Charles Rowlinson

Executive Chairman - WIZZIT Bank, South Africa

Charles Rowlinson is a highly renowned entrepreneurial executive in South Africa and has a record of success in business management with both South African  and international firms. Charles has an estiblished reputation as a visionary for human empowerment through improving education and career opportunities. He provides financial and strategic expertise on business practice in Africa.

Charles began his career as a financial development manager in the head office of Malbak Limited. He was later promoted to financial director after merging a Malbak subsidiary with a Cullinan Group subsidiary in late 1983 to help drive their acquisitions.

In 1984, after completing his MBA, Charles decided to leave the corporate world and acquired Renwick Management Services. He established the Renwick Group, creating growth both organically and via acquisition. The Renwick Group was focused on human resources and became a dominant player in each of its divisions, namely Renwick Management Services, Renwick Executive Search, MSL, Thomas International, Chart Outplacements, Accountants on Call, Renwick Compensation Consultants. Charles merged the Renwick Group with the newly listed JSE group, the Education Investment Corporation Limited (EDUCOR). A number of strategic acquisitions were made in this division during 1997, including the Kelly Group and PAG.

By early 1998, Charles was appointed CEO of EDUCOR, and later that year, Chairman and CEO of the group. The group had a very successful period on the stock exchange and subsequently acquired its education division in 2000 from South Africa's largest media group, Naspers. EDUCOR then changed its name to Logical Options and was acquired by Brait a private equity player. It was de-listed from the stock exchange in March 2001.

Shortly after leaving EDUCOR,  took on the challenge with his partner Brian Richardson to find a solution to banking the un-banked.  Years of research for the project meetings with the South African Reserve Bank, and consults from experts Cyril Ramaphosa and  Finmark Trusthassled, led to the creation of ‘The WIZZIT Model', which utilizes cell phone technology to reach and extend financial services to the un-banked population.