All 32 CFOs that are nominated for the CFO Awards 2015 have now been interviewed by a representation of the panel of judges. For me, it has been a massive honour and learning opportunity to be part of the process, that started mid-February. Packs with all the interviews and profiles highlighting the performance of the nominated CFOs will soon be sent to the esteemed panel of judges, which will decide on the winners for the 10 categories using a nifty online voting system.
Some of the last CFOs to be interview included Brett Clark (left in top photo), Chief Financial Officer at recycling and packaging company Mpact. He spoke about the improved performance of the business, his own role in the upturn and about the paper-collecting projects that Mpact has been setting up in townships and urban centres. CEO Claudelle von Eck of the Institute for Internal Auditors South Africa and UJ Acccounting Professor Ben Marx were at hand to ask some tough follow up questions.
Long time CFO South Africa supporter Victor Sekese, CEO of the country's largest black-owned and accounting firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo (SNG), was the representative of the judges in the interview with Mark Godfrey (middle in second photo), Group Financial Director at Spar. He spoke about the way the company is stepping over its own conservative shadow with recent investments in Ireland and African countries. CFO South Africa Managing Director Melle Eijckelhoff was also present during the interview.
The youngest, by by no means least impressive, nominated CFO to be interviewed was Cobus Grove (pictured in third photo), who helped save Digicore from the abyss. Grove is an IFRS-specialist in his early 30s, who writes his own technical opinions, has lectured at the University of Johannesburg, played a role in SAICA's Accounting Practices Council and sits on the Financial Reporting Investigations Panel of the JSE.
Greg Davis (on the right in fourth photo) is also an impressive youngster. As CFO of Standard Bank's Africa operations he is a solid part of the recent success story of the bank in the continent. Greg has been contributing his Expert Insights to this website for a while now. He writes on the series on business principles in Africa, which he clusters under 'the 4 i's'. KPMG's Audit Executive Michael Oddy was representing the panel of judges during the interview.
Other CFOs that were questioned during the last round of interviews include Lawrence Weitzman (Business Connexion - on the left in bottom photo), Raisibe Morathi (Nedbank), Bongani Nqwababa (Amplats, now Sasol) and last year's High Performance Team Award winner John King (EOH).
The annual CFO Awards will be held at the beautiful Summer Place in Johannesburg on 14 May 2015. The gala dinner brings together South Africa's top finance professionals. It is an opportunity to celebrate excellence and engage in conversations about the culture, pitfalls and possibilities of continuously exceeding expectations.
The CFO Awards are preceded by the CFO Conference. Designed to demonstrate thought leadership, extend professional networks and help businesses to grow, this event sets the bar for financial leadership on the African continent. It is open to all CFOs and Financial Directors. Speakers will include Mervyn King, Doyen of Corporate Governance, the immensely popular 'lifehacker' Martijn Aslander and awards chairman Vusi Thembekwayo.
CFO South Africa invites you to buy a table at the CFO Awards, attend the CFO Conference and become our partner. For more information visit CFOAwards.co.za or email Jurrien Morsch at [email protected].
Attendance at all events is free for Platinum and Board Advisor Members.
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- Share your ideas with the CFO Community as well with an interview or during one of our CFO events. Please contact Jurriën Morsch at [email protected]
