Profile
An accomplished and highly capable Chief Executive and General Manager with extensive leadership and management experience running IT distributors in Africa.
Changing organisation cultures in order to transform under performing businesses and make them profitable market leaders in challenging environments.
A record of growing turnover and profitability. Opening new markets, introducing new products,winning new business and developing existing accounts.
I am now looking for a new role where my previous experience will be put to good use and enable me to make a contribution to the organisations success.
Skills
People Management- Strong and decisive leadership of multi-cultural and cross-functional teams
Profit Maximisation – Achieves profits through revenue generation and strict cost control
Sales Development – Consistently drives new business opening new markets and securing sales
Account Management – Develops existing accounts by identification and exploitation of opportunities
Strategic Relationships – Builds effective relationships with national/international suppliers & customers
Project Management – Proven ability to take complex projects from concept to successful completion
Staff Development – Pro-active coaching, training and mentoring to build strong motivated teams
Business Finance – Extensive experience negotiating bank funding, managing cash flow, P&L etc
Strategy Setting – Defines and directs the implementation of visionary and innovative strategies
Selected Achievements
Took Southern Business Solutions (Uganda) from a virtual unknown loss making entity with a turnover of less than $1m to a market leader, increasing turnover by over 400%.
Launched the IBM RS6000 Enterprise server in Uganda
Launched the IBM PC into the Ugandan market achieving market leadership against HP and Compaq
Led International Computers (Nigeria) to become the leading supplier of hardware and software solutions to the banking industry in Nigeria and increasing turnover by over 500%
Introduced Bankmaster software, securing new business worth over GBP 3.5m in the first year, including one contract worth over GBP 2.4m excluding shipping and taxes
Career Summary
January 2012
Planned career break
Currently assisting as a volunteer at Southport Food Bank
November 2004 to December 2011
Southern Business Solutions (Uganda) Ltd
Managing Director
The company marketed and supported the full range of IBM, Lenovo, Dell and EMC products, Networking products and Tripp-Lite Power Solutions.
• Streamlined operations, making significant changes to staffing structure
• Introduced continuous investment in training and development to support business growth objectives
• Drove the introduction of new products and services to penetrate new market sectors including Finance, Government, Utilities, NGOs and Education
• Grew the business by increasing revenues from existing accounts and gaining new customers
• Oversaw the preparation of business cases, proposals, bid documentation & managed negotiation processes
• Negotiated banking facilities to secure funding for future business development
• Formulated and implemented account development and strategic marketing initiatives
Achievements
Developed the business to become the leading IBM, Lenovo and Tripp-lite Business Partner in Uganda
Increased turnover by over 400%
Installed over 1,000 Lenovo PC’s in schools across Uganda and over 1000 low power PC’s with solar panels and local area networks in three separate projects.
Established a distribution company in 2008 to market Lenovo PCs, Giganet Networking and Tripp-Lite power production products into the Ugandan and East African markets
Led the 2 businesses to become market leaders consistently achieving year on year profitable growth
Directed strategic business, market & client reviews to identify & evaluate new opportunities
Introduced the latest IBM Enterprise servers
Developed targets, budgets, forecasts, strategies, business systems and processes
Monitored, evaluated, reviewed & developed productivity levels & quality performance
Defined and directed ‘go to market’ plans, marketing collateral & campaign strategy
Recruited and trained local staff to achieve IBM,Lenovo, Tripp-Lite and Cisco certification
Secured distributor status for Tripp-Lite and Lenovo, covering Uganda and Rwanda
Early Career
Computer Applications (Uganda) Ltd
Director / General Manager
Responsible for marketing the full range of IBM products, networking and power protection and SUN systems as an IBM Business Partner
Launched the IBM PC into Uganda and achieved market leadership against HP and Compaq
Successfully grew the business from under $1m in 1995 to over $4m by 2000
Targeted sectors included Government, Parastatals, Finance, NGOs and Aid Agencies
Introduced the IBM RS6000 Mainframe into Uganda
Negotiated to supply a new billing system at the national electricity company, with an end to end solution including mainframes, servers, PCs UPSs and networking
Secured banking facilities to provide funding for future business development
Managed Training Resources Ltd, UK
Director
Responsible for providing training and consultancy services to businesses based in the UK and their associated overseas subsidiaries
• Delivered training on Account Management, Sales Skills, Sales Management & Finance for non Financial Managers through a team of dedicated specialist trainers
Sales Director
International Computers (Nigeria) Ltd
Spearheaded the business to become the leading supplier of software solutions to the banking industry in Nigeria and increasing turnover by 400%
• Introduced Bankmaster software, secured new business worth over GBP 3.5m in the first year, including one contract worth over GBP 2.4m excluding shipping and taxes
Sales Manager
International Computers UK Ltd
Negotiated a contract with MOD/BAOR for new Office Secure product, identifying subcontractors and managing all aspects of procurement and supply
Qualifications
Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies
CeMap Parts 1,2 & 3
