He knew after reading an article in the Financial Mail about RMB that he was going to earn his bread and butter in investment banking one day. He was so adamant to get a foot in the door, that he even manned the switchboard at RMB for a while and worked for RMB's Queen. Today, David Downes is the Head of RMB Real Estate Investment Banking (REIB) and a proud RMB Class Of alumni.

Unlike most RMB Class Ofs who make their way to RMB as recruits from non-financial industries, David was recruited from RMB as a young BCom Finance (Hons) graduate from Wits. He spent all his varsity holidays at RMB doing tasks ranging from the menial to manning the dealing desk to get as much experience as possible in the bank. This learning continued when he was recruited as an RMB Class Of in 2000. Being on the RMB Class Of Programme gave him “an unfair advantage” in that he could try his hand at working for many divisions within the bank. “Being on the RMB Class Of Programme opens doors and enables one to network at a very high level,” says David.

His first rotation was in Structured Finance, from where he moved to Risk Management, Credit and Debt Capital Markets (DCM). It was during his time spent at DCM that he developed an interest in the property industry after working on some of the first securitisation transactions arranged by RMB, including a commercial mortgage backed securitisation on property.

The experience as an RMB Class Of stood him in good stead and prepared him for his current position as head of RMB Real Estate Investment Banking. With a spectacular view of the Sandton skyline visible from his corner office, David points out the many buildings RMB REIB had a hand in financing.

When he is not working on financing the next big real estate project, he volunteers his free time teaching mathematics to Grade eight pupils at a high school in Alexandra. Had it not been for financial reasons, he would've loved to teach maths full time. David feels so strongly about the value of teaching mathematics, that if he could do one thing that would make a difference in the world right now, it would be to promote mathematics and chess in schools.

“Chess, like mathematics, enables you to think strategically and tactically, improve your concentration and foreseeing consequences – these qualities you can take with you for the rest of your live,” adds David.

Given his love for maths it comes as no surprise that the one thing David values most in his life is authenticity – “to be true and original allows you to interpret things at face value,” says David.

What does the future hold for David? While he doesn't plan to far ahead – his vision for the is to grow a team that can make a good business great and for him to “continue finding his white space and to own it” – wise words he received from a fellow RMB Class Of alumni, Boshoff Grobler.