Chris Barker

Chris Barker Email and Phone Number

Strategy consultant (McKinsey & Deloitte), proven serial entrepreneur, critical thinking coach, GenAI enthusiast @ Imagineers.Ai
Chris Barker's Location
City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, South Africa
Chris Barker's Contact Details

Chris Barker work email

Chris Barker personal email

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About Chris Barker

■ I have spent my career on the bleeding edge of business; start-ups and turnarounds■ The aptitudes required for this include comfort with extreme ambiguity, tenacity, energy, optimism in the face of failure, and an ability to walk away■ The skills required include problem solving, modelling, dynamic strategy, board persuasion, workforce management, and a restrained ego (one does wash windows from time to time)■ Most recently, I led all of SA's operational response to Covid; SA oxygen supply (we got to an implausible 6.5x pre-covid), doubling SA bed capacity, building all of NHLS testing capacity, and finally leading the SA vaccine rollout, a R40bn/yr biz built in four months.■ I have SA and British dual citizenship and passports. Free to work anywhere on the globe■ TOP ACHIEVEMENTS ■• Co-founded Right to Care, Africa's largest NGO, currently the world's largest HIV treatment network, & the organisation that pioneered every single aspect of HIV treatment in SA• Leading the winning BEE stake in, and co-founding of, SA's SNO (Neotel). Sold in 2017 for R6.5bn• Leading MTN's GSM bid into Iran• The turnaround of Aquarius Platinum's Marikana mine from closure to +R600m NPV• Co-founding and building of RightMed pharmacy, SA's 3rd largest pharmacy retail group• Founding an building of AfricaWeather, across SA & Australia• The turnaround & sale of Stutt Brick• All of SA's Covid operational response• The fastest biz build in the history of SA; the vaccine rollout program■ 30 YEARS, 11 CAREERS ■1) I graduated TOC in Engineering, with highest marks in prior 10yrs2) In Unilever, my Ubunto factory management received international press coverage3) In McKinsey, I was regarded as the office modelling expert, in a pool of undisputed experts. I've done strategy consulting ever since4) In HIV, I was unquestionably SA’s lead consultant, & built Africa's largest NGO5) In pharmacy, I owner-built SA’s 3rd largest pharmacy group6) In telecoms, my winning SNO (Neotel) & MTN Iran bids, outcompeted SA leading consulting firms, & my team led SA telecoms consulting for years7) I pioneered weather commercialisation in SA, & owned SA’s top grossing iPhone app for several years8) By some accounts, I may be SA’s most prolific career start-up entrepreneur9) My Critical Thinking expertise is being used to train within SA's leading firms, incl the largest strategy consulting firm10) I have just (August 2021) completed 18 months, leading all of SA's operational response to Covid

