As CEO and founder of Geddes, Brent leads with vision, integrity, and a deep commitment to supporting South African SMEs. He spends his days staying closely connected to the business, ensuring that the company remains on course to realise its mission: to be the most approachable and effective supplier of funding to small and medium-sized enterprises in the country.
Brent’s career is a testament to the belief that one size does not fit all, neither in financing nor in experience. After starting his professional journey at Accenture, he spent 11 years at Rand Merchant Bank, working across various high-impact roles in Private Equity, Treasury, RMB’s Africa strategy, and Commodities Trading. In 2008, he founded South Africa’s largest pomegranate production business, gaining hands-on entrepreneurial experience that would later shape the foundation of Geddes.
Combining his background in investment banking with the realities of building and running a successful agricultural SME, Brent developed a unique perspective on the challenges local businesses face. From access to capital and markets to navigating red tape and rising operational costs, he’s lived the journey of the very entrepreneurs Geddes now supports.
This personal experience inspired Brent to create a funding platform built on creativity, agility, and understanding. At Geddes, he has fostered a culture that treats every business individually, evaluating each funding application on its own merits and growth trajectory so that promising SMEs can seize opportunities and take the next step toward a sustainable future.
Brent brings a grounded leadership style to Geddes, shaped by years of hands-on business experience and a belief in people over processes. He is known for thinking big while encouraging action—his personal mantra, “Think big, start small, and start now,” guides how the business moves forward.
A natural entrepreneur from a young age, selling books and anything he could at local stations, Brent continues to lead with curiosity and courage. While he’s proud of many career accomplishments, he considers raising his children to be kind, honest, and empathetic people one of his greatest achievements. He’s also candid about the lessons learned along the way, including the importance of due diligence in business decisions and the value of building relationships on trust and shared purpose.
