Newsletter: Standard Bank CFO Simon Ridley blown away by CFO Awards | Kevin Attard MD Oracle: talk about digital transformation not about cloud | Pillars of the CFO as Business Partner

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday 2 July Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Standard Bank CFO Simon Ridley "blown away" by CFO Awards During his short keynote speech at the CFO Awards 2015, last year's CFO of the Year Simon Ridley (Standard Bank) didn't only give a glowing endorsement to CFO South Africa, but also listed the key aspects of a good CFO. Due to popular demand, we'll be introducing video clips of Simon's speech today - and other highlights of the awards ceremony at the magnificent Summer Place will follow. Kevin Attard, Oracle: talk about digital transformation, not about ... “CFOs are expanding across the whole business,” according to Kevin Attard, Country Leader South Africa for multinational computer technology corporation Oracle. After an impressive career in his home country Malta, Austria and the United Kingdom, Attard has recently arrived in South Africa and the energy he has brought to the Oracle office in Woodmead is palpable. Our CEO Melle Eijckelhoff and I spoke to Attard last week. CFO event: the pillars of the CFO as Business Partner CFO Deon Viljoen of Alexander Forbes summarised Thursday’s CFO event at KPMG’s Wanooka Place as “really stimulating and brilliant discussion”, a telling qualification by the man who was elected CFO of the Year just last month. Participants eventually went home with many insights to mull over after an afternoon that didn’t only see a star-studded line up, but also provided a platform for deep meaningful conversations about the way CFOs can influence and drive growth as business partners. Read more exclusive articles on CFO.co.za - 2 questions for FinTech companies, a chat to RMI's Dominique Collett Register for the CFO Event "Executing an effective growth strategy for 2016 and beyond” Part 2: Executing an effective growth strategy for 2016 and beyond Thursday 30 July at the Nedbank Head Office, Johannesburg 16.00 - 20.00 Numerous business leaders and finance executives have long recognized the need for CFOs to step out of a numbers-focused role and into a true partnership with the business - by participating in strategic planning, providing essential input on funding, managing growth plans and helping to maximize shareholder returns. But now, a growing chorus is calling for a significant new shift in the finance function toward truly business partnership activity and engagement. In this two part series we bring CFOs insights that will help drive their own perspectives and strategies and share best practice for becoming a genuine business partner. Join the CFO South Africa Event today. Program: 16.00 Opening & Reception By investment mogul and motivational speaker Vusi Thembekwayo. 17.00 Master Class - Executing an effective growth strategy We ask Deon Viljoen, CFO of the Year 2015 and CFO of Alexander Forbes and industry experts across deal advisory, banking, private equity and law who have been there and done that, what some of the key challenges are and how they see CFOs delivering effectively. 18.30 CFO Café Build a network of peers facing your challenges at discussion sessions, over meals or a drink. Take your new contacts back to the office and network. They need you too! Interact, learn and connect with your peers during the CFO Café and discuss the latest insights on current issues and topics. During the CFO Café you can meet top CFOs and financials while enjoying free snacks and drinks. Don’t miss this opportunity to join us. Register here now. Sponsors CFO South Africa Event: Continuous Professional Development Points Did you know all events of CFO South Africa are eligible for SAICA CPD points? By attending CFO South Africa's events and training courses you will stay compliant. Sign up for the next mind-blowing Fintech Event at GIBS Renowned international speaker Martijn Aslander and one of the best motivational speakers alive today, Vusi Thembekwayo, Co-Founder Talent10 Holdings Colin Vallis and CEO GT247.com, Charles Savage will inspire 100 insiders, experts, startups and investors and will discuss the developments and challenges for FinTech in Africa. Why small companies are better, smarter and faster and more fun. Why big corporates fear for their future. Why the age of abundance will change everything. Several FinTech companies present themselves. This event is organised by FinTech Africa. The ecosystem that connects FinTech startups, investors, corporates and advisors. Join the next Fintech event in Johannesburg and register here now for Tuesday 28 July from 16.00 - 19.00 at the Gordon Institute of Business Science in Sandton. Read the first CFO Magazine South Africa Who are South Africa's leading CFOs? How do successful CFOs move into Africa? Why should you transform your finance function and how can you do it? How do you attract and retain talent? Who are the preferred advisors to South African CFOs? Read the latest insights from the CFO Award winning CFOs: Simon Ridley, Standard Bank, Anoj Singh, Transnet, Colin Brown, Super Group and Aarti Takoordeen, JSE and also featured interviews with Sizwe Nxasana, CEO Firstrand, Mike Brown, CEO Nedbank, Brett Goschen, CFO MTN, Brooks Mparutsa, CFO Hollard and Irene Singo, CFO Dep. Mineral Resources. As our online member we would like to give you the opportunity to read the first ever CFO Magazine South Africa online and free of charge HERE. Would you like to advertise in the next issue? Please contact Jurrien Morsch at [email protected] or at +27 11 083 7515. Upcoming CFO South Africa Events Join the CFO Events with inspiring hosts and experts who will share their insights and experiences with you. Register now for these events and boost your company, network, career and knowledge. CFO South Africa Events in 2015 July 28 GIBS Johannesburg | Fintech Africa: Challenges and developments July 30 Nedbank Johannesburg | Executing a growth strategy for 2016 Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital Transformation Oct 15 Johannesburg | Finance Transformation Nov 19 Johannesburg | Risk, Compliance & Control Register now for one of the upcoming CFO South Africa Events. Please note that all our CFO South Africa events are for senior financial executives. CFO South Africa offers Platinum memberships to CFOs and finance directors. For more information please have a look here and contact Jurrien Morsch at [email protected]. Stay connected with CFO South Africa Follow CFO South Africa on Twitter and LinkedIn Stay up to date on what is happening in the world of finance by following us on Twitter @CFOSouthAfrica and LinkedIn. Next to that you can keep track of newly published interviews with CFOs and CEOs. Feel free to contact us Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Kind Regards, Melle Eijckelhoff Director CFO South Africa | [email protected] To control which emails you receive from CFO South Africa, please change your email preferences at cfo.co.za by selecting under settings "I do not want to receive emails from CFO South Africa | Finance Professionals South Africa"