John Ashcroft Email & Phone Number

Paris, Fr

Founder and CEO of Non-Profit Company based throughout South Africa. Rent-a-Student has over 60,000+ registered students. We assist students and the youth more generally to help them attain work experience and a little money for their studies (if not their families as well). Our students are hard working, bright, tech savvy, approachable and reliable (yes ours are). Over 90% of our students are in Further Education (age 17+) and on average boast, a social media reach of 1,000 friends. There is pretty much no job too big for us!Rent-a-Student were finalists in the Sage small business awards 2014-15. We are also accredited with Google Non-Profits and Microsoft Bizspark as well as The Sage Foundation. We have worked with companies such as Telkom, Vox, Harambee, Pam Golding, Warrior Group, eStudy. Local Government, City of Cape Town and many many promotions and events companies.Whilst initially formed to help students gain work experience, the business has expanded rapidly (to over 60,000 registered students – see Facebook page (sarentastudent) with 50,000 followers & likes. We have recently formed “entrepreneur groups” within the base of students covering: Accounting, Data Entry, Call Centre Operations, Promotions, Sales, Events, Web Design, Transcriptions, Tutors, Photographers & Nannies etc.. Basically, we have students with interests or skills in just about any role. We invite employers to utilise our students with a possible view to full-time employment on Graduation.As a Non-Profit Company we are always looking for donations and assistance to allow us to grow and support students throughout South Africa. Please contact me for details.

Consultant to a number of high profile corporations including Virgin Mobile, Telkom, Blue Label, MIP, Hollard Insurance and others. Worked as BA and Project Manager as well as implementation specialist (overall responsibility to deliver project on time on budget). Variety of consulting from store flips, business startups / shutdown to new business implementations and insurance systems implementations / testing. Agile with Scrum Master / Product Owner responsibilities.

Chief Customer Officer and New Business Director for Start-up company. Zensho Telkom lead the market in Meshed Wi-Fi networks on own brand handsets with automatic Wi-Fi to GSM Switchover. Wi-Fi when in Wf-Fi area, GSM otherwise. I was responsible for the business implementation plan and rollout as well as negotiations with network operators and Teir 1 providers. Responsible for all customer facing interactions including BSS/OSS selection and support.

Key remit: to develop new and existing business opportunities across all channels; to enhance VAS (value added services); to explore and road-map new convergence opportunities; to manage client relationships.• Director with responsibility for business development and training departments. Attended board meetings (ManCo and ExCo) at Autopage and Altech group level. Key interface with Altech group telecommunications strategy group.• Restructured division to focus on key areas of research and development, VAS opportunities, convergence / IP and mobile content.• Presented to Altech Group companies (50+) on FMC (Fixed Mobile Convergence) and IP Convergence. • Developed and secured large project partnerships in-time for MNP. Discovery group JV Agreement signed and delivered. Developed and signed partnership with R200m gift card solution. Commenced negotiations for MVNO and other interconnect Agreements with all major SA telecommunications providers.• Increased VAS ARPU month on month beyond budget.

Bsc(Hons) Applied Statistics, Statistics

Further Education, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Computer Studies