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ABSA (ARO)

Sanusha is a seasoned strategic partnerships and digital business leader, with over 15 years of experience spanning telecommunications, fintech, banking, defense, and consulting. She has a proven track record in driving strategic alliances, fintech innovation, customer loyalty, and business development across African and global markets. 

Currently, Sanusha serves as the Head of Partnerships, ARO Retail & Business Banking (RBB) at Absa Group, where she leads the strategic partnerships function across multiple African markets. In this role, she is responsible for developing, managing, and scaling high-impact partnerships across several sectors to drive financial inclusion, digital banking adoption, and sustainable revenue growth. 

Before joining Absa, Sanusha was the Head of Digital Banking & Partnerships at Sanlam Fintech, where she spearheaded strategic digital banking alliances, leveraging technology to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and drive fintech-led financial solutions. Prior to that, he/she spent over nine years at Vodacom Group, where she managed strategic partnerships with global digital leaders. During this tenure, Sanusha successfully led global-first product innovations, embedded finance solutions, loyalty partnerships, and digital transformation initiatives, contributing to market share growth and customer engagement across multiple African regions. 

An advocate for financial inclusion, ethical AI, and digital-first ecosystems, Sanusha has a strong track record of navigating complex regulatory landscapes, and executing data-driven strategies that unlock new business opportunities. She brings a global mindset and an ability to adapt and implement localized business solutions, ensuring sustainable and scalable impact in diverse cultural and economic settings. 

She holds a Master’s in Digital Business from Wits Business School, a Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Business, and multiple industry certifications, including being a Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional (CLMP®).