Experience

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  The Meridian Group

  • Grand Bay, Mauritius

  • Group CEO

    • Nov 2022 - Present
    • Grand Bay, Mauritius

    The Meridian group of companies is anchored in its vision to be a sustainable and transformational agricultural champion with a global presence. Through its various companies in-market, Meridian aims to be a national institution capable of achieving commercial success while contributing to national development, economic diversification and quality job creation, in addition to supporting social welfare. Meridian's mission is to lead the fertilizer industry in Africa, by maximizing the access to global commodities that provide local growth and ultimately improves continent-wide food security. The Meridian group was recently acquired by Saudi-Arabian mining giant, Ma’aden. With the support of the second largest phosphate supplier globally, this partnership will enable Meridian to make a significant impact in the region in the coming years. Fertilizer in Africa is a catalyst for growth, no other mechanism provides a faster route to improving food security on the continent, food security itself is a growth catalyst for the continent across many pillars. Doing business in Africa is investing in the future - it’s the continent with the biggest opportunities for driving high growth, uplifting millions of people and trading in a beautifully diverse environment.

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  Live the Journey

  • Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa

  • Shareholder and Non Executive Director

    • Mar 2020 - Present
    • Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa

    Shaping the management and governance culture of this creative Tourism enterprise and brand, I lead the strategy, planning, and execution of the innovative, unique destination management and experience enterprise. With a well-respected reputation for providing lifechanging, adventurous travel experiences for global tourists, Live the Journey Group is known for Destination Management and Unique Experience packages focussed on exclusive experiences within South Africa and Namibia.~ Leveraging extensive and dynamic leadership expertise, guide the cultivation of an impactful corporate culture focussed on delivering adventure travel and life-changing experiences for diverse global clientele.~ Led organisational restructuring and financial governance to ensure company positioning would be able to withstand the Covid-19 pandemic, establishing strategic cost-cutting and legal structure improvements to empower lasting resilience in the face of global uncertainty.~ Contributed extensive corporate knowledge to empower the success of this passion-based initiative, shaping innovative strategies and concepts to grow the fledgling organisation into a flexible, dynamic business.

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  Netafim South Africa

  • Kraaifontein, Western Cape, South Africa

  • Managing Director

    • Nov 2021 - Nov 2022
    • Kraaifontein, Western Cape, South Africa

    Increased water scarcity ask that we continuously reconsider the way irrigation water is delivered to plants. Thís is why Netafim™ exists.Netafim is the world's largest irrigation company and the global leader in precision irrigation solutions. It is active in 110 countries with 33 subsidiaries and 17 manufacturing plants worldwide, one of which is Netafim South Africa, housed in Kraaifontein in the Western Cape. Netafim South Africa has been serving South Africa and its neighbouring countries with irrigation solutions and services since 1992. In 2018, we were nominated as one of the top subsidiaries in the global company.

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  F Curve Agri

  • South Africa

  • Founding Director

    • Sep 2020 - Nov 2021
    • South Africa

    F Curve Agri is an independent international sourcing solutions provider in the fertilizer industry in Sub Saharan Africa. We offer a range of interactive solutions designed to give growers the necessary insight, intelligence, and relationships, to improve and streamline the sourcing of fertilizers. We work with growers to focus on and implement the critical aspects of fertilizer sourcing to achieve these savings.

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  Omnia Holdings

  • South Africa
  • Agriculture, Construction, Mining Machinery Manufacturing
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Executive Advisor

    • Aug 2019 - Aug 2020

    In my most recent role with this market leading chemical group specialising in leading-edge agricultural, mining, and chemical application industry products, services, and solutions, I shaped and spearheaded the company transition into the rapid-growth, international Agri-Bio industry, establishing Omnia as a true global player in the healthy living, environmental friendliness-focussed food production concept and industry.As Executive Advisor, I partnered with the board to strategise an effective, win-win exit plan, providing ongoing leadership and consultation to preserve institutional knowledge and streamline operational hand-over. In this fashion, I was able to ensure enduring organisational success and viability.

  • Group Managing Director (CEO)

    • Jun 2017 - Aug 2019

    Steering the ~5K-employee Group through a major global expansion and acquisition phase, I established operational strategy, vision, mission, and teams. In this capacity, I cultivated lean Exco teams, IT infrastructures, and governance policies, revitalising Board and management teams to drive organisational improvements needed to transition the group into a global business. During this time my primary focus was on the prioritisation of sustainability, impactful leadership, employee engagement, and safety control, aligning with the global high-growth Agri-Bio industry centred on improving environmental impact and enabling healthier lifestyles.~ Spearheaded tactical acquisition and business development operations, positioning Group in high-growth markets. ~ Successfully enhanced risk management frameworks, stakeholder engagement, employee relations and team culture, and cross-departmental collaboration.~ Headed the design, construction, and ramp-up of major capital projects of R1B+, leading the on-time and on-budget start-up of a large-scale production plant as well as other initiatives.~ Captained the penetration of new growth markets, prioritising corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability practices to meet the emerging needs of a second Green Revolution as a part of the Agri-Bio industry.~ Negotiated and resolved a long-standing legal Competition Commission dispute.~ Cemented Group viability, shaping future-state and long-term sustainable growth strategies focussed on diversifying geographical exposure, products and services, and business portfolio.~ Empowered improved financial reporting and control, leading the implementation of the cutting-edge Microsoft Dynamics AX business system.~ Increased revenues 15% (to R18.6B) and asset values 30% (to R16.6B); improved case rates -0.11.~ Rationalised costs, saving R75M across divisional operations.~ Secured first-ever shareholder underwritten rights offer in RSA.

