In conversation with Marlene Pillay
STANDARD BANK
AUDIO
READ TIME: 11min
Standard Bank’s Marlene Pillay on financing the future of property in SA and beyond Interviewed and written by Ray Mahlaka
There is a palpable sense of optimism in the air when you speak to Marlene Pillay , the Global Head of Real Estate Finance at Standard Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking division.
I n a climate often dominated by caution and pessimism, Marlene’s perspective is a blend of clear-eyed realism and unwavering confidence, not just in Africa’s property sector, but in the South Africa’s potential as well. “Why not be optimistic?” she asks, her tone both challenging and encouraging. “If you only see the downside, it must be quite depressing. However, we must be the architects of our own momentum. You need to be aware of the downside, but you need to be very committed to growth in South Africa. It cannot be someone else’s problem.” This forward-thinking ethos has defined Marlene’s journey over the past five
years at the helm of Standard Bank’s real estate finance business. It is a role she arrived at almost by accident. A Chartered Accountant, she started in mergers and acquisitions, then worked in private equity before joining Standard Bank in the early 2000s. She has since remained at Standard Bank, building her skills across leveraged finance, mining, energy and infrastructure, before moving into real estate five years ago when she was asked to lead the property financing business. She jokes, “I spent the first part of my career looking at assets underground, and now I look at assets above ground.” This varied background, she believes, is her greatest strength.
Marlene Pillay : Global Head of Real Estate Finance at Standard Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking division
October 2025 | Issue 141 | Asset Magazine 145
144 Asset Magazine | Issue 141 | October 2025
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