Head of Health and Benefits - South Africa

The Role

As Head of Health & Benefits (H&B) South Africa, you will lead the country's H&B business, driving growth, client excellence and team performance. You will be responsible for setting the strategic direction of the business, managing financial performance, strengthening client relationships, ensuring operational excellence and developing a high-performing team.

You will work closely with regional and global colleagues to bring the full capabilities of WTW to clients and contribute to the broader Africa H&B agenda.

Key Responsibilities

Business Leadership & Strategy

• Define and execute the H&B South Africa strategy in line with WTW priorities and market opportunities.
• Translate strategy into clear business plans, goals and performance measures.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity and client needs to identify growth opportunities.
• Represent the South African H&B business in local, regional and global leadership forums.

Financial Performance & Growth

• Own the annual budget, forecasting and overall business performance.
• Deliver profitable growth through client retention, business development and cross-selling opportunities.
• Lead pipeline management and sales governance activities.
• Ensure commercial agreements are financially sound and appropriately approved.
• Track key performance indicators including revenue, profitability, pipeline and collections.

Client & Market Leadership

• Act as executive sponsor for key strategic clients.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with clients and industry stakeholders.
• Support major renewals, tenders, negotiations and complex client engagements.
• Drive exceptional client service and ensure feedback is translated into continuous improvement.
• Promote WTW's Health & Benefits capabilities in the market.

Operations, Risk & Governance

• Ensure efficient business operations, service standards and resource planning.
• Maintain compliance with WTW policies, regulatory requirements and quality standards.
• Identify, manage and escalate business, operational and regulatory risks when required.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, Finance and Operations teams to maintain a strong control environment.
• Drive process improvement, standardisation and automation initiatives.

People Leadership

• Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing and inclusive H&B team.
• Set clear objectives and drive a culture of accountability and collaboration.
• Build succession plans and develop future leaders and technical specialists.
• Support employee development, wellbeing and engagement.
• Ensure workforce plans align with business priorities and client needs.

Collaboration & Regional Contribution

• Work closely with Africa, regional and global H&B leaders to align priorities and share expertise.
• Support multinational and Africa-related client opportunities where South African capabilities can add value.
• Contribute to regional initiatives, governance and talent development programmes.
• Foster strong partnerships across WTW businesses, including CRB, Work & Rewards and IGS.

Key Relationships

External

• Executive and Board-level client stakeholders
• HR and Finance leaders
• Medical schemes, insurers and service providers
• Prospective clients and industry bodies

Internal

• South Africa H&B colleagues and leadership team
• Africa Sub-Region H&B leadership
• CRB, Work & Rewards, IGS and Sales teams
• Finance, Legal, Compliance, HR, Marketing and Operations
• Regional and global H&B teams

Success in This Role

You will succeed by delivering sustainable business growth, building trusted client relationships, developing talent, fostering collaboration and ensuring the South African H&B business remains a market-leading 

Required Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional qualification.

Relevant insurance, employee benefits, healthcare, actuarial, finance, business or leadership qualification is advantageous.

Current regulatory credentials required for the responsibilities performed by the role.

Leadership and technical experience

Substantial senior leadership experience in Health & Benefits, employee benefits, insurance broking, healthcare consulting or a closely related professional services environment.

Demonstrated accountability for a sizeable business, portfolio or function, including financial performance, growth, client outcomes, people and risk.

Deep knowledge of the South African employer-sponsored health and benefits market, including medical schemes, health insurance, group risk and related advisory and broking services.

Proven experience leading senior client relationships, complex renewals, tenders, negotiations and multidisciplinary solutions.

Experience operating in a regulated environment and applying sound judgement to conduct, governance, quality and reputational matters.

Proven ability to lead through change, improve operations and build sustainable organisational capability.

Experience working across business lines and geographies in a matrix organisation is advantageous.

Core skills and behaviours

Strategic and commercial leadership with strong financial acumen.

Executive presence and the ability to influence boards, senior clients, colleagues and market stakeholders.

Client focus, sound judgement and a commitment to high-quality advice and execution.

Ability to turn complex market, client and operational information into clear priorities and decisions.

Strong communication, negotiation, relationship management and conflict-resolution skills.

Disciplined execution, transparent reporting and timely escalation of material issues.

Inclusive people leadership, coaching and talent-development capability.

Integrity, credibility, resilience and accountability under pressure.

Effective use of Microsoft 365, CRM, financial reporting and business-management tools.

Regulatory Requirements

RE1 and RE5, where required for the regulated activities and responsibilities assigned to the role.

FAIS fit and proper compliance, including applicable competence, honesty and integrity, and continuous professional development requirements.

Compliance with WTW policies, delegated authorities, the H&B Excellence Model and all applicable South African legal and regulatory requirements.

Any formal Key Individual or representative appointment is subject to business need, regulatory approval and documented delegation.

Success Measures

Delivery of agreed revenue, profitability, cash and growth objectives.

Strong client retention, successful renewals, sustainable new business and cross-business growth.

Quality client outcomes, effective executive relationships and timely resolution of material issues.

Accurate forecasting, disciplined pipeline management and effective use of management information.

Reliable operations, improved process efficiency and adherence to service and quality standards.

Effective risk, compliance and governance outcomes, with timely escalation and remediation.

Employee engagement, retention of critical talent, succession strength and development of future leaders.

Visible contribution to WTW South Africa and Africa H&B strategy and collaboration.

Other Requirements

Based in South Africa, with travel within South Africa and occasional regional or international travel as business needs require.

Ability to work flexibly across client, market and internal stakeholder priorities.

The final reporting line, job level, regulatory appointments and delegated authorities are subject to formal HR, business and regulatory approval.

Development Path

Potential progression includes broader sub-regional, regional or enterprise leadership roles, subject to sustained performance, organisational need and the WTW career framework.

We’re committed to equal employment opportunity and provide application, interview and workplace adjustments and accommodations to all applicants. If you foresee any barriers, from the application process through to joining WTW, please email candidate.helpdesk@willistowerswatson.com