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  Omnia Fertilizer

  • South Africa
  • Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing
  • 400 - 500 Employee

  • Managing Director (RSA)

    • Jan 2012 - Jun 2017

    During this time, I drove organisational growth and expansion for the 1,500+-employee business unit, leading enhancements to meet expanding market needs. Key focusses in this role included rising to the challenges of a second Green Revolution and fourth Industrial Revolution to cement Group position as the market leader, and reprioritising employee needs to emphasize engagement and safety.~ Strategised a R1.4B Nitrate production complex investment, defining production, planning, and procurement impacts to shape operational plans. ~ Steered growth, production efficiency, and innovation, ensuring significantly enhanced plant production reliability, quality, throughput, and cost competitiveness. ~ Spearheaded strategic product, service, and solution differentiations, leading innovation to drive the development of an all-new business venture with a focus on Precision Farming, Technology, and Big Data.~ Liaised with a key supplier to negotiate and resolve a longstanding financial dispute with a win-win outcome.~ Enhanced financial performance, doubling profitability and driving revenues up 45% to an outstanding R6.4B through cost rationalisation and customer focus.~ Innovated and invested in the first South African agricultural Biological Laboratory.~ Delivered a 45% increase in production volume while improving quality more than 300%.~ Spearheaded the advancement of specialty product, high-margin sales, raising volume by 300%+.~ Improved recordable case rates (RCR), delivering demonstrable enhancement from 1.94 to 0.58.~ Developed, administered, and implemented major capital projects with values of more than R4B.Prior experience as Planning and Procurement Director, Omnia Fertilizer; Financial Manager, Dimension Data Logistics; Internal Auditor, Dimension Data Group; and Auditor/Accountant, Reay Lee & Vernon Lee Chartered Accountants. Further details available upon request.

  • Planning and Procurement Director

    • Jan 2009 - Jan 2012

    Governing end-to-end financial functionality, I performed complex P&L, balance sheet, budgeting, tax, financial controls, costing, margin management, and reporting operations. ~ Cultivated organisational understanding of profit business drivers to enhance overall costing and decision-making processes. Developed strategic financial controls.~ Successfully returned the business from a loss to record profits, increasing gross margins from 25% to 31%.~ Facilitated an extremely successful Microsoft Dynamics AX implementation through expert management and communication of key financial, costing, and control processes.~ Headed investigations into a large acquisition in Jordan to determine financial impact and viability.

  • Financial Director

    • Jan 2007 - Dec 2008

    The agriculture division of the Omnia Group comprise of agriculture RSA, Agriculture international and Agriculture trading and is the market leader in its field in South Africa and Southern Africa. The division produces and trades in granular, liquid, direct application ammonia and speciality fertilizers for a broad customer base of farmers, co-operatives and wholesalers throughout South Africa, Southern and East Africa and to select markets in Australasia, Brazil and Mauritius. The division is recognised as an international player in agriculture biologicals (Agribio) and water soluble nutrient markets with an extended product range that is exported to 35 countries globally.

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  BME, a Member of the Omnia Group

  • Gauteng, South Africa

  • Finance Manager

    • Nov 2003 - Jan 2007
    • Gauteng, South Africa

    In this capacity, I governed all financial reporting, accounting, and controls, executing expert budgeting and forecasting as well as governing tax and IT business processes across South Africa, Mali, Mauritania, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Mauritius. ~ Partnered with the Financial Director and an in-house team to drive internal process and cash flow improvements, rationalising costs to deliver optimal return.~ Comprehensively restructured the department to significantly improve performance and cost efficiency.~ Drove strategic reporting automation initiatives, enhancing information accuracy and flow to empower effective and timely line management decision making.

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  Dimension Data

  • Johannesburg Area, South Africa

  • Financial Manager

    • Apr 2000 - Oct 2003
    • Johannesburg Area, South Africa

    Dimension data is a leading IT technology, services and solutions provider on a global basis.

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  Reay Lee & Vernon Lee

  • Ladysmith, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

  • External Auditor

    • Jan 1994 - Apr 2000
    • Ladysmith, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

    Small-firm articles and part-time studies through UNISA as a Chartered Accountant. Wide range of practical experience including management, business administration, accounting, auditing, tax and reporting in a wide range of industries.