Fairheads

Fairheads employs over 300 people. Our focus is assisting guardians and beneficiaries to manage funds entrusted to our administration as a financial services provider. We take this to heart and so the company’s culture is one of huge responsibility combined with a caring, considerate and respectful attitude.

In striving to maintain our mission as Southern Africa’s leading independent service provider of beneficiary funds and umbrella trusts, we place a premium on people development and staff training. In addition to ongoing internal training, we have a bursary scheme for staff tertiary training, a leadership programme and a client service learnership course in place.

There is a strong sense of belonging and support within the company and it is not unusual for people to have worked for Fairheads for 15 to 20 years or more.
 

Richard Krepelka, CEO

Richard joined Fairheads in 1989, working initially in private client fiduciary services. He then specialised in the development of umbrella trusts and beneficiary funds in Southern Africa and has led Fairheads’ umbrella trust and beneficiary fund business since its inception. Richard acts as trustee to a number of umbrella trusts and beneficiary funds. He is a qualified chartered accountant B.Com (Hons) CA (SA).  

Marilyn Brown, Financial Director

Marilyn joined Fairheads in 1989. She has a B.Compt degree and worked as the financial manager of various business units at Fairheads until she was appointed as group financial director in 2002. Marilyn’s responsibilities include finance, operations, risk and compliance, legal and human resource management.

Giselle Gould, Business Development Director

Giselle joined Fairheads in 2003. She is responsible for strategic liaison with potential and existing large clients as well as stakeholders ranging from organised labour, service providers, retirement funds, the FSB and the Master’s Office, to National Treasury. She sits on the Pension Fund Advisory Committee and was instrumental in helping develop the legislation for beneficiary funds. She heads up advisory and training services to Fairheads clients.

Nikki Jacobs, Client Consulting Director

Nikki joined Fairheads in 1997. She worked for 12 years in operations management and was head of department for a number of key accounts. She is now responsible for establishing and maintaining corporate business relationships and ensuring that the necessary service and reporting is delivered to clients. She plays a key role in the company's social responsibility activities and oversees member communication to ensure that it is accessible and clear.

Robyn Cowie, Legal Director

Robyn joined Fairheads in 1992 as a trust officer and was appointed a director of Fairheads International Trust Company (SA) (Pty) Limited in 1996. She is a highly experienced trustee of many high net worth private client trusts and individuals and has advised on all aspects of estate planning.  In 2009 Robyn was appointed Legal Director of Fairheads Benefit Services. She is the Chairperson of a number of umbrella trusts and beneficiary funds. She has a B.A.LLB.

Philip King, IT Director

Phil joined Fairheads in 1993. He has a B.Sc. (Hons), H.D.E. Phil fulfils a strategic IT function to keep Fairheads at the cutting edge of systems technology. He leads Fairheads’ in-house IT team of 13 professionals, mostly developers. Phil is responsible for all aspects of IT, including development, network and hardware, procurement, recruitment, support, R&D and consulting.

Monica De Oliveira Vilabril, Chief Operating Officer

Monica holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a Post Graduate Degree in Financial Planning Law. She is certified as a Financial Planner (CFP). Monica joined Fairheads in 2007 and for two years fulfilled various management roles including that of Operational Manager for The Fairfund Trust and Umbrella Beneficiary Fund. In October 2009 Monica was appointed Head of Operations overseeing four administration departments and three support areas, including the Call Centre and Tracing Team. Monica was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer in April 2011. Her focus includes the development and implementation of Fairheads business strategies for operations in order to maintain the highest level of customer service.

Aldrin Links, HR Director

Aldrin Links has an MSc degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Stellenbosch. As a registered counselling psychologist with the HPCSA, he had plied his trade in a variety of sectors. Aldrin joined Fairheads in 2005 as Human Resources Manager. He was tasked with the exciting challenge of aligning Fairheads human resources to meet the company’s operational and strategic objectives. He was appointed HR Director in 2011. In co-operation with a small, passionate and competent HR team, he has a wide variety of responsibilities, including developing, implementing and monitoring HR policies and procedures, recruitment and selection, employment equity, labour relations, training and development, performance management, the remuneration framework and processes, job evaluation and wellness programs. Aldrin derives great satisfaction in optimising employee potential to deliver operational excellence.