Chris Barker's Current Company Details
Imagineers.Ai

Imagineers.Ai

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Strategy consultant (McKinsey & Deloitte), proven serial entrepreneur, critical thinking coach, GenAI enthusiast
Chris Barker Work Experience Details
  • Imagineers.Ai
    Founding Partner
    Imagineers.Ai Jan 2024 - Present
    City Of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
    We guide businesses on how to get immediate benefits from generative AI
  • Critical Thinking Sa
    Executive Trainer
    Critical Thinking Sa Jan 2012 - Present
    South Africa
    I run SA's leading critical thinking course, training executives and managers on how to think, a rare skill in SA. All covered here: www.Critical-Thinking.co.za
  • Health For Development
    Consulting Partner
    Health For Development Sep 2023 - Jan 2024
    City Of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
    Africa on-shoring of pharmaceutical manufacture. USAID funded
  • Deloitte
    Associate Director: Innovation & Growth
    Deloitte Jan 2018 - Aug 2023
    Johannesburg Area, South Africa
    Head of Innovation (Disruptive Growth)
  • Deloitte
    Lead On Sa'S Operational Response To Covid 19
    Deloitte Mar 2020 - Sep 2021
    South Africa
    I led large Deloitte teams, funded by USAID via Right-to-Care, to:- Grow medical oxygen supply by 6.5x- Double SA bed capacity- Help the NHLS build the country's testing capacity- Rollout the Sisonke HCW vaccine 'trial' (a mechanism to get vaccines rolling ahead of official registration)- Complete build of the SA vaccine program (SA's fastest business build in history, R40bn/yr, 5.5m doses/month, built in 4 intense months)
  • Futureforesight
    Founding Partner: Each Role Below Is A Startup Or Turnaround That I Led
    Futureforesight Jan 2001 - Dec 2017
    South Africa
    Founded 12 start-ups, led 6 turnarounds, all in between a lot of top end strategy consulting work. See 'Accomplishments/Projects' section.
  • Futureforesight
    Africaweather: Co-Founder, Ceo
    Futureforesight Apr 2007 - Sep 2015
    Johannesburg Metropolitan Area
    • Built the first business to sell weather in Africa, largely based around realtimne alerts (nowcasting)• Dominated insurance, rail, and mining in SA• Built the highest grossing SA-developed app• Grew to an R70m valuation, and sold 50% to WeatherZone Australia (FDI deal), then exited 50% in 2020
  • Futureforesight
    Stutt Brick: Turnaround Lead, Ceo
    Futureforesight Oct 2013 - Jun 2015
    Bhisho, Eastern Cape, South Africa
    • Turned a brick factory for the NEF• Saved 800 jobs in extremely rural Bisho• Spent 2yrs completing the job I’d committed to• Sold to Corobrik by showing them the strategic importance of the deal
  • Futureforesight
    Toptv: Turnaround And Sale To Star Media
    Futureforesight Oct 2012 - Sep 2013
    Johannesburg Metropolitan Area
    • Persuaded funders to invest still further• Three partners held the business in stasis for a year, pending a sale to a Chinese consortium• Required 30% cost cutting, and intense management of a business in deep distress
  • Futureforesight
    Rightmed Pharmacy: Co-Founder, Cfo, Director
    Futureforesight Mar 2003 - Dec 2012
    Johannesburg Metropolitan Area
    ∙ Co-founded what at one stage was SA’s 3rd largest retail pharmacy (by COS value)∙ Strictly HIV drug to NGO’s∙ Wholly owned by myself and my (ex) wife∙ R120m turnover (2016 money), 5% EBIT
  • Futureforesight
    Seacom: Startup Marketing Lead
    Futureforesight Jan 2012 - Sep 2012
    Johannesburg Metropolitan Area
    • Helped place the MD role• Helped dismantle the SA ISP monopoly which was being sustained through interconnect (transfer pricing) which we understood well• Today, SA’s internet rates are a direct result of this work (90% price drop over 6 months)
  • Futureforesight
    Mtn: Investcom Acquisition Network Valuations
    Futureforesight Apr 2006 - Mar 2007
    Johannesburg Metropolitan Area
    • MTN acquired Investcom, 17 networks in the Middle East• Used my world-leading telecoms model to model all operators in each country• Diverse countries included Iraq, Afganistan, and Cyprus. My model is still used today in Deloitte
  • Futureforesight
    Right-To-Care: Co-Founder, Coo, Usaid Appointed Board Member
    Futureforesight Jan 2001 - Jun 2006
    Johannesburg Metropolitan Area
    • Co-founded and built, initially pro bono, what is now Africa’s largest NGO with R1.7bn of funding FY21, over R7bn dispersed without fraud• Pioneered every aspect of HIV treatment in SA• We run the largest (Px numbers) treatment centre in the world, out of Helen Joseph Hospital• 25% of SA’s HIV patients are treated by our network of 400 clinics• I was USAID's appointed board member to RTC from Jan-03 to June-06
  • Futureforesight
    Obp: Turnaround Of State Vaccine Insitute
    Futureforesight Jul 2005 - Mar 2006
    Johannesburg Metropolitan Area
    • Onderstepoort Biological Products is the state animal vaccine institute• Worked with CEO (later SA Met Office CEO) to turn from loss to profit
  • Futureforesight
    Aquarius Platinum: Turnaround Lead, Mine Manager
    Futureforesight Oct 2004 - Jun 2005
    Rustenburg, North-West, South Africa
    ∙ Took over management of Marikana pit for 6months, and replaced entire mining contractor∙ Turned the pit from R20m/month loss, to R10m/month profit (2005 money)∙ Substantive impact on share price
  • Futureforesight
    Alex Ander Forbes Direct Aids Intervention: Sales Director
    Futureforesight Dec 2001 - Nov 2004
    Johannesburg Metropolitan Area
    • Pioneered thinking on why companies should offer paid treatment to HIV+ employees, covered in numerous business publications• Built the biz to deliver this anonymous service, for Alexander Forbes, with equity• The B2B sales process resulted in me presenting to near 150 of SA’s top boards, experience which few others will ever have∙ Led world-first treatment of employees (in Anglo). ∙ 100k employees across 40 client companies. Led sales and operations. ∙ R25m turnover (2016 money)
  • Futureforesight
    Mtn: Bid Development Lead
    Futureforesight Jun 2004 - Sep 2004
    • Bid leadership team, for MTN, during the final days of GSM license auctions in Africa/Middle East• Spent several months in Dubai• Was entrusted with bid submission, incl carrying the highly confidential bid envelope ($27bn – more than MTN’s market cap at the time). Carrying the envelope made me a KnR target
  • Futureforesight
    Neotel: Co-Founder
    Futureforesight Apr 2002 - Dec 2003
    South Africa
    • Won the bid for 19% BEE stake in SA's second fixed line license• Built a national fixed line telecoms model that BT stated was of “operator standard”• Worked with the 2 BEE leads to form SA’s first truly BBBEE deal (1.4 million beneficiaries)• Raised R2bn funding in what was then SA’s largest BEE deal to date• Neotel was sold to Liquid Telecoms in 2017 for R6.5bn
  • Futureforesight
    Csir: Biopad Design And Start
    Futureforesight Mar 2002 - Feb 2003
    Johannesburg Metropolitan Area
    • Helped CSIR design a Biotech incubator. On panel to screen in starting initiatives & hire first CEO
  • Mckinsey & Company
    Engagement Manager
    Mckinsey & Company Jan 2000 - Dec 2000
    Johannesburg Metropolitan Area
    McKinsey needed me to work on an SAA project, and contracted me back as EMI was told that this was the first time McKinsey global had ever contracted a consultant, let alone a manager
  • Mckinsey & Company
    Associate
    Mckinsey & Company Jan 1998 - Dec 1999
    South Africa
    Focus on strategic procurement, and a founding member of the DotCom practise. Left voluntarily, and contracted back to the firm for a year...a first for the SA office.
  • Unilever
    Gm Lipton Teas
    Unilever Jan 1990 - Dec 1997
    South Africa
    Ran the most profitable unit of Unilever SA. 1200 employees across 2 factory units. Improved factory from #16 of benchmarked international factories, to #2. All using leading-edge workforce management systems, that secured me the attention of McKinsey. Africa lead for IR negotiations.

