Magda Wierzycka is a Polish-South African billionaire businesswoman and the CEO of Sygnia Ltd, a leading financial services company in South Africa.
She co-founded Sygnia and grew its assets from R2 billion to over R318 billion, making it the second-largest multi-management firm in the country.
Known for her anti-corruption activism, Wierzycka has been recognized as one of Africa’s most powerful women by Forbes.
Education
Wierzycka attended Pretoria High School for Girls after moving to South Africa at age 13.
She later enrolled at the University of Cape Town, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Science and a postgraduate diploma in actuarial science in 1993.
Career
Wierzycka began her career in 1993 as a product development and investment actuary at Southern Life.
In this role, she was involved in designing innovative financial products, including index-tracking funds.
After her time at Southern Life, she moved to Alexander Forbes in 1997, where she worked as an investment consultant.
In 2000, Wierzycka joined Coronation Fund Managers as a director and head of institutional business.
Under her leadership, the company established itself as one of South Africa’s leading asset managers by increasing its assets under management.
Following this successful tenure, Wierzycka became the CEO of African Harvest Group in 2003.
During her time at African Harvest, she led the company through a period of growth and transformation, ultimately culminating in its successful sale to Cadiz Financial Services in 2006.
In the same year, Wierzycka co-founded Sygnia Ltd with the vision of creating a modern financial services firm that emphasizes transparency and cost-effective investment solutions.
She has overseen remarkable growth at Sygnia, expanding its assets from R2 billion to over R318 billion.
The company has become known for its innovative approach to investment management and has introduced various products, including passive investment options such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Personal life
Wierzycka resides in Cape Town, South Africa, and is married to Simon Peile, who co-founded Sygnia with her.
The couple met during a dinner arranged by Peile, which included his boss, the CEO of South Africa’s largest pensions consulting firm, Alexander Forbes.
At this dinner, Wierzycka successfully persuaded Peile’s boss to offer her a job and pay off her bursary debt.
However, this professional connection eventually blossomed into a personal relationship, leading to their marriage.
