Ebi Patel
Ebrahim (Ebi) Patel, who’s forte is that of an innovator and individualist, is also the architect and engineer of Islamic Finance in South Africa.
During his 30 years with the FirstRand Group, Ebi has made his mark on every aspect of the businesses in which he has been involved, including the IT Division and Management Training Centre of the First Rand Group. He has collected numerous awards for excellence, also receiving the FNB innovation award for IT systems and solutions three consecutive times. Added to Ebrahim’s portfolio is the WesBank CEO’s ‘Award for Innovation’.
As the first Chief Executive Officer of Islamic Finance, Ebi was proud to launch WesBank’s ‘Shari’ah’ compliant products in 2004, adding offerings from First National Bank to the Banking suite in 2005. Ebi’s role in Researching, Developing and Introducing Islamic Finance through conventional banks in Southern Africa, is a groundbreaking Initiative, serving both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities.
Never one to rest on past initiatives Ebi was instrumental in launching Islamic Finance in Botswana in 2007. He has been instrumental in initiating FNB’s Islamic offering soon to be launched in Zambia and Mozambique. Ebi has been the key driver for the FNB Islamic Finance Rollout into Africa.
Ebi is well known both locally and internationally and has presented
Papers and consulted on Islamic Finance in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Malawi, Egypt, UK, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Dubai and South Africa.
In 1996 Ebi was invited to join the ISI Conference Advisory Board based in Pittsburgh USA and in 1998 was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Board.
He holds Marketing, Market Research and Practical Project Management qualifications from UNISA and has served as a Director on the Board of the Direct Marketing Association of South Africa.
Ebi has presented many papers on Customer Information,
Customer Data Quality and Customer Relationship Marketing at various conferences in the USA, UK and South Africa.
He has also completed the Management of Technology Programme through the Graduate School of Business of UCT and the Senior Management Development Programme at the University of Potchefstroom.
Ebi is very involved in community based social work and presently serves on SAMF (South African Muslim Federation) and the Central Islamic Trust, both organizations are involved in community outreach and social Upliftment programs.
Ebrahim is semi-retired, married with three children, he keeps busy with overseeing the family steel business which specialises in Profile & Laser Cutting, Rolling, Bending and the Fabrication of steel products.