"I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your outstanding work on PFR - your diligence and attention to detail have truly stood out and have not gone unnoticed"
Giancarlo Grassini – CFO, SA Professional Consulting
" I had the opportunity to work with Azhar on the same team. Although for a short time, it was enough to see the type of person and colleague he is. He brings integrity and a genuine care for people into everything he does. The lasting impression he left upon me was how he truly sees and values the individuals he works with; recognizing their strengths and encouraging them to achieve greatness while supporting them from behind. He built both client and internal relationships with ease and sincerity. He puts the needs of his clients first, truly creating an authentic client experience, and delivering excellence consistently."
Kerenza Reddy – Talent Experience Architect, SA Professional Consulting
"Working with Azhar is such a wonderful experience! He truly cares about the people he works with, has an abundance of knowledge, and was very supportive and communicative during our time working together. Highly recommend working with him!"
Atoosa Schofield – Client, Stone Alliance Group USA
"I've had the pleasure of working with Azhar for a year, and he has proven to be an exceptional leader who always prioritizes his team. Azhar's passion for personal development is truly inspiring. He approaches every matter with the same level of dedication and attention that he would give to a presentation for the executive committee. Azhar has led multiple initiatives and incentives within our sales department, driving significant growth. He has also played a pivotal role in shaping my career goals and transforming how I view my contributions."
Manelisi Mthiyane – Senior Funding Solution Specialist, Merchant Capital
"Azhar is a highly strategic and knowledgeable leader with a proven ability to develop innovative business solutions. He's driven, focused, and incredibly ambitious. His deep understanding of the business world makes him a rare talent who would be a valuable asset to any company."
Nicholas Oehley – Senior Funding Solution Specialist, Merchant Capital
"When it comes to the definition of a true leader, Azhar is a perfect example of that. He is an exceptional manager and dedicated to helping his team achieve greatness. He always offers a lending hand to the team and I am very fortunate to have him as my manager. He has a wealth of knowledge and his understanding of driving workplace efficiency is what sets him apart from the rest."
Deepesh Dayah – Senior Account Manager, Merchant Capital
"A great addition to the team.He has brought a professionalism and can-do attitude that is permeating through the business"
"Azhar is a brilliant A-Team player and MC is lucky to have him. Big on hustle & hugely results-focused. He manages business risk carefully and never misses the opportunity to add value to the business. A great role model to the team"
"Azhar is very people-focused, but at the same time strives to create a high-performance culture focused on exceeding sales and retentions targets. He always takes the time to walk around and chat to his team"
Q3 FY2024 360 Feedback – Colleagues,Direct Reports & Manager, Merchant Capital (Anonymous)
"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. That is what Azhar has done during his time at Merchant Capital. Azhar has an uncanny ability to remove complicated chaos from the problem at hand, and execute urgently on a clear path forward. He has shown me how to be a leader who is not only focused on improving team performance within the workplace, but instead making a greater difference by pushing people to fulfill their personal aspirations. Thereby fostering the most healthy of teams, and paving the pathway for top performance both personally, and professionally. I will always value my time under him, thank you for your influence."
Jodi Hunter – Head of Sales Fulfilment, Merchant Capital
"Azhar is a true powerhouse, he has brought in a wealth of knowledge and insights into our company, and has grown and developed our team, and personally he has been an exceptional mentor and manager. He has in a short time made a huge difference in how our company operates, and made sure our client experience is top-notch. Whatever company chooses him to be a part of their team would be really lucky."
Telishia Naidoo – Senior Account Manager, Merchant Capital
"Azhar embodies the MC values and always goes above and beyond. He is compassionate, supportive and understanding. He has innovatively improved multiple departments, improved the performance of the sales team and secured an important partnership for the bank statement requests API project in his first 3 months in the role."
Dov Girnun – CEO, Merchant Capital (A-Team Player of the Quarter Announcement)
"Azhar is always professional and has done well to quickly learn the ropes at MC and develop the team while bringing new ideas."
"Having a proactive person in this role for the first time is already proving valuable for the business. He is a dynamic thinker & looks at problems in the broader scheme of things and works on solutions by breaking down the problem."
"Azhar always collaborates on interdepartmental challenges and has a win-win outcome in mind. He has a results-driven mindset & has set his team up well by driving the right behaviours. He is very output and solution orientated so things happen quickly & results are seen."
"Creates the directions, identifies gaps & opportunities and drives the outcome. He is very diligent and when something doesn't pan out as planned he brushes it off and moves on."
"Azhar is the ultimate A-Team player who consistently makes a difference to the people around him with his innovative thinking. He is making a material difference to the team- performance, process & structure. He puts energy into people and is able to systematise the hustle."
"Azhar has been exceptional in implementing processes to ensure the most streamline and sustainable outcome is achieved."
"Nothing is too big or too small for Azhar. He takes responsibility for outcomes, always addresses a problem with a solution-based mindset and quickly works out plans to improve performance. He is the calm to the storm."
