Lets first get the bad news out of the way. After the formidable Aarti Takoordeen won the Young CFO of the Year Award in 2014, there were exactly zero female award winners last Thursday, It was disappointing, but I know that the members of the panel of judges have genuinely voted for their favourite candidates per category so there's nothing that we can do about that now. With CFOs like Raisibe Morathi (Nedbank), Ronel van Dijk (Spur Group), Megan Pydigadu (MiX Telematics) and Rofhiwa Irene Singo (Department of Mineral Resources) there were definitely some strong female contenders. I am not one for militant feminism or paragraphs begrudging glass ceilings, but I surely hope the scales will tip in 2016.

One of the first things Deon Viljoen told the panel of judges during his interview for this year's CFO Awards is that he had "aged in dog years" in the past 7 years as Chief Financial Officer at Alexander Forbes, the country's largest retirement fund administrator. In that period he guided the company during a delisting and a relisting at the JSE Limited, he overhauled the entire structure of the business and sold one of its biggest businesses to an international buyer. "I enjoy those multidimensional challenges," assured the judges during the interview. He feels the brand and its reputation came out of the turbulent period unscathed. “Our clients trust us and I feel that I contribute to that.”

Lifehacker and “productivity ninja” Martijn Aslander delivered a thought-provoking Master Class, entitled “The exponential organisation – surviving the 21st century” at Thursday's CFO Conference before the annual CFO Awards ceremony at Summer Place in Hyde Park, Johannesburg. Many CFOs called the session "life changing" or indicated they would be rethinking their strategies after hearing Aslander's clarion call for change and disruption.

Alexander Forbes CFO Deon Viljoen was named CFO of the Year 2015 last night during an incredibly successful CFO Conference and Gala Dinner at the Summer Place in Hyde Park, Johannesburg. Our dynamic reporter Ebrahim Moolla roamed the event and jotted down quotes throughout the evening. I included the best ones in this recap of the event.

Deon Viljoen, Chief Financial Officer at South Africa’s largest retirement fund administrator Alexander Forbes, has been named South Africa’s CFO of the Year 2015. The award was presented on Thursday 14 May 2015 at the end of an inspirational conference and gala event at Summer Place in Hyde Park, Johannesburg. Brett Tromp (Discovery Health) was named Young CFO of the Year, while Anoj Singh (Transnet) retained his title as Public CFO of the Year.

The judges have picked their favourites, the votes have been tallied and the winners are... As CFOs are polishing their shoes, picking their best evening dress and searching their cupboards for their bow-ties, anticipation rises and tension is palpable - the CFO Awards 2015 are upon us.

“If you want to be a great CFO, you need to be in a position where you can learn to manage a complex organisation,” says Anoj Singh, Group Chief Financial Officer at the dynamic State-Owned Company (SOC) Transnet and winner of two CFO Awards at the annual gala evening on 15 May 2014. In the run up to this year’s CFO of the Year gala, we are publishing a short version of the interview we had with Anoj for the first issue of the brand new CFO Magazine – which will be launched during the CFO conference and awards event on 14 May.

While spreadsheets allow for the easy design of extensive financial reports with a wide range of analysis and design options, they do have notable limitations.

