Bafana Kubheka
Nickname: 'B'
Senior Manager:Emerging Markets- Sub Sahara Africa
Born 06-05-1974
in Pretoria
South Africa
Successful at building sustainable and profitable businesses in Sub Sahara Africa. Strong business acumen with the ability to develop and execute a wide range of business strategies designed to establish market presence and increase revenues and profitability. I am a proven performer who moves easily from vision and strategy to implementation and follow-through. Excel at building and optimizing sales channels and integrating the sales and marketing with business development. Very strong global and African business perspective having traveled extensively both in Africa and Europe. Strong understanding of the African business culture and environment. Well-honed presentation and negotiation skills within a multi-national environment. Strong focus on delivery of results..
Bafana Kubheka's Professional details
Current Position(s)
Senior Manager:Emerging Markets- Sub Sahara Africa | Chemicals Division | Merck Pty Ltd.
Johannesburg, South Africa | 2011 - present
Medical, Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
Direct activities for the Region
Ensure profitability of the region
Develop and implement growht strategies
Establish market presence
Liase with governments, industry stakeholders,NGOs etc.
Manage and mentor personnel in the region
Previous Position(s)
Business Unit Manger - Industrial Coatings | Protea Chemicals | Omnia Holdings Limited
Johannesburg, South Africa | 2009 - 2011
Transportation and Logistics
As the Business Unit Manager for the Industrial coatings unit, I work strategically with the GM to drive strategy and manage the Industrial coatings businness. I am responsible for overall profitability of the business unit, including managing and achieving annual performance objectives. Track key measures and metrics to improve business results. Manage the P&L for the business unit at the contribution margin level and identify gaps to maximize the unit’s success. Formulate short and long-term goals consistent with the South African strategic plans and communicate the initiatives and direction to the team and relevant stakeholders.Lead the product management team in evaluating the marketplace, identifying customer needs, and creating plans to drive product line direction. In addition, I recruit, coach, guide, and develop my direct reports.
Turnover: R97 million
Sales Leader - Sub Sahara Africa | Titanium Dioxide Business | DuPont de Nemours International S.A.
Johannesburg, South Africa | 2007 - 2009
Building, Construction and Engineering
Responsible for business strategy and sales in the region. Turnover of USD32MM per annum. Travelled around Africa on a regular basis and have extensive experience and knowledge of the markets.Have grown the geographic reach of the business from 4 countries to 18 countries in Sub Sahara Africa. Business has been growing atleast 30 percent year on year. Has grown to second largest single business in DuPont South Africa since I taking over.
Business Development Leader - Transportation sector | Business Development | DuPont de Nemours International S.A.
Johannesburg, South Africa | 2005 - 2006
Transportation and Logistics
Directed all Sub Saharan Africa business development activities which are aimed at establishing market presence SSA.Identifying opportunities, validating opportunities and internal lobbying of businesses to pursue opportunities. Reported directly to Regional Director of Sub Sahara Africa. Mentored other Business development employees in the region.
Authored a Regional Roadmap that served as the basis for pursuing opportunities and establishing presence in Sub Sahara Africa for multiple businesses.
Co managed a channel optimization process across the region CVC, which was aimed at improving distributor performance across the region.
Participated in negotiation with SA government on feasibility of building Titanium Dioxide plant in South Africa.
Lead a project of introducing new polymer bake ware product into the South African baking industry, which would yield approximately ZAR Ten million in the first year.
SHEQ Manager | Flexible Packaging | Huhtamaki South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa | 2004 - 2005
Manufacturing and Industrial
Accountable for the development and implementation of quality systems for this packaging company, focused on the food sector in South Africa. Also responsible for development of quality assurance and control processes. Managed a team of lab personnel and reported directly to the Managing Director.
- Successfully implemented ISO9000:2000 from ISO 9001 at first attempt.
- Developed an electronic quality and customer complaint management system to improve responsiveness to customer issues.
- Lead negotiations with interested stakeholders from industry and general society regarding environmental and health issues.
- Introduced in line quality assurance programme and Analytical fault finding method that significantly reduced off spec product.
Technical Manager Designate | Compounding | Renolit South Africa
Sasolburg,South Africa, South Africa | 2003 - 2003
Manufacturing and Industrial
Accountable for all new product development and plant process optimization for this multinational involved in manufacturing of PVC film. Main expectation was to improve mixing processes that were responsible for major losses and deterioration in profitability. Ensure formulations are both economical and efficacious. Spent a year in Renolit Germany studying the processes and their implementation. Responsible for 17 team members and reported to the Technical Director.
- Authored a strategic document that was used in remedying the technical and challenges faced by the organisation.
- Successful negotiation of strategic alliance with some of the main ingredient suppliers to ensure better process management.
- Drive staff retraining and refocus in operations to ensure successful implementation of new proposals.
Production Shift Manager | PVC Division | Sasol Polymers
Johannesburg, South Africa | 1998 - 2002
Manufacturing and Industrial
Manage production output and resources. Responsible for a team of eighteen operators and four supervisors. Reported directly to the Factory Manager.Co authored a strategic visual management document for production optimization and improvement of employee morale.
Participated during negotiations with three unions representing two under-performing plants, winning more stringent performance metrics and savings and outsourcing the logistics function.
Served on site diversity committee.
Trainee Technologist | Technical Department | Mega Plastics
Olifantsfontein, South Africa | 1994 - 1996
Manufacturing and Industrial
Recruited from technikon to focus on new product development and process optimization projects.
Awarded employee of the month for “Crosslinking of PVC project” a non traditional method for PVC.
Educational history
Secondary
Vlakfontein High School, Mamelodi,Pretoria, South Africa (1992)
Tertiary
Johannesburg, South Africa | 2007 - 2009
Diploma in Management - Managing People,Managing Resources,Managing Finance, Managing Marketing
Focussed on management principles across the various business functions and levels.
Pretoria, South Africa | 1994 - 1996
Plastics Technology - Product Design, Formulations, Speicification
Focussed on the technology of plastics mainly focussing on manufacturing processes, product design, formulation and specification.
Johannesburg, South Africa | 2007 - present
MBA - Strategy,Business Planning,Leadership
International MBA focussed on strategy,leadership and business planning. Presented with a global perspective.
