Robert Davidson Email & Phone Number

Nairobi, Kenya

• Five Forty Aviation Ltd (Fly540) - a privately-owned East-African airline headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with operations in Kenya and Tanzania and a turnover of approximately US$ 28,000,000 in 2019. Previous.
• The African Point-of-Contact for the acquisition of Lonrho Aviation (BVI) Limited and Fly540 by Rubicon Diversified Investments Plc (subsequently renamed Fastjet PLC) in June 2012. Business models were reviewed by.
• Governed four start-up airlines in Angola, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda for Lonrho plc Group.
• Leadership of over 35 members of staff (pre-COVID), working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and majority shareholder.
• Drafted and implemented airline-specific Finance, Accounting, Internal Audit and Information Technology Procedures to improve the efficiency and accuracy of company reporting.
• Developed iPad-based applications for pilots to verify fuel usage, flight time and log pilot hours alongside landing, navigation and ground-handling provisions.

Nairobi, Kenya

• East African Safari Air Express Limited - a privately-owned East-African airline headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with operations in Kenya, Comoros and Somalia.
• Changed the accounting software to Sage Pastel Evolution in order to allow the implementation of systems already in place in Fly540.
• Oversaw the changeover of Central Reservation System to a modern cloud-based system.

Nairobi, Kenya

• Purdy Arms was a valued, successful Bar, Restaurant and Bed & Breakfast at the centre of the community in Karen which was owned by my wife and I.
• Achieved sales of over US$ 1,000,000 per year, regularly serving over 700 covers on a Sunday.
• Recognised as one of the best restaurants in Nairobi, consistently rated in the top 10 on Tripadvisor.
• Hosted concerts by local artists as well as Grammy-award winning artist, Joss Stone and English Folk-Punk band Ferocious Dog.
• Brought the Faulty Towers Dining Experience to Kenya for the first time.
• Obtained one of only 10 brewing licences awarded at the time, which enabled the company to open and sustain a micro-brewery.

Lagos, Nigeria

• United Geophysical Corporation Ltd (UGNL) - a mineral exploration company group conducting seismic surveys for major oil companies such as Shell and Agip. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria with approximately 4,600 direct.
• Reduced head office overheads by over 50% by reviewing and writing detailed analysis of all costs and operations. This included a reduction in the number of ex-patriate staff in the accounts department from 3 to 1.
• Renegotiated bank finance and monitored cash flow which enabled the company to reduce borrowing requirements to their lowest position since the company was incorporated in 1996.
• Improved and managed the internal audit department, with governance over setting-up procedural and reporting systems which resulted in an early detection of fraud and irregularities. These continued target audits.
• Responsible for the finance side of negotiations with the Government owned Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL) on joint venture projects.
• Produced management accounts by the 10th of each month, preparing and reporting upon the rolling budget by the 20th of each month.

Nairobi, Kenya

• Regional Air - A start-up jet airline inaugurated on 15th May 2000, operating three Boeing 737-200s with an annual turnover in excess of US$ 20,000,000. Regional Air was awarded the 11th British Airways Franchise and.
• Recruited all fifteen members of the accounts department.
• Set up all accounts and software system controls.
• Visited outstations to review and motivate General Sales Agents.
• Performed route evaluation on all prospective new routes.
• Responsible for budget and forecasts for the British Airways franchise award.

Nairobi, Kenya

• Yaya Towers Ltd - a well-known shopping mall and apartment centre complex with over one hundred tenants and fifty members of staff.
• Responsible for bringing the statutory accounts up to date which were 10 years in arrears.
• Investigating and reporting on mismanagement of both companies by senior personnel for use in a court case.
• Discovered fraud due to deliberate misstatement of the square footage occupied by shop tenants.
• Mall Manager for one year, governing the beginning of the Mall's refurbishment and change in tenants.
• Identified and negotiated with key shops in Nairobi to become tenants in the Mall and improve the tenant mix.

Nairobi, Kenya

• Barsirim Investments Ltd - a holding company of a diversified group headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Undertook various ad-hoc internal audit, consultancy, and management assignments within the group's companies throughout Kenya. Notable achievements include:
• Alternate Director for lift service, modernisation, and installation company;
• Discovered substantial fraud by Managing Director and accounts staff who were taking unathorised advances;
• Brought accounts up to date which were five years in arrears.
• Lead the implementation of Sage Line 50 accounting software.

Derby, England, United Kingdom

• Planning and controlling both interim and final audit assignments for companies of various sizes ranging from public limited companies to small local companies in the Mining, Manufacturing, Construction, Retail and.
• Member of the Corporate Finance team responsible for the successful refloatation of Geevor plc (later known as Coal Investments plc) on the UK Stock Exchange.
• Working capital review for the acquisition of lease and license of Silverdale Colliery by Coal Investments plc.
• Member of a team of Administrative Receivers responsible for running a maintenance / security / cleaning company until successfully sold as a going concern.

Ba (Hons), Industrial Economics, 2:1

4 A-Levels & 10 O-Levels

Notable A Level Modules : Economics (A), Mathematics (A), Physics (B)