Chris Barker Skills

Start Ups Management Management Consulting Business Strategy Mergers And Acquisitions Change Management Financial Modeling Corporate Development Telecommunications Turnaround Experience Business Case Modelling Critical Thinking Analytical Skills It Systems Development

Chris Barker Education Details

  • University Of The Witswatersrand South Africa
    University Of The Witswatersrand South Africa
    Top Of Class
  • University Of The Witswatersrand South Africa
    University Of The Witswatersrand South Africa
    Industrial Engineering
  • University Of The Witswatersrand South Africa
    University Of The Witswatersrand South Africa
    Top Of Class, Medal For Highest Marks In Prior 10Yrs
  • Mckinsey
    Mckinsey
    Business Administration And Management, General

Frequently Asked Questions about Chris Barker

What company does Chris Barker work for?

Chris Barker works for Imagineers.ai

What is Chris Barker's role at the current company?

Chris Barker's current role is Strategy consultant (McKinsey & Deloitte), proven serial entrepreneur, critical thinking coach, GenAI enthusiast.

What is Chris Barker's email address?

Chris Barker's email address is ch****@****ght.com

What schools did Chris Barker attend?

Chris Barker attended University Of The Witswatersrand South Africa, University Of The Witswatersrand South Africa, University Of The Witswatersrand South Africa, Mckinsey.

What skills is Chris Barker known for?

Chris Barker has skills like Start Ups, Management, Management Consulting, Business Strategy, Mergers And Acquisitions, Change Management, Financial Modeling, Corporate Development, Telecommunications, Turnaround Experience, Business Case Modelling, Critical Thinking.

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