Archie Sadza

Based in Johannesburg the role Ahtiras is a small business consultancy specializing in developing business and marketing plans for SME’s and helping them seek bank financing from various institutional lenders around Southern Africa

Based in Lagos the role is charged with the implementation of SAP for the Nigeria and Ghana markets. Budget is £14mn and the project teams include 60 people in technical process streams and Change management, working with Accenture as Technical Support partners

Guinness Nigeria is a subsidiary of Diageo Plc., the world’s largest premium alcoholic beverage company with a wide range of products. The local company has a turnover of £200mn and 1200 employees. Guinness Nigeria is the 5th largest beer market company in the Diageo group and the 2nd largest sales of Guinness stout in the world. Marketing A&P budgets are circa £20mn.

The role involves leading the Product Management function throughout SCB’s 12 African Markets (and to ensure that key Product Management disciplines are embedded into each market across all business lines. Maximizing the revenue, profitability, and economic profit growth and market share growth in core businesses across Africa, in partnership with the country management teams and local Product and BD teams.

The role encompassed strategy setting, product development and product sales for the Consumer Bank within the 12 core African markets, with emphasis on the Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Botswana. In addition, all retail delivery channels (branch, ATM, internet, ABCs also fell under the role prior to the establishment of a centralized Product Management Team.

Appointed Managing Director of BAT Zimbabwe in 1996. Dimensions: - Gross turnover Z$ 370 mn. sales volume 1.3 billion cigarettes, 235 staff. BATZim was a publicly listed company with a manufacturing unit in Harare, a commercial brand and trade marketing operation to BAT international standards as well as Finance, HR and IT support functions.

1n 1993 was promoted to Marketing Manager based in BAT UK headquarters. . Reporting directly to the Regional Marketing Manager (RMM) for AMESCA (Africa, Middle East, Southern and Central Asia). Dimensions encompassed by role:- gross turnover of £400 mn., sales 32 billion cigarettes, and a marketing staff of 3000 in twenty one countries

On appointment as Marketing Director assumed additional responsibility for company exports as well as training, development and career management of local marketing staff. Was exposed to decision-making at Board level and was a member of both the Audit and Compensation sub- committees.

In 1987, was promoted to Marketing Manager reporting to the Marketing Director. This expanded role added responsibility for the setting of local strategy and planning for the local market brand and sales departments of the company. The addition of the sales function covered both trade marketing and distribution functions, with accountability for the market supply logistics via 8 independent national distributors.

Originally joined the Bank in a temporary role but was identified early for training on the equivalent of graduate training programme. Then appointed as Relief Manager and had first experience of running a branch. This led to appointment as Manager of the Mutare Branch in early 1983. Subsequently headhunted directly by BAT Zimbabwe in October 1983.