Robbert West

ROBBERT WEST Kenya: - / South-Africa: - Email:-|-| https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbertwest Chief Executive Officer | Chief Commercial Officer | Chief Sales Officer | Commercial Director | Sales Director | General Manager Energetic International & Cross-Cultural executive providing Inspirational and Take-Charge Leadership, applying experience from a 25 year professional career in the Coca-Cola Bottling and Telecoms industries across Africa, Asia and Middle East, of which over 10 years in C-Suite. Change-agent with an unrelenting belief in developing and inspiring teams to continuous improvement with a single-minded objective to impact the consumer goods landscape with energy, technology innovation, and good old-fashioned execution excellence. Built my career specializing in Design, Coach and Implementation of Distribution Solutions / Route to Market strategies and tactics for Fast Moving Consumable Goods, having established a proven track record at managing multi-national teams with excellent communication, relationship building, and interpersonal skills. I am comfortable in dealing at multiple organizational levels, up to Board Level, Government and Regulatory role players. I see possibilities in most situations and can direct others toward making a vision become a reality, while striving to achieve a balance between concern for the people being managed and accomplishment of the task. I possess a natural gift for presentation – my natural intuition, fed by a drive to discover, brings with it the readiness to work long and hard in the pursuit of an ongoing task. My interest, enthusiasm and energy levels are high. I dismiss negatives being eager to accomplish the task. I believe in constantly opening up new avenues of thought or action and can keep them open against all comers. I am quick to spot opportunities and see how they can be turned to an advantage. I strive to remain calm and decisive in high-pressure and crisis situations. Reliable, trustworthy, dependable and always maintain a positive attitude and a “can do” mindset, energy and style, while I endeavor to be a master of the “Art of the Possible”. My career has taken me to some of the more challenging markets and locations, and I reached the C-Suite through execution and delivering against objectives. Career Highlights • • • • • • • Successful roll out of MDC Distribution Model for Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam & Re-designed the Sales & Distribution Models for Coca-Cola Bottlers Nepal. Designed and implemented the first Retail-Focused Route to Market Model in Telecoms for Celtel Nigeria in 2007. Designed and implemented Sales & Distribution models for Zain in Kenya, Ghana, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Madagascar and Zambia, as well led Projects to design new Retail Strategy in Malawi, Madagascar and Sierra Leone. General Manager for Coca-Cola Beverages Central Vietnam delivered 41% volume growth 2010 over 2009. General Manager Sudani Telecoms in South Sudan, separation of South Sudan business from North Sudan to be stand-alone business in line with South Sudan independence, and Full Operational Management in the Republic of South Sudan. Led the successful Commercial (and sustained up to date) turnaround of Wataniya (Ooredoo) Palestine in 2015. In my first ever posting in a CEO role in Abdul Monem Beverage Unit, I spearheaded operational strategies that achieved record-breaking results, and maintained organized, safe and clean Factory Operations to ensure regulatory compliance and maintaining QSE standards - resulting in successfully passing most notably 3 major audits in 2018: SGP, FSSC and GAO. Achieved and awarded for the highest 2yr CAGR for Brand Coke in the World 2018 & 2019! Bangladesh as a country was in top 5 highest Coca-Cola growth markets, securing the number 3 spot worldwide! And within the Bangladesh Coca-Cola operations AM Beverages proudly led the growth for 3 of 4 quarters in 2019! ROBBERT WEST Page Two /- Professional Experience KENAFRIC INDUSTRIES