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday 7 May Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Colin Brown, Super Group: a CFO that doesn’t understand IT is at risk “I believe that a CFO that doesn’t understand IT is at risk,” says Super Group CFO Colin Brown, whose recipe for success includes his deep understanding of IT, something he believes will aid any CFO tremendously. Brown was the winner of both the Finance Transformation and Strategy Execution award at the inaugural CFO of the Year event in 2014. In the run up to this year’s CFO of the Year gala, we are publishing a short version of the interview we had with Colin for the first issue of the brand new CFO Magazine – which will be launched during the CFO conference and awards event on 14 May. Greg Davis, Standard Bank: 4 principles for Africa - infrastructure In January Greg Davis, CFO Africa at the Standard Bank Group, introduced his key principles for doing business in Africa and elaborated on being in control. In the following months he also wrote about interacting and influencing. In this Expert Insight he talks about the fourth and final principle: getting the most out of infrastructure. Top class entertainment at CFO Awards With this year's CFO Awards coming closer each day, we are excited to announce that we have secured the services of some top class entertainers to enliven the evening: Jacques Lagesse and Cristina Rodrigues. Together with chairman Vusi Thembekwayo, they will be the main voices on the podium during the gala dinner - in between the announcements of the awards of course! Last Chance to join the annual CFO Awards South Africa Thursday May 14th at the Summer Place, Johannesburg 15.30 - 23.00 The annual CFO Awards will be held at the beautiful Summer Place in Johannesburg. This prestigious event recognises CFOs of listed companies, large corporations, parastatals and government institutions and awards them for outstanding performance and leadership. 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. Among the speakers are the Doyen of Corporate Governance, in South Africa and internationally, Professor Mervyn King, CFO of the Year winner 2014 and Group CFO of Standard Bank, Simon Ridley, the internationally renowned Martijn Aslander from the Netherlands, the Auditor General, Kimi Makwetu, the new CEO of KPMG South Africa, Trevor Hoole and one of the best motivational speakers and keynote speakers alive today, Vusi Thembekwayo. Also the CFOs of Sasol, Discovery Health, the National Treasury, Super Group, Howden, Spur, Dep. of Mineral Resources, Philips and many more will take the stage. 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. Program: 15.30 Opening CFO Awards 2015 & Reception 16:30 Exclusive executive sessions discussing business issues that are high on the CFO agenda - Round Table Strategy Execution - Round Table High Performance Team - Round Table Finance Transformation - Round Table Public Finance - Round Table Moving into Africa - Master Class "The exponential organisation- surviving the 21st Century" 18.00 Pre Dinner drinks 18.30 CFO Dinner & Awards - CFO of the Year Award - Public CFO of the Year Award - Young CFO of the Year Award - Moving into Africa Award - Finance & Technology Award - Transformation & Empowerment Award - Finance Transformation Award - Strategy Execution Award - Compliance & Governance Award - High Performance Team Award 22.00 After Drinks CFO South Africa invites you to buy a table at the CFO Awards, attend the CFO Conference or become our partner. Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment. Register now here. Principal Sponsor CFO Awards: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Allianz, Aveng, Barclays, Cashbuild, City of Johannesburg, Eskom, EOH, FNB, G4S, Gauteng Treasury, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Sasol, Standard Bank, Telkom, Transnet and Woolworths. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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? Yes. The first CFO South Africa Magazine answers all the questions that keep CFOs awake and throws in great ideas every CFO should consider to keep up with the latest trends and technologies to stay ahead of the competition. The first CFO Magazine CFO South Africa is due out 14 May. Expect 84 pages packed full of need-to-know information delivered in sharp, insightful articles. Also 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. Are you interested in receiving the first ever CFO Magazine South Africa or advertising 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 May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 June 25 Johannesburg | Corporate Finance July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital 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]

“I believe that a CFO that doesn’t understand IT is at risk,” says Super Group CFO Colin Brown, whose recipe for success includes his deep understanding of IT, something he believes will aid any CFO tremendously. Brown was the winner of both the Finance Transformation and Strategy Execution award at the inaugural CFO of the Year event in 2014. In the run up to this year’s CFO of the Year gala, we are publishing a short version of the interview we had with Colin for the first issue of the brand new CFO Magazine – which will be launched during the CFO conference and awards event on 14 May.

In January Greg Davis, CFO Africa at the Standard Bank Group, introduced his key principles for doing business in Africa and elaborated on being in control. In the following months he also wrote about interacting and influencing. In this Expert Insight he talks about the fourth and final principle: getting the most out of infrastructure.

