Job Description

BOARD APPOINTMENT

Join a leading South African JSE Listed Group specialising in the importation and distribution of a broad range of high-quality branded industrial, electronic and various other consumer-related products, mainly in the Southern African Region. These products are mainly sourced from leading international manufacturers and to a lesser extent from local manufacturers. Niche area markets are sought out where there are customer needs and where these customers are prepared to pay for the value add that the Group imparts on these products. The value added includes product specifications, technical advice, application and installation training as well as trouble shooting. There are a network of specialised Branches and Independent Distributors throughout Southern Africa to ensure product availability to its customers. It should be noted that due to the dynamic nature of the Groups Executives (which will include this new Appointee) there are on-going acquisitions to continue the growth path of the Groups trajectory. This vacancy has been created due to succession planning as there are pending retirements over the next few years of a number of its Portfolio Main Board Executives and to add a fresh perspective to its Board. The Portfolio Executive will report directly to the Group Chief Executive Officer.

The newly appointed Portfolio Executive which is a Group Executive and Board Appointment will be mandated to manage and keep tight control over several of the businesses. All these Subsidiaries have a Chief Executive Officer supported by a Management Team as well as their employees which can number between 50 to 300 staff and turnover from R50 million to R400 million, on average. Many of these Business Units are geographically located in multiple locations within the broader Johannesburg region. The culture of the Group is highly decentralised and there is a defined business model which is simplistic in nature used to manage and assess business performance which the successful candidate will be mentored in using over time. Suffice to say that the majority of these businesses have successful track records and are leaders in their specific market.

It is envisaged that the Portfolio Executive will have a tertiary qualification as well as a business diploma or similar. In addition, the successful candidate will have a proven track record in managing multiple businesses and have the experience in mentoring, guiding and advising CEOs and their respective Management Team. Industry background will be from an import, distribution and trading environment, noting that the businesses do not sell to the end-user but via a middle-man which may be a Wholesaler, Independent Agent or similar. An industrial background would certainly be recommended although there is some flexibility as there are a number of high-tech businesses as well as automotive, engineering and other consumer related products and engineering consumables. In addition, inter alia, an understanding of the importance of gross profit rather than volume and the relationship to working capital are used in managing and assessing business performance. Needless to say, a highly assertive yet diplomatic individual, entrepreneurial, decisive, proactive goal setter, self-driven and motivated, business and commercial acumen, able to create positive and interpersonal relationships and be a leader of people are all descriptive words needed by the candidate to be successful.

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