SOUTH AFRICAN INDEX
THE PEOPLE SHAPING SOUTH AFRICA
Menu
Business · Living

Paul Hanratty

Actuary and insurance executive

By South African Index Editorial Desk · Published · Updated · Last reviewed

Portrait of Sanlam group chief executive Paul Hanratty
Paul Hanratty, Sanlam group chief executive.: Supplied / Business Day · Source. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.

Paul Hanratty became Sanlam group chief executive on 1 July 2020. [2][5]

The board extended his term through 31 December 2027. [4]

Biography

Hanratty studied actuarial science at the University of Cape Town and qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries. [3][5]

He began his insurance career in 1984 and later led Old Mutual South Africa. [5][7]

Old Mutual appointed him group chief operating officer in 2014. [7]

He joined the Sanlam board in 2017 and became group chief executive in 2020. [3][2]

He remained group chief executive at the 30 June 2026 reporting date. [2]

Key contributions

Brought operational and actuarial experience from South African and international insurance businesses. [5][7]

Led Sanlam during the proposed R21.2 billion scheme to acquire the remaining eligible Santam shares. [6][2]

Life and career timeline

  1. Started his insurance career. [5][7]

  2. Became managing director of Old Mutual South Africa. [7]

  3. Became Old Mutual group chief operating officer. [7]

  4. Joined the Sanlam board. [3]

  5. Became Sanlam group chief executive. [2]

  6. Agreed to continue through 31 December 2027. [4]

Frequently asked questions

Who is Paul Hanratty?

He is Sanlam group chief executive and an executive director. [3][2]

When did he become Sanlam chief executive?

His appointment took effect on 1 July 2020. [2]

Does the chief executive own Sanlam?

Executive management is separate from shareholder ownership. The 2025 statements list the major shareholders independently. [1][3]

Related people

  • Patrice Motsepe — Founder and executive chairman of African Rainbow Minerals and president of the Confederation of African Football.
  • Willie Hofmeyr — South African lawyer and business organiser who became the first chair of Santam and Sanlam in 1918.

Related institutions and movements

  • Ubuntu-Botho Investments — Broad-based Black-controlled investment company formed in 2004 as Sanlam’s empowerment partner and a material Sanlam shareholder.

Associated organisations

Related research

Sources

  1. Sanlam Limited, Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, 2026-03-12. Original source. Accessed 2026-11-04. ↩
  2. Sanlam Limited, Interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026, 2026-09-10. Original source. Accessed 2026-11-04. ↩
  3. Sanlam Limited, Notice of Annual General Meeting 2025, 2025-03-27. Original source. Accessed 2026-11-04. ↩
  4. Sanlam Limited, Chief executive officer succession, 2024-06-06. Original source. Accessed 2026-11-04. ↩
  5. Sanlam ESG Barometer, Paul Hanratty: Group Chief Executive Officer, Sanlam, 2025. Original source. Accessed 2026-11-04. ↩
  6. Sanlam Limited and Santam Limited, Posting of the joint scheme circular and notice of the general meeting, 2026-11-03. Original source. Accessed 2026-11-04. ↩
  7. Old Mutual plc, Directorate change: appointment of Paul Hanratty as chief operating officer, 2014-05-12. Original source. Accessed 2026-11-04. ↩