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday 30 April Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Simon Ridley, Standard Bank: Curiosity breeds good CFOs “As CFOs we need to be trusted advisors, rather than critics,” says Simon Ridley, CFO at the Standard Bank Group and CFO of the Year 2014. In the run up to this year’s CFO of the Year gala, we are publishing a short version of the interview we had with Simon for the first issue of the brand new CFO Magazine – which will be launched during the CFO conference and awards event on 14 May. World class tier 1 ERP for government Admitting mistakes is not something we have come to expect from the governments. Lindy Bodewig, Chief Director at the National Treasury, admitted some mistakes were made while reflecting on the failure. These mistakes have provided national treasury with a much more sober and realistic outlook to the implications of implementing an ERP. During a candid round table with CFOs from the public sector, Bodewig charted the way forward and promised the anxious finance leaders light at the end of the tunnel. Top class entertainment at CFO Awards With this year's CFO Awards coming closer each day, we are excited to announce that we have secured the services of some top class entertainers to enliven the evening: Jacques Lagesse and Cristina Rodrigues. Together with chairman Vusi Thembekwayo, they will be the main voices on the podium during the gala dinner - in between the announcements of the awards of course! Join the annual CFO Awards South Africa Thursday May 14th at the Summer Place, Johannesburg 15.30 - 23.00 The annual CFO Awards will be held at the beautiful Summer Place in Johannesburg. This prestigious event recognises CFOs of listed companies, large corporations, parastatals and government institutions and awards them for outstanding performance and leadership. 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. Among the speakers are the Doyen of Corporate Governance, in South Africa and internationally, Professor Mervyn King, CFO of the Year winner 2014 and Group CFO of Standard Bank, Simon Ridley, the internationally renowned Martijn Aslander from the Netherlands, the Auditor General, Kimi Makwetu, the new CEO of KPMG South Africa, Trevor Hoole and one of the best motivational speakers and keynote speakers alive today, Vusi Thembekwayo. Also the CFOs of Discovery Health, Howden, Spur, Dep. of Mineral Resources, Philips and many more will take the stage. 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. Program: 15.30 Opening CFO Awards 2015 & Reception 16:30 Exclusive executive sessions discussing business issues that are high on the CFO agenda - Round Table Strategy Execution - Round Table High Performance Team - Round Table Finance Transformation - Round Table Public Finance - Round Table Moving into Africa - Master Class "The exponential organisation- surviving the 21st Century" 18.00 Pre Dinner drinks 18.30 CFO Dinner & Awards - CFO of the Year Award - Public CFO of the Year Award - Young CFO of the Year Award - Moving into Africa Award - Finance & Technology Award - Transformation & Empowerment Award - Finance Transformation Award - Strategy Execution Award - Compliance & Governance Award - High Performance Team Award 22.00 After Drinks CFO South Africa invites you to buy a table at the CFO Awards, attend the CFO Conference or become our partner. Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment. Register now here. Principal Sponsor CFO Awards: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Allianz, Aveng, Barclays, Cashbuild, City of Johannesburg, Eskom, EOH, FNB, G4S, Gauteng Treasury, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Sasol, Standard Bank, Telkom, Transnet and Woolworths. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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? Yes. The first CFO South Africa Magazine answers all the questions that keep CFOs awake and throws in great ideas every CFO should consider to keep up with the latest trends and technologies to stay ahead of the competition. The first CFO Magazine CFO South Africa is due out 14 May. Expect 84 pages packed full of need-to-know information delivered in sharp, insightful articles. Also 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. Are you interested in receiving the first ever CFO Magazine South Africa or advertising 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 May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 June 25 Johannesburg | Corporate Finance July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital 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"

“As CFOs we need to be trusted advisors, rather than critics,” says Simon Ridley, CFO at the Standard Bank Group and CFO of the Year 2014. In the run up to this year’s CFO of the Year gala, we are publishing a short version of the interview we had with Simon for the first issue of the brand new CFO Magazine – which will be launched during the CFO conference and awards event on 14 May.

Admitting mistakes is not something we have come to expect from the governments. Lindy Bodewig, Chief Director at the National Treasury, admitted some mistakes were made while reflecting on the failure. These mistakes have provided national treasury with a much more sober and realistic outlook to the implications of implementing an ERP. During a candid round table with CFOs from the public sector, Bodewig charted the way forward and promised the anxious finance leaders light at the end of the tunnel.

