Robbie Taylor Email & Phone Number

Cape Town, Wc, Za

City Of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

CFO of FMCG business in the pet sector

South Africa

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Cape Town Area, South Africa

I was brought in to take the company through some mergers and acquisitions, on to an IPO. Everything was on track until Covid hit our industry. The following objectives were set out and achieved:1. Implement corporate governance structures for the IPO2. Acquire and integrate the Club Travel group3. Structure the company for tax, treasury, exchange control and reporting in readiness for the IPO4. When Covid hit: reduce head count and costs by 50%.We developed a set of scenarios and responses for Covid in March 2020 and implemented the necessary responses as the pandemic continued to impact the business. This resulted in extended survival in an industry that has been decimated by lockdowns, and indeed the business will be far more profitable on the other side.

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

I started a boutique mergers and acquisitions advisory business to leverage my experience in the sector. The business has run very well with successful closing of a very large trade sale (>R1billion), along with successful deals ranging from R20m to R200m. I restructured The Training Room Online to attain BBEEE level 2 and simultaneously implemented an off-shore structure in UAE and Mauritius to facilitate incoming foreign investment.I implemented a reporting and corporate governance structure within the portfolio investment of two leading SA private equity banks and I served as advisor to the Board of Aurora Power Solutions, a solar power business in Cape Town. I also spent this time giving back to various communities through pro-bono work - I’ve done guest lectures at Reddam House Constantia, I coached an U15 water polo team, served as chairman on our local property owners committee, chaired the Western Province water polo referees committee, and chaired Cape Town Masters Swimming Club.I mentored the CFO’s of Virgin Money and GetSmarter.

I was the second employee in the business and, as CFO, was instrumental in taking it through to IPO in 2013. Highlights:1. Joined May 2012, second employee, with two investments made.2. Grew the business through the acquisition of 65 companies through to successful listing on the JSE in November 2013.3. Successful bond raise of R400m with approval for a further R1,6billion on the Domestic Medium Term Note Programme.4. Implemented the entire system of internal control from scratch to compliance with King III, the JSE listing Regulations and the Companies Act.5. Integral part in numerous capital raises both prior to listing and after listing.6. Composed all the Charters for the Board and all the sub committees.7. Designed and implemented the structure of the central accounting and finance departments, including treasury, foreign exchange, accounting, reporting, audit, company secretarial, legal, human resources.8. One of only two executives on the board of directors (myself and the CEO)9. One of three members of the Exco who ran the day to day operations of the company.10. Was awarded Best Reporting Award in 2014 for this work.11. Implemented the control system to identify, mitigate and report risks to the Risk Committee. 12. Developed profit optimization parameters for the business built on the stock movements, margins, quantities held, and competitor pricing.13. Took the business from a nominal profit at startup to over R2bn of sales and R200m EBITDA in 3 years, and employment grew to 3,000 staff.14. In 2015 I was a finalist for CFO of the year as a result of the work done and the results achieved.

City Of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

I was approached by the owners to assist them get the company ready for an IPO on the JSE. We successfully listed the company a year after I joined (in 2007). CBH had substantial operations throughout Southern Africa including South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. It was an integrated poultry producer employing 5,000 employees in it's hatcheries, processing plants, feedmills, breeding farms, broiler farms and distribution network. I was responsible for corporate governance, tax, reporting, management accounts, audits, treasury, cost accounting, payroll, legal and compliance. Due to the very tight margins and very high volumes in the industry at the time we had a major focus on cost control and revenue maximization, I was very actively involved in these areas.

Bachelor Of Commerce (B.Com.), Accounting And Finance

Education record

Activities and Societies: Captain Water Polo; Captain Swimming; Prefect National U19 Water Polo.