LIMITED, KENYA, UGANDA, TANZANIA, MALAWI, RWANDA, BURUNDI, DRC General Manager, Sales (4 Mar ‘24 to end August 2024) - Strengthen the Sales Function in the Primary Market Kenya through implementation of People and Process improvement. - Once Kenya Market stabilized and optimal RTM Model implemented, expand RTM Model expansion into focus Export Markets, while expanding Export footprint aggressively - Committed to develop a local Kenyan National to hand over to at the end of my tenure. COCA-COLA BEVERAGES ZAMBIA, SUBSIDIARY OF COCA-COLA BEVERAGES AFRICA Commercial Director (1 Mar ‘23 to end October 2023) - Drive and deliver accelerated Revenue and Margin growth results in the Zambia market by leading a Competitive, Consumercentric & Customer-focused Sales & Marketing organization, while also being be the local “face of CCBA” in building and managing Stakeholder relationships in the country COCA-COLA KWANZA, SUBSIDIARY OF COCA-COLA BEVERAGES AFRICA – Tanzania Plant Manager, Mbeya (6 Jan ’20 to date) - FY 2020 completed: Closed 2020 with only -1% vs PY despite the challenges due to Covid-19. Successfully delivered a turnaround for Mbeya Territory by means of innovations to correct Product, Pack, Price and Route to Market. My initiatives have been replicated to the overall CCK country strategy. - FY 2021 completed: Closed 2021 with +22% vs PY built on the foundations that were laid in 2020. - Developed selected Tanzanian Nationals with potential to take over the position of Plant Manager Mbeya – and ultimately, I handed over to my developed Tanzanian National candidate at the end of my tenure. Awards / Achievements: * Addressed the decline of RGB (Returnable Glass Bottles) and managed to close 2020 with +69% and 2021 a further +38% vs PY FY growth on the RGB pack! Returning to volumes seen pre 2016 after several years of continuous decline. * The new RTM Model immediately impacted on both Volumes and Market Share, with share improvement from 43% to 55%! The new RTM has been adopted as CCK Country strategy, and being reviewed for expansion to the rest of CCBA Group countries. ABDUL MONEM COCA-COLA BEVERAGE UNIT – Bangladesh Chief Executive Officer (14 Oct ’17 to date) - FY 2018 completed: Volume +18% and NSR +18%; Strategic Investments into Green Initiatives targeting OPEX reduction: Exhaust Gas Boiler (EGB) for steam generation, Grey Water Recycling, WTP & ETP backwash water recovery and reuse etc. - YTD Sept 2019 Growth: * Volume PC +26% UC +24%; Gross Revenue +25%; Net Revenue +24%; Gross Profit +42%; Gross Profit % +15%; OP +75%; OP % +41%; NP before Tax +91%; NP % before tax +54%; EBITDA +47%; EBITDA % + 18% Awards / Achievements: * Achieved and awarded for the highest 2yr CAGR for Brand Coke in the World 2018 & 2019! * Bangladesh as a country was in top 5 highest Coca-Cola growth markets, securing the number 3 spot worldwide! And within the Bangladesh Coca-Cola operations AM Beverages proudly led the growth for 3 of 4 quarters in 2019! OOREDOO MYANMAR - Myanmar Commercial Consultant CEO Office (Jun ‘16 to May ’17) - Executed a key Strategic Project. Elaboration limited due to strategic sensitivity (will brief during interview process) - This Project tapped into a number of skills! Deployed cutting edge technology, completed Nationwide Training, Designed a new RTM Strategy & Model Design and managed the Project end-to-end. Stakeholder Presentation & Buy-in (incl. presented to & achieved buy-in of OML Board). WATANIYA MOBILE (OOREDOO GROUP) – Palestine Chief Commercial Officer (Mar to Dec 2015 – departed Oct ’15 due to Visa matter) - Executed major fundamental changes in the business which resulted in a major impact on the actual performance * Life Cycle revamp Churn rate dropped to an average 3.2% compared to 6% previous years (vs. 3.7% budget churn rate) * Market Share (Subs and Revenue) gained 3% (31%) by Q3; ARPU increased from $8.4 Q1 to $9.2 Q3; * Nett subs add 65k up to Q3, growing subs base from 628k to 693k * Q3 YTD USD Vs. budget 93% / ILS Vs. Budget 102%; Data Bundles launched - usage +192% and revenue +23.7% * During Ramadan revenues typically