City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
✓ 28+years’ experience within the automotive sector, currently leading Metair’s Retail Division as COO, from an MD role for the ZF Africa region. Previously ran Braking EMEA manufacturing, brand / product development and sales for Tenneco braking brands, holding positions of responsibility from group franchise and Technical Director to Managing Director. Extensive experience & contributor to EXCO (executive committee); comfortable operating at board/C-Suite level. Astute business acumen underpinned by controlling substantive budgets, driving turnaround initiatives and expanding operations. An articulate communicator, negotiator & influencer who solidifies relationships and whilst operating at executive level can often be found building common goals & aspirations at all levels. A genuine, focused, talent builder with a highly developed collaborative ethos who believes in reward and recognition. Creates, drives & excels within a high-performance culture, setting expectations and leading by example. Successful track record of building & strengthening pipeline opportunities with a strong, strategic and analytical mindset. Selected Achievements • Quadrupled the profitability (EBITDA) of my previous portfolio within 18 months • Turned the Sub-Saharan business around and grew 16%+ in the second year above pre Covid levels • Full business transformation focusing on diversity and inclusion within the South African environment in a young democracy driving inequality
Still in current position but a more expansive role. Taking over Africa
■ MD for Sub-Saharan Africa till Nov 2021, promoted to EMEA Business Line Leader (Ferodo Brakes) • Automotive brake pad specialists (cars, trucks, mountain bikes & racing cars) • Controlling manufacturing plant in Czech Republic & product management team in Italy • Collaborating & accelerating engineering output for UK, Spain & Czech Republic • Directing marketing initiatives via Belgium ■ People Management • Leading & guiding 24 heads of business (600+ indirect) - sales, supply chain, HR, marketing, product managers & finance • 360 strategy development & execution, business planning, brand shaping • Regular review of KPI & scorecard - aligning business expectations • Hands-on leadership, removes barriers to delivery, creates & embeds ownership culture, drives elevated service levels • Shaping internal equity, diversity & inclusion ■ Fiscal Management • P&L ownership for Ferodo brand, controlling & directing €270m revenue • Cost & expenditure overview & management • Commercial team collaboration to set yearly budgets • Forecasting & sales analysis, with initiatives to narrow gaps between forecast & actuals • As a board member (holding company) - leading financial consolidation programme, improving relationships with banking partners ■ Operational Leadership • Supplier Management - secured competitive PSL (flexing negotiation power) • Sales - control of retailer distribution & franchise model, mapping & execution of B2B & B2C sales channels • Research & Development - shaping integration of mountain bike product, working with R&D • Internal communication driver between divisions ■ Achievements • Took sub-Saharan division from in crisis to 16% growth in 2021 • With Head of HR, rolled out 2020 headcount restructure & furlough rollout • Project managed closure of African manufacturing plant, relocated to Czech Republic • Strengthened relationships with banking partners • Identified & rolled out, growth synergies between distribution centre & manufacturing plants
■ Entered private sector & bought dealership & workshop (aftermarket automotive parts) • Restructured all internal processes & workflows, accelerated sales strategy, reformulated & embedded franchise vision & unified workforce ■ Achievements • Doubled turnover within first year & sold the business for a substantive profit
■ Career Trajectory • Sales manager to sales director in 2009 - £130mill portfolio & 300 sales staff • Franchise director in 2013 - responsible for 400 franchises • Group franchise & technical director remit in 2014 (710 franchises split across workshops/bodyshops & retailers) within Sub-Saharan Africa ■ Leadership | People Management • Led, guided & mentored 37 direct reports (300+ indirect), build & develop franchisee network • Conducted regular meetings to determine challenges, formulate improved support for franchises & drive sales • Celebrated successes & build a highly capable internal talent pool ■ Franchise Management (310 retail stores & 400 workshops/bodyshop) • Championed strategic development of each franchise brand with provision of business & fiscal support, from restructure to formulating improved internal workflows & processes • Delivered sales, product & technical training • Embedded corporate identity & monitored franchise contractual agreements • Unified head office & franchisee relationships • Extensive fiscal overview & discussion with franchisees, determining initiatives on meeting budget expectations, route to market, price points, headcount management • Authorised all marketing collateral based on franchise demographic & target market • Formulated & rollout out training programmes across franchise network • Delivered & onboarded franchisees with expected yearly budget ■ Achievements • Spearheaded & led the conceptualisation & delivery of a new technical division responsible for supporting technical competence for all franchisees • Achieved 40% revenue growth in 4 years • Maintained high level of corporate identity and initiated a brand refresh • Developed strong relationships with franchisees to ensure increased revenue and budgets achieved • Implemented turnaround strategies with substantive positive impact across the business • Active contributor to EXCO (executive committee), comfortable operating at C-Suite/board level
Responsible for sales of wholesale distribution division across Southern Africa