OJ_Breakfast_1March2017 - Peter Mountford

11th OJA Eminent Speaker Breakfast Event with Peter Mountford

Guest speaker:  Peter Mountford (CEO – Super Group Ltd and Old Johannian) 

Topic: “The sustainable international future for South African Corporates” 

The OJA is focused on creating a platform through which OJs can get together, reconnect, and network on a business level.  We aim to create regular events that will allow OJs from similar or different industries to come together.  These events have no fundraising element and are purely networking functions. The last 10 events since our launch in October 2013 were a great success.

Background on the speaker:

Peter Mountford is currently the CEO of Super Group Ltd.  In 2016 he was given the ACQ Game changer of the Year Award and the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Peter’s career to date includes significant management experience mainly within SA Breweries (SAB) and Rand Merchant Bank.  The SAB experience included roles such as Group Financial Director of The Lion Match Company Ltd and ultimately CEO of SAB Diversified Beverages interests.

He was the Chief Executive Officer of RMB Asset Management and Chairman of the RMB Unit Trust businesses during the period 1995 to 1999, before joining Super Group as the Chief Executive of this company’s core Logistics interests.In 2002, Peter joined Imperial Holdings Ltd as the CEO of the Consumer Logistics interests of the business and operated in this role for a period of six years.

Peter was approached and rejoined Super Group in May 2008 and was appointed CEO of the Group in 2009.  During the past five years, Super Group grew earnings by a compound rate of 39,7% per annum.  The Group’s Market Capitalization has grown from R150 million to R14,3 billion as at August 2009.

OJA feedback:

Our guest speaker, Peter Mountford (OJ – Clarke 1974), CEO of Super Group Ltd, presented to 60 attending OJs. Peter provided those in attendance with insights into the Super Group strategy, which has led to their success. Peter made specific reference to Super Group’s end-to-end supply chain competencies on which it prides itself and expertise in technology and supply chain capabilities, which have allowed Super Group to fend off threats from smaller perhaps more agile technology disruptors. Super Group’s global strategy included consolidating their South African operations prior to implementing their global strategy. Again, technology has been a key element to the success of their global strategy.

With regards to BBBEE, Peter explained that Super Group is committed to transformation as a principle and commitment to South Africa and not for the purposes of compliance. With reference to South Africa’s current political and economic challenges, Peter is confident that South Africa will see these challenges through. From Super Group’s perspective, South Africa will remain their home base because it is here that the group is able to raise capital and Peter is confident of the country’s growth prospects. He explained that due to a lack of quality management skills, a poor legal structure and unpredictable border controls, expansion into Africa remain a challenge. There are, however, potential opportunities in Kenya through government partnership.

We encourage all Old Johannians to join us at these breakfasts, if you would like to be invited please can you send an email to info@oja.co.za.

Dave Patricios (Clayton 1997)
OJA committee member

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