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday 23 April Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Reeza Isaacs, Finance Director Woolworths: enjoying the fast paced ... When the Woolworths CEO Ian Moir suggested that they have dinner, Reeza Isaacs didn’t think much of it. He was Managing Partner at services firm EY that audited the Woolworths account and there was a long standing relationship between the organisations. Then came the job offer and Isaacs hasn’t looked back. From closely being involved in the spectacular acquisition of Australian retailer David Jones to getting used to receiving daily updates about trading results, it has been a real roller coaster ride for the FD of Woolworths. We spoke to Isaacs about the importance of mentoring, his proudest moments at EY and his successful shift to the fast pace of retail. “It has been a phenomenal experience.” The CFO as IT evangelist? Top CFOs share their thoughts at CFO SA d... How are CFOs and their departments dealing with the digital winds of change inspired by technological advancement and disruptive start-ups? How is the role of the modern CFO adapting to this new environment and what skills are necessary to make these adjustments? These were some of the questions posed at the CFO South Africa dinner and round table event at the Four Seasons Westcliff hotel in Johannesburg on 15 April 2015. What makes the perfect CFO? Platinum Member lunch and VIP Tour Business partner, strategist, change agent, IT evangelist, operational genius … who is today’s successful CFO? This question was the starting point of an enlightening discussion attended by the CFOs Antionio Agostinello, Valsir Uneeq, Nichola Dewar, Postbank, Molly Gallant, Ryden International, Jo-Ann Pohl, Standard Chartered Bank, Richard Somanje, Mvula Trust, Heleen Wright, Moonwater and Aarti Takoordeen, JSE at the Platinum Member lunch at KPMG’s elegant Wanooka House dining room on Friday, 17 April 2015. Join the annual CFO Awards South Africa Thursday May 14th at the Summer Place, Johannesburg 15.30 - 23.00 The annual CFO Awards will be held at the beautiful Summer Place in Johannesburg. This prestigious event recognises CFOs of listed companies, large corporations, parastatals and government institutions and awards them for outstanding performance and leadership. 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. Among the speakers are the Doyen of Corporate Governance, in South Africa and internationally Professor Mervyn King, CFO of the Year winner 2014 and Group CFO of Standard Bank, Simon Ridley, the internationally renowned Martijn Aslander from the Netherlands, the Auditor General, Kimi Makwetu, the new CEO of KPMG South Africa, Trevor Hoole and one of the best motivational speakers and keynote speakers alive today, Vusi Thembekwayo. 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. Program: 15.30 Opening CFO Awards 2015 & Reception 16:30 Exclusive executive sessions discussing business issues that are high on the CFO agenda - Round Table Strategy Execution - Round Table High Performance Team - Round Table Finance Transformation - Round Table Public Finance - Round Table Moving into Africa - Master Class "The exponential organisation" 18.00 Pre Dinner drinks 18.30 CFO Dinner & Awards - CFO of the Year Award - Public CFO of the Year Award - Young CFO of the Year Award - Moving into Africa Award - Finance & Technology Award - Transformation & Empowerment Award - Finance Transformation Award - Strategy Execution Award - Compliance & Governance Award - High Performance Team Award 22.00 After Drinks CFO South Africa invites you to buy a table at the CFO Awards, attend the CFO Conference or become our partner. Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment. Register now here. Principal Sponsor CFO Awards: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Allianz, Aveng, Barclays, Cashbuild, City of Johannesburg, Eskom, EOH, FNB, G4S, Gauteng Treasury, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Sasol, Standard Bank, Telkom, Transnet and Woolworths. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 June 25 Johannesburg | Corporate Finance July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital 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"

Business partner, strategist, change agent, IT evangelist, operational genius … who is today’s successful CFO?

When the Woolworths CEO Ian Moir suggested that they have dinner, Reeza Isaacs didn’t think much of it. He was Managing Partner at services firm EY that audited the Woolworths account and there was a long standing relationship between the organisations. Then came the job offer and Isaacs hasn’t looked back. From closely being involved in the spectacular acquisition of Australian retailer David Jones to getting used to receiving daily updates about trading results, it has been a real roller coaster ride for the FD of Woolworths. We spoke to Isaacs about the importance of mentoring, his proudest moments at EY and his successful shift to the fast pace of retail. “It has been a phenomenal experience.”

How are CFOs and their departments dealing with the digital winds of change inspired by technological advancement and disruptive start-ups? How is the role of the modern CFO adapting to this new environment and what skills are necessary to make these adjustments? These were some of the questions posed at the CFO South Africa dinner and round table event at the Four Seasons Westcliff hotel in Johannesburg on 15 April 2015.