Q2 FY2024 360 Feedback – Colleagues,Direct Reports & Manager, Merchant Capital (Anonymous)
"Thank you so much for your generous collection and donations to Princess Alice, Azhar. Your support has made the Christmas season much brighter for us. It is much appreciated."
Jo-Anne Schermeier – Manager , Princess Alice Adoption Home
"It has been a pleasure working with you these past few years. I wish you continued success wherever your next path leads you! "
Amy Foglyano – Talent Lead , EY USA
"Best wishes for your future endeavours, thanks for your work over the past year in helping us navigate some tricky resourcing challenges!"
Norman Neil – Partner, HLB Mann Judd Perth
"Thank you for all of your support during your time at SAPRO. It was a pleasure working together, and I have no doubt you will succeed in your future endeavours."
Cara Borg – Business Partner, BDO Australia
"Bold, Level-Headed, Empathetic Leader. Azhar is an exceptional entrepreneurial thinker with a strong focus on client centricity. His empathy shines through in every interaction-whether with clients, team members, or strategic partners. He stands up for what he believes is right, balancing boldness with logic, collaboration, and kindness. I'm speaking for so many people, especially those who worked with him at SAPRO Consulting. He’s a true leader with a heart and mind in the right place."
Ruan Nel – Client Success Manager, SAPRO
"Azhar is one of the most supportive, motivating and intelligent managers I've had the privilege of working with. He is such a humble leader despite his wealth of experience and skill, yet he is always eager to learn from his colleagues be they higher or lower than him in "status" or experience. That said, I believe Azhar sees every individual he works with as valuable and important."
Hayley Nixon – Client Success Manager , SAPRO
"Azhar is a one in a million type of manager. Thoughtful, supportive, empathetic yet driven and ambitious. He fostered an uplifting culture where everyone could be themselves. Azhar taught us that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. He motivated great work ethic, always went the extra mile and inspired us all. It was a big privellige to work with Azhar. Excited to see what wonders you will be achieving."
Adeline Biewenga – Client Success Manager , SAPRO
"Working with Azhar has been a pleasure! He is timely, thoughtful and creative thinker, to name a few of the attributes I have experienced with Azhar. If you have the chance to work with Azhar your client experience expectations will be met"
Christine Powers – Partner, ABDO
"I have had the privilege to work with Azhar during his tenure at SAPRO. Azhar is very strategic in his thinking and meticulous in his role. He has an incredible work ethic. Not only is he an invaluable asset to any organization, but also a joy to work with. He is not only a colleague we will miss, but a great friendship gained."
Lindsay Harrison – Talent Acquisition, SAPRO
"Azhar epitomizes someone that takes initiative, seeks creative solutions and strives to think smart/make work easier (more effective, efficient, productive, successful, fun). Azhar's superpower is coming up with solutions. His brain doesn't stop thinking and applying what he has learned from previous work experiences, his studies and his general curiosity. If he thinks that there is a way that SAPRO can be better, whether it is "his job" or not, he will offer suggestions. He is generous with his time and efforts and shares wins and learnings with colleagues to help them to improve."
Rachel Platt – Chief Experience Officer, SAPRO
“Azhar has the innate ability to see past a problem and convert it to an opportunity. He has passion for digitisation which will serve him well in his career.”
Nqobile Gigaba – Head of Customer Service, FNB Private Clients
“Azhar has been an absolute star in my team, he contributed immensely to the strategic goals of our team and broader business unit in a short space of time, he introduced and implemented innovative business solutions which proved extremely favourable with our customer base. He built solid credible relationships with his stakeholders and I have no doubt he will continue to add value to any business unit he is employed in”
Shari Dean – Client Service Manager, FNB HR Shared Services
“There is only 1 word that comes to mind when I think of Azhar, and that is Brilliant. His passion, adaptive mindset, human side are just some of the characteristics that make him such a valuable asset to any organisation. Azhar is able to take a complex problem and simplify it that Everyone is able to grasp and move forward on. He embodies a Servant Leadership style approach when dealing with anyone.”
Hussein Khan – Learning Consultant, FNB Private Clients
“This week I needed urgent assistance with a project. Azhar stepped up with creating the Yammer site. This is not the first time Azhar has assisted us. We have rolled out critical projects to the business and Azhar was there every step of the way. Azhar, thank you, we appreciate you and you inspire us.”
Kresan Govender – Learning Architect, FNB Private Clients
“Azhar is result orientated, works very well with stakeholders and is not shy to raise his hand up to ensure project execution is successful. He is truly living the values of the bank.”
Ryan Jacobs – Project Manager, FNB Private Clients
“Azhar is a role model in many ways - how he carries himself with his work; his colleagues; his team. how he guides and teaches, how he lives the culture and values of the bank. His knowledge is impeccable! i learn from him each day! always looking for ways of implementing efficiencies in his role! Azhar is an asset to PC and FNB as a whole!”
