Craig Derbyshire Email and Phone Number

Military ServicesI began my leadership journey as a Junior Leadership Instructor in the Military Services. After a year of rigorous training, I was appointed top instructor among my peers. This role laid a strong foundation in leadership and teamwork.First National Bank and Nestlé SAAfter five years with First National Bank in the financial sector, I transitioned to FMCG, joining Nestlé South Africa, where I spent 19 years in various leadership roles. My responsibilities included team development, business process management, and meeting key company objectives.In the Retail division at Nestlé, I focused on sales and merchandising, implemented promotional plans, and engaged in high-level negotiations with major retail chains as a Key Accounts Executive. In the Foodservice division, I managed the largest region in South Africa, driving growth in the hospitality sector. I later transitioned to National Business Development, heading up the vending business at headquarters.VRS (Vacation Recreational Services)I then joined VRS as a Director, leading a Client Service team to improve service outcomes and meet key performance indicators. This role offered me the opportunity to mentor and develop managers and operational staff, contributing to the project's success.Sales Director and Special ProjectsAfter demonstrating results with the Client Service team, I became Sales Director, leading a team focused on sales and telemarketing to drive revenue growth. Following significant improvements, I led a special project to retain business, working with a cross-functional team to develop new processes and enhance operational efficiencies. Additionally, I continued to oversee the Client Service team.Current Role - Project Lead, Debt Collection TeamIn my current role, I lead a project to develop and optimise our in-house debt collection team, focusing on process improvement and adaptability in a challenging market.Throughout my career, I've demonstrated a commitment to leadership, team development, and business process optimisation across multiple sectors, including finance, FMCG, vacation and hospitality, and sales. My experience reflects a balanced approach to driving business success and cultivating high-performing teams.