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday 16 April Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Interviews with nominated CFOs concluded, Awards judges to decide 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. Everything CFOs need to know about social media risk Pornography, obscenity, piracy and your business - there are some things you wish you didn't know about social media... The incessant daily nattering, cat photos and public outpourings of devotion for teen pop idols that are synonymous with social media may seem a world away from the office of the CFO. Which should not be interpreted as a criticism of any closeted C-suite Beliebers who might be reading this. SA Premier Business Awards: Ramaphosa calls for development South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at the SA Premier Business Awards at the Sandton Convention Centre on 9 April 2015. He urged the country’s entrepreneurs to think of their businesses as building blocks of social development, and not merely as vehicles for earning profits. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - The right solution – keeping the wholesale retail industry focused Join the annual CFO Awards South Africa Thursday May 14th at the Summer Place, Johannesburg 15.30 - 23.00 The annual CFO Awards will be held at the beautiful Summer Place in Johannesburg. This prestigious event recognises CFOs of listed companies, large corporations, parastatals and government institutions and awards them for outstanding performance and leadership. 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. Among the speakers are the Doyen of Corporate Governance, in South Africa and internationally Professor Mervyn King, CFO of the Year winner 2014 and Group CFO of Standard Bank, Simon Ridley, the internationally renowned Martijn Aslander from the Netherlands, the Auditor General, Kimi Makwetu, the new CEO of KPMG South Africa, Trevor Hoole and one of the best motivational speakers and keynote speakers alive today, Vusi Thembekwayo. 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. Program: 15.30 Opening CFO Awards 2015 & Reception 16:30 Exclusive executive sessions discussing business issues that are high on the CFO agenda - Round Table Strategy Execution - Round Table High Performance Team - Round Table Finance Transformation - Round Table Public Finance - Round Table Moving into Africa - Master Class "The exponential organisation" 18.00 Pre Dinner drinks 18.30 CFO Dinner & Awards - CFO of the Year Award - Public CFO of the Year Award - Young CFO of the Year Award - Moving into Africa Award - Finance & Technology Award - Transformation & Empowerment Award - Finance Transformation Award - Strategy Execution Award - Compliance & Governance Award - High Performance Team Award 22.00 After Drinks CFO South Africa invites you to buy a table at the CFO Awards, attend the CFO Conference or become our partner. Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment. Register now here. Principal Sponsor CFO Awards: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Allianz, Aveng, Barclays, Cashbuild, City of Johannesburg, Eskom, EOH, FNB, G4S, Gauteng Treasury, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Sasol, Standard Bank, Telkom, Transnet and Woolworths. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 June 25 Johannesburg | Corporate Finance July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital 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]

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.

South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at the SA Premier Business Awards at the Sandton Convention Centre on 9 April 2015. He urged the country’s entrepreneurs to think of their businesses as building blocks of social development, and not merely as vehicles for earning profits.

Pornography, obscenity, piracy and your business - there are some things you wish you didn't know about social media...

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CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday 9 April Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Top class entertainment at CFO Awards With this year's CFO Awards coming closer each day, we are excited to announce that we have secured the services of some top class entertainers to enliven the evening: Jacques Lagesse and Cristina Rodrigues. Together with chairman Vusi Thembekwayo, they will be the main voices on the podium during the gala dinner - in between the announcements of the awards of course! Editorial: Is terrorism a risk for CFOs eyeing African opportunities? With almost 150 students mercilessly massacred at the university of Garissa in Eastern Kenya last week, terrorism is suddenly top of mind again for (South African) businesses looking to move (further) into the continent. Within a week after the successful and democratic elections in Nigeria, the pendulum has swung back with a vengeance. Tourists are shocked and are cancelling their Kenyan safaris in droves, although places like the Masai Mara have been out of bounds for the Islamic extremists of al-Shabaab so far. Should CFOs show similar caution? Casper Troskie, Liberty: communication is key for modern CFO “It is very important to understand how investors see the business, because if you don’t listen to them, you might miss important trends,” says Casper Troskie, Financial Director at financial services company Liberty. In an exclusive interview with CFO South Africa Troskie shares valuable advice for ambitious Chartered Accountants, recalls his proudest moments and elaborates on the culture change that Liberty has embarked on. “It has been a great journey, but I see the task only as a third of the way done.” Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Exclusive: FirstRand's retiring CEO Sizwe Nxasana on CFOs, SAICA, B... Join the annual CFO Awards South Africa & Conference Thursday May 14th at the Summer Place, Johannesburg 15.30 - 23.00 The annual CFO Awards will be held at the beautiful Summer Place in Johannesburg. This prestigious event recognises CFOs of listed companies, large corporations, parastatals and government institutions and awards them for outstanding performance and leadership. 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. Among the speakers are the Doyen of Corporate Governance, in South Africa and internationally Professor Mervyn King, the internationally renowned Martijn Aslander from the Netherlands, the Auditor General, Kimi Makwetu and one of the best motivational speakers and keynote speakers alive today, Vusi Thembekwayo. 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. Program: 15.30 Opening CFO Awards 2015 & Reception 16.30 Sessions - Strategy Execution - High Performance Team - Finance Transformation - Public Finance - Moving into Africa - Master Class "The exponential organisation" 18.00 Pre Dinner drinks 18.30 CFO Dinner & Awards - CFO of the Year Award - Public CFO of the Year Award - Young CFO of the Year Award - Moving into Africa Award - Finance & Technology Award - Transformation & Empowerment Award - Finance Transformation Award - Strategy Execution Award - Compliance & Governance Award - High Performance Team Award 22.00 After Drinks CFO South Africa invites you to buy a table at the CFO Awards, attend the CFO Conference or become our partner. Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment. Register now here. Principal Sponsor CFO Awards: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Allianz, Aveng, Barclays, Cashbuild, City of Johannesburg, Eskom, EOH, FNB, G4S, Gauteng Treasury, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Sasol, Standard Bank, Telkom, Transnet and Woolworths. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 June 25 Johannesburg | Corporate Finance July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital 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"

