Xhanti Payi - Commentator and Lead Economist at Nascence Research & Advisory

Xhanti Payi is a researcher and economist whose views are regularly sought out by local and international media, including television channels such as eNCA and the BBC. He is also a columnist for the Business Day and the Daily Maverick, and has contributed articles international publications like the Financial Times. He is increasingly a sought out speaker on the South African speaking circuit, and an established and regular commentator across media platforms. Payi started his career at Investec Private Wealth as a portfolio analyst looking after private client portfolios. Following this he spent four years as an economist at Stanlib Asset Managers, one of South Africa’s largest money managers. In this role he researched emerging Africa as well as BRICS -providing research, analysis and views to portfolio managers, as well as clients and the media. He also worked as Country Risk Manager, supporting the Corporate and Investment Banking risk function for the Standard bank group as regards country risk in west and southern Africa.With academic training from the University of Cape Town and the University of London, he is currently Director and Economist at Nascence Research & Advisory, a research and business strategy outfit he co-founded to produce policy and industry research as well as business strategy and advisory services with a network of specialist associates.“An important facet of Nascence is our own architecture, which is about building a strong business that’s able to grow from a thin base, but flexible enough to survive market changes while taking care of our people and partners. This is partly through our creative engagement of skills and labour, and nuanced research and advice for our clients.”Payi also serves on the advisory panel of the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry on Black Industrialists, as well as on the board of the Gauteng Opera and The Other Foundation.