Membership of CFO SA offers many advantages, including access to the insights of leading finance executives across the industry spectrum. Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa FD Walter Leonhardt (pictured, left, with SizweNtsalubaGobodo CEO Victor Sekese) is one such mind.
- Not yet a member? CFO SA masterclasses and other initiatives to help you develop your network and store of knowledge are only available to members, so sign up here.
How to turn finance turnaround - Coca Cola Beverages FD Walter Leonhardt
With a strong background in finance and business support, as well an in-depth understanding of the industry, Walter has brought exceptional skills and insight to his role as Finance Director at ABI and the amalgamated Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, which has seen him play a key role in transforming the SAB subsidiary's finance team and help the firm navigate challenging trading conditions. A SAB stalwart who began working for the brewer in 1997, Walter scooped both the Finance Transformation Award and the Compliance & Governance Award - and was one of the top contenders for the CFO of the Year title at the 2016 CFO Awards.
CFO SA is pleased to announced that Walter will be leading roundtable immersion and tour of the world-class Coca-Cola Bottlers Association facility on 12 June. CFO SA will provide a coach service from the Deloitte offices in Woodmead to and from the plant in Midrand. Walter will be revealing his secrets to driving continuous improvement along the way.
In a wide-ranging interview with CFO SA, Walter spoke of how he approached organisational change to drive finance transformation at ABI.
"We all know companies have corridor talk. If you can have people talk positively, instead of negatively or in a threatened fashion, that can spread your message very effectively. You can't have personal interactions every day, but if others buy into your journey and start talking about it, they become change agents. It is not an approach I have developed on my own. I am part of a fantastic management team and, in many instance, I have learned from them."
