Biography

Garth Klintworth is a senior banking executive at Absa Group Limited, currently serving as the Chief Representative Officer for Absa’s Americas office, based in New York. In this role, he is responsible for connecting global capital—particularly from the United States—to investment opportunities across Africa, with a strong focus on infrastructure, energy, and critical minerals.

Before assuming his current position, Klintworth served as Head of Global Markets at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking, where he led the bank’s trading and financial markets activities across the continent. He has been a key figure in positioning Absa as a leading Pan-African banking platform, helping international investors navigate African markets while promoting the continent as a compelling frontier investment destination.

Klintworth joined Absa (then Barclays Africa) in 2009 and has built a career spanning global financial markets, trading, and investment strategy. Prior to Absa, he worked as a Treasurer at J.P. Morgan and earlier as a derivatives manager at the Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Company, gaining extensive experience in capital markets and financial instruments.

An economist by training, Klintworth is widely regarded for his expertise in African financial markets, global macro trends, and capital flows. He has contributed to thought leadership initiatives such as the Absa Africa Financial Markets Index, which tracks the development and openness of financial markets across the continent.

Throughout his career, he has been an advocate for strengthening Africa’s financial systems, improving market infrastructure, and attracting sustainable foreign investment. His work increasingly focuses on positioning Africa within global supply chains—particularly in critical minerals essential for modern technologies—while ensuring that the continent captures greater value from its natural resources.