Company of South Africa. He has also served as the chief executive officer of the J&J Group, a South African investment management company, involved in the Gautrain—the high-speed express commuter rail system that links OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. He was the international affairs coordinator of the African National Congress during Nelson Mandela’s presidency. During that time, he managed the writing of Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom (1994), working closely with writer Richard Stengel, the then-deputy managing director and editor of Time. He holds an M.A. in international relations with a functional concentration in development economics from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a B.A. from Georgetown University; he also completed the Executive Development Program from Wits Business School, and Development Finance from the Development Bank of Japan in Tokyo.
Kaushik Patel
Non-Executive Director
Kaushik Patel
Non-Executive Director
BAccSc (Hons), CA(SA)
63 years oldKaushik Patel serves as a Non-Executive Director at Merchant West. Over his career, Kaushik has held various senior executive positions, showcasing his extensive experience. His roles include Finance Executive and Director at African Bank from 1998 to 1999, Financial Director at TEBA Bank from 1999 to 2000, Deputy CFO and later CFO at Telkom from 2000 to 2007, and CFO at SAA from 2007 to 2011. Subsequently, he served as CFO at J&J Group from 2011 to 2014. Currently, Kaushik holds the position of Managing Director in the ETG Group, one of the largest and fastest-growing integrated agricultural conglomerates in Africa, with an international presence in 52 countries. Additionally, he holds various non-executive board positions. Kaushik holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science (Honours) degree from the University of South Africa and is a qualified chartered accountant.
Lungile Mdluli
Non-Executive Director
Lungile Mdluli
Non-Executive Director
BCom Hons (Accounting), Bacc
49 years oldLungile Mdluli serves as a Non-Executive Director at Merchant West. She completed her articles at KPMG in Johannesburg, qualifying as a chartered accountant in 2000. Following her articles, Lungile joined WipCapital, a subsidiary of Women’s Investment Portfolio Holdings, as a manager in the Debt Products team. Subsequently, she moved to De Beers in 2002, initially as a project accountant in the Group Exploration Finance department, later transitioning to its Corporate Finance department. In 2005, Lungile became a part of the Metier Investment and Advisory Services team. Currently, she serves as a director and principal in the private equity team, with responsibilities including the execution of new deals and the management of portfolio companies. Lungile holds various directorships and has contributed to the South African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA) as its treasurer from 2015 until her recent term's completion. Lungile holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Honours, Accounting from the Rand Afrikaans University as well as a Bachelor of Accounting from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Modula Mofolo
Non-Executive Director
Modula Mofolo
Non-Executive Director
MFin (development finance) (Cum Laude), LLB, BA (Law)
49 years oldModula Mofolo serves as a Non-Executive Director at Merchant West. She completed her Articles at Webber Newdigate Attorneys Inc. and was admitted to the bar in 2000. Currently self-employed, Modula is a former Investment Executive, Private Equity at WDB Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd (WDBIH), where she drove the strategy for, implemented, and managed the mid-cap private equity investment portfolio. She also served as a Managing Director at Utho Capital Fund Managers (Pty) Ltd and an Executive Director at Musa Capital Fund Managers (Pty) Ltd. Additionally, Modula has experience as a Legal Advisor and Compliance Officer at Khula Enterprise Finance Ltd (now Sefa). Modula holds a master’s degree in development finance (Cum Laude), LLB, and BA (Law) degrees obtained in 2014, 1999, and 1997 respectively.