decline, however 2015 we achieved actual sustained growth of +5% ROBBERT WEST Page Two /- ZAIN SOUTH SUDAN – South Sudan Commercial Director (March to Nov 2013) Chief Commercial Officer (Dec 2013 to Feb 2015) - Due to performance in this challenging market achieved fast tracked promotion to CCO within 9 months - Managed the Commercial function through a Civil War and maintained dominant market share position despite significant challenge - Awarded The Best Telecom Company 2014, Most Innovative Campaign 2014, Best Internet Provider 2014, and Recognition for CSR contribution by the South Sudan Chamber of Commerce and Industry SUDANI TELECOM (SUDATEL GROUP) – South Sudan General Manager South Sudan (March 2011 to Feb 2013) - General Management of all functional operations in Republic of South Sudan and exploiting business opportunities, reporting directly to Sudatel Group Executive President - Successfully separated South Sudan Network & business from North Sudan – fully completed by 8 December 2011 COCA-COLA BEVERAGES VIETNAM LIMITED (COCA-COLA SABCO) – Vietnam Regional General Manager Central Vietnam (Sept 2010 to Feb 2011) - General Management of Central Vietnam, with overall accountability for Volume, Market Share and Profit - 41% volume growth, gained 5% market share and delivered financial formula as prescribed by CCSabco EXCO ZAIN GROUP – Nigeria / Kenya / Ghana / Sudan / Madagascar / Malawi / Zambia / Sierra Leone / Gabon / Iraq / Kuwait / Bahrain Group Sales & Distribution Manager (Dec 2007-July 2010) - Developed comprehensive Wholesale and Retail market-relevant Supply and Distribution Models, encompassing capability building, availability enhancement, optimal trade discounts and margins, and excellent execution COCA-COLA SABCO (BEVSERV, SUBSIDIARY CCSABCO) – Nigeria Lead Consultant Market Development and Distribution Services BevServ (Dec 2006 to Dec 2007) - Designed and implemented the first Retail Focused Route to Market Model in Telecoms for Celtel Nigeria - 75% revenue growth 2007 over 2006 and we added 6mn subscribers in 2007 COCA-COLA SABCO– Nepal / Vietnam / South Africa Market Execution and Demand Creation Consultant Coca-Cola Bottlers Nepal (April 1 to October 2006) Re-designed Sales & Distribution Model for Kathmandu and established Rural Distribution in Terai Region Earlier Career: - Region Market Execution & Demand Creation Manager Central Vietnam (Oct 2004 to March 2006) - Alternative Beverages Manager – Coca-Cola Sabco Northern Region South Africa (2004) - Area Sales Manager Polokwane – Coca-Cola Sabco Northern Region South Africa -) - Remote Rural Distribution Manager – Coca-Cola Sabco Northern Region South Africa -) - Sales Representative – Coca-Cola Sabco Northern Region -) - Various roles: Banking; Stationery & Office Furniture Sales; Direct Marketing Foodstuffs; PABX Sales -) EDUCATION • • Mini Telecoms MBA, Informa Middle East Training Center (Executive Development Wataniya (Ooredoo) Palestine 2015) I built my Career and personal Brand on 25 years of Operational experience complimented by several Certificate programs completed during my tenure with Coca-Cola Sabco and Telecoms • Undergone Extensive Training and Development during my career with Coca-Cola Sabco, completing several Certificates spanning across Operational and Management spectrum and equipping me with theory as well as international practical experience I am currently enrolled in several courses studying AI with the objective of becoming a certified Prompt Engineer and a leading AI Voice on LinkedIn. The intention is to specialize in helping organizations and their executives on-board AI as a high value future-proofing tool. • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION . • Age: 51 • Health: Excellent • Family Status – Married with 1 daughter 3 months. (Two boys aged 13 & 15 from previous marriage) • Languages – English (written/spoken); Afrikaans (written/spoken); Northern Sotho (conversational); Dutch (understand) • Nationality – South African • Computer Proficiency – Microsoft Office Applications advanced level; In process of studying AI