Dubai, United Arab Emirates
I’m a CEO who combines solid financial strategy background, from years spent in CFO positions, with deep understanding of the commercial drivers of businesses operating in emerging markets, across mobile finance and fintech. I lead the overall business strategy of Optasia, to ensure value is realized by our shareholders based on the delivery of uncompromising service to our business partners. Being a South Africa native, I’m strongly driven by the possibilities and vibrant energy that characterizes the frontier markets, while I genuinely understand and appreciate their socio-economic conditions. I’m passionate about what I do and find strong motivation in my personal contribution to opportunities Optasia creates: granting financial access for the next billion customers, boosting financial inclusion, and empowering people as well as businesses to realize their potential. As a CFO I have led the financial strategy in various organizations across the largest developing markets in Africa, Middle East, LATAM and Africa. In my later leadership roles, I have ensured that the organizations I have been responsible for were provided with the necessary focus, resources, infrastructure, and financial guidance to develop into market leaders. My main strengths are my ability to recognize and understand the importance of creating value through our organization without compromising principles, including vision and mission, through a supportive working environment, combined with a strong sense of delivery and overall business support. Specialties: Focused, Multi-Disciplined, Structured, Ownership, Results Orientated.
• Overseeing all operations and business activities to ensure they produce the desired results and are consistent with the overall strategy and mission • Developing high-quality business strategies and plans ensuring their alignment with short-term and long-term objectives of the company • Leading and motivating the team of talented professionals, to advance engagement & developing a high-performing organization • Taking high-quality investment decisions to advance the business and increase profits • Enforcing adherence to legal guidelines and in-house policies to maintain the company’s legality and high business ethics • Building trust relations with key partners and stakeholders • Managing problematic situations and occurrences; providing guidance and solutions to ensure positive outcome and company growth • Maintaining a deep knowledge of the markets and the industry in which the company operats Key achievements: - 2018 Optasia (than Channel VAS) presented spectacular growth of its activity and its size. The company had an addressable base close to 700 million mobile subscribers that were using our services while its operations accounted for $3 billion of the market’s total $100 billion value. The footprint reached more than 30 countries globally, working with 27 mobile network operators, in regions like the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, Europe and of course Africa. - 2018 South African investment company Ethos invested R700 million (ca. 42 mln USD) investment into Optasia (than Channel VAS) - 2019, the company expanded its activities in new countries and regions, and also introduced a microcredit service - 2019 Development Partners International (“DPI”) announces $54m investment into Optasia (than Channel VAS) - In 2021 Optasia received the ISO 27001 certificate - In 2022 Optasia rebranded (from Channel VAS) in global expansion plan
• Restructuring of Finance Department to support growth objectives • Development and integration of shared serves office in Athens, Greece • Jurisdiction expansion and overview • Overview of business cases and approval • Development of Revenue Assurance Department • Coordination of local and group budgets • Formulation & presentation of annual budgets and forecasts • Implementation of financial controls and policies • Compliance of both local and global reporting regulatory and statutory requirements • Enhancement of banking relationships • Liaising with statutory authorities • Coordination and implementation of SAP B1 Cloud Based Solution to accommodate Group Structure reporting and future growth. Key achievements: - in 2017, the investment company Waha Capital from Abu Dhabi chose Optasia as an investment opportunity. Abu Dhabi's Waha Capital invests $55mln in Dubai fintech firm - Channel VAS Group has been granted with exclusive Patents and Intellectual Property rights for its pioneer Airtime Credit and Data Credit products and services.
• Pursuing growth and profitability through obtaining funding, developing new trade finance techniques and solutions for a menagerie of problems, managing the company foreign exchange function & maximising to FX gains. • Growing profitability of the company by improved banking relationships, KPI’s and cost reductions in various departments • Implementation of financial controls and policies • Developing finance packages working closely with various banks, establishing and managing of banking relationships • Formulation & presentation of annual budgets and forecasts • Ensuring meeting regulatory and statutory requirements • Liaising with statutory authorities • Managing client relationships • Managing Trade Finance operations • Managing growth in the Finance Department. • Managing design and implementation of new logistics software. • Overview of human resources development • Overviewing audit and controlling functions Key achievements: - Restructured the entire accounting and finance department and respective processes - Implemented structures and processes to accommodate and manage GMT's bespoke financial model - Budget outperformed 8 out of 11 times - GMT under my financial management grew from a $25 Million dollars per annum to $1.2 Billion dollars within 13 years and oversaw the seamless implementation and conversion to SAP Business One. - Arranged lending facilities to facilitate growth of business from $27M to $1B - Develop working relationships with the all Bank in Nigeria, in principle, First Bank of Nigeria, Zenith Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Wema and UBA Group. GMT takes full responsibility of every aspect in the chain, where Compliance, Efficiency, Reliability and Safety are the standard. Our personal approach and commitment is focused to always exceed our Clients expectations.
• Formulation & presentation of annual budgets and forecasts • Development and implementation of financial controls and policies • Monthly financial accounts and variance reports • Assess funding, regulatory and statutory requirements • Creation of a revenue model. • Implementation of an import scheme from South Africa to Nigeria of build stock. • Human Resources and staff planning. • Policy documents and strategy to facilitate remittance of funds. • Familiarization with Central Bank of Nigeria regulations. • Member of the Project Management team. Key achievements: - Established the office and ensured implementation of statutory regulations across the company - Built an effective working relationship between the managing bodies of the company and Rand Merchant Banks - a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, is a leading African corporate and investment bank and part of one of the largest financial services groups in Africa. - Built client, statutory and financial relationships in Nigeria to ensure unhindered access
• Formulation of annual budgets and forecasts • Implementation of financial controls and policies • Assess funding, regulatory and statutory requirements • Importation of stock and remittance of funds • Stock management • Design and implementation of new hire software. • Overview of human resources development. • Liaise with both internal and external auditors.
• Establishment of engagement expectations • Formulation of detailed budgets and forecasts • Project plans and deliverables • Senior-in-charge of project teams • Preparation of final reports to management and annual financial statements • Delegation and review of audit field work Key achievements: - Gained a vast amount of practical experience in the marketing and media sector - Achieving the position of the senior-in-charge of all of audits