With almost 150 students mercilessly massacred at the university of Garissa in Eastern Kenya last week, terrorism is suddenly top of mind again for (South African) businesses looking to move (further) into the continent. Within a week after the successful and democratic elections in Nigeria, the pendulum has swung back with a vengeance. Tourists are shocked and are cancelling their Kenyan safaris in droves, although places like the Masai Mara have been out of bounds for the Islamic extremists of al-Shabaab so far. Should CFOs show similar caution?

With this year's CFO Awards coming closer each day, we are excited to announce that we have secured the services of some top class entertainers to enliven the evening: Jacques Lagesse and Cristina Rodrigues. Together with chairman Vusi Thembekwayo, they will be the main voices on the podium during the gala dinner - in between the announcements of the awards of course!

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday 2 April Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles KPMG’s Frank Rizzo talks disruptive tech trends with CFOs KPMG Technology Sector Leader for Africa Frank Rizzo delivered a Master Class on trends in data analytics, business intelligence and technology at our Get Smart event at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on 17 February. In his introduction, he outlined six key tech trends that are shaping the business landscape: Financial systems upgrades: a 6 step guide for CFOs Embarking on a software upgrade can be a daunting and uncertain task for many CFOs, often clouded in over technical terms and confusing jargon. Regardless of the reason for your upgrade there are basic common components which each CFO should be familiar with before embarking on any software upgrade project. SADC rallies behind fourth bottom line The representatives of more than 54 multinational, regional and local companies attended the SADC Multi-Sectoral High-Level Taskforce dinner on Monday, 23 March at the Hyatt Regency in Johannesburg, along with SADC ministers, UN dignitaries and functionaries from various health NGOs. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Editorial: Nigerian elections boon for business Join the annual CFO Awards South Africa & Conference Thursday May 14th at the Summer Place, Johannesburg 15.30 - 23.00. The annual CFO Awards will be held at the beautiful Summer Place in Johannesburg. This prestigious event recognises CFOs of listed companies, large corporations, parastatals and government institutions and awards them for outstanding performance and leadership. 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. Among the speakers are the Doyen of Corporate Governance, in South Africa and internationally Professor Mervyn King, the internationally renowned Martijn Aslander from the Netherlands and one of the best motivational speakers and keynote speakers alive today, Vusi Thembekwayo. 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. Program: 15.30 Opening CFO Awards 2015 & Reception 16.30 Sessions - Strategy Execution - High Performance Team - Finance Transformation - Public Finance - Moving into Africa - Master Class "The exponential organisation" 18.00 Pre Dinner drinks 18.30 CFO Dinner & Awards - CFO of the Year Award - Public CFO of the Year Award - Young CFO of the Year Award - Moving into Africa Award - Finance & Technology Award - Transformation & Empowerment Award - Finance Transformation Award - Strategy