Goolam is the chief economist and head of research for the Standard Bank Group, having served in this role since May 2004. The bank’s commercial emphasis is on Africa and the research function supports this endeavor.
Standard Bank Research comprises 53 analysts and 10 support staff, variously located in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos, London and Beijing.
Goolam is a previous winner of the top South Africa economist award and his team consistently earns accolades for macroeconomic research on Africa as well as numerous sectoral, industry and financial markets honors. He heads a research team whose particular strength is its analysis of macroeconomic and political economy subjects in Africa and leading emerging economies.
Goolam’s interest spans politics, the real economy and financial markets. He pilots Standard Bank’s views in these areas and has a particular interest in public policy. Goolam has served as advisor to various public officials and was participant in the crafting of South Africa’s New Growth Path.
Goolam regularly engages in public dialogue on national and continental issues and routinely addresses audiences across the global.
Goolam read for degrees in economics, business economics and accountancy at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape.
