l Appointed Absa Group and bank chairperson in 2007.
l Reserve Bank deputy governor from 1999 to 2004.
l Deputy minister of finance from 1996 to 1999.
l Born in Johannesburg on August 10 1949 - her family lived in Berea.
l Marcus attended Barnato Park High School for Girls in Johannesburg. She was a keen sportsperson and enjoyed swimming and horse-riding.
l The Marcus family left South Africa in 1969 and her studies - she had enrolled for a BCom degree at Wits University - were briefly interrupted.
l Switched courses to industrial psychology and finished her degree in London.
l She joined the ANC in 1970 and worked full-time for the organisation in London from 1975.
l She edited a newsletter, the Weekly News Briefing, which was distributed by the ANC around the world.
l Returned to South Africa in 1990 to set up the ANC information department.
l She enjoys listening to music, mostly jazz, and is an avid reader.