Tebelelo Marweshe – Project Manager, FNB Private Clients
"Very few people have the opportunity to report to a manager who is a leader, mentor and life coach—but I did when I reported to Azhar. I am always in awe at his ability to juggle multiple projects effortlessly while maintaining the same level of excellence. He believes in himself and his abilities, he's a persistent individual (and this is evident in his exponential career growth in a very short period of time). His passion for growing people and always looking for opportunities to make a positive impact is out of this world! That's his super power. Wherever he is going there will always be greatness and that's just who he is and what he does"
“Thank you for being an incredible leader, thank you for being intentional about holding us (as a team) to account for excellent work, our goals and holistic growth. I have always thought there was bar to excellence that one should always aim for, but under your leadership I continue to learn that there is no bar! We continuously have to give of our best in everything, we get to choose how great we want to be. Thank you Azhar”
Prudence Motha – Quality Assurance Specialist, FNB Private Clients
“Azhar has been so proactive with marketing in coming up with the new ideas to reduce call volumes at the Service Suite. I really appreciate his effort”.
Tammy Bolon – Head of Marketing, FNB Private Clients
"Azhar sees the best in every person that he meets and in every situation which he encounters. He overcomes and he thrives, no matter the circumstance. He is everything that any organisation should seek in an employee, and most importantly, he is an amazing person. An absolute asset."
“Not only a good leader, but more importantly, a good person. Your innate nature to be kind, to help, to encourage and empower, to fight for your people - it is inspiring. Thank you!”
Bronwyn Bagley – Private Banking Analyst, FNB Private Client Service Suite
“A Huge Thank you to Azhar Saley for assisting Premium with the Business Continuity Plan. This is not an easy task to do but Azhar has done and amazing job on his own. Thank you for assisting and assisting us in meeting our deadline. we really do appreciate you.”
Thirusha Barua – Administration Manager, FNB Premier
“Azhar is a knowledgeable individual, extremely approachable and polite. He makes collaboration between the Premium sub- segments a breeze.”
Samantha Singh – Operations Head, FNB Premier
“Azhar is someone who constantly helps others without wanting or expecting anything in return. Someone who motivates you and guides you. Someone who wants to see people around him winning. I am honestly grateful for every piece of advice you have given me and others.”
Qhamokuhle Ngqongwa – Private Banking Analyst, FNB Private Wealth
“This gentleman has continuously proven to be an innovator, introducing fresh ideas on how bankers can effectively perform, thus enhancing client experience and taking the PCSS to the next level. In short if Innovation was a person than it would be Azhar Saley.”
"Azhar is an excellent manager to have and amongst other things he is innovative, strategic, great leader and a solution orientated man with a key goal for excellence in whatever he does."
Amon Mgidi – Quality Assurer, FNB Private Client Service Suite
“In the Last few months Azhar has been given a mammoth task for handling the Business optimisation desk. He has throughout this period tried his outmost best to reduce the complexities in the suite with Innovations Solutions. He has tried to rope in as many people as possible to get the system in which the service suite operates as simple as possible. Your hard work and efforts do not go unnoticed.”
“Today i received help from Azhar being a Saturday and he was in class and not working however he is always deeply invested in this business and helped out even though he did not have to. He made time to help out. thanks for always being there when you can help”
“They say that the simple things in life are free, but it does not stop Azhar from spending precious time on growing the people in Private Client. Every day he sends out a motivational message to the business in order to inspire people to succeed in everything that they do. It shows how deeply invested he is in the people of FNB and not just about the bottom line. He goes out of his way to make people think that there is always light at the end of the road. To some it is just the message that they need to here on that day. These efforts do not go unnoticed, they are seen by the way you have uplifted some of us in our most trying times. We APPRECIATE YOU!!!”
Lee Spies – Team Leader, FNB Private Client Service Suite
"Azhar was my team leader for 2 years - he has very strong leadership skills. He would motivate his team to always do better not only at work. I remember when I couldn't find a recommended textbook for one of my modules he bought the book and gave it to me. He is passionate about seeing other people succeed."
Khetani Mukoma – Support Banker, FNB Private Client Service Suite
“Thank you so much for your exemplary support and service ethics. It will certainly stand you in good stead in your future career. I know you will still reach great heights in your career if you continue with the good work that we have become accustomed to.”
Pieter Massyn – Head of Human Resources, FNB International
“Thank you so much for your great service and support! You have really made a big difference in my life and our team” Helen Potgieter
Human Resources Operations Manager, FNB Namibia
“It’s honestly hard to explain how integral Azhar is to FNB. He is extremely helpful, Very hard-working and has a strong work ethic. Azhar is deeply invested in the company and has a very positive attitude towards his work and is willing to go the extra mile, he is reliable and works hard consistently. Thank you for living the FNB promises, you absolutely are the BEST!”
Odette Esterhuizen – Complaints Consultant, FNB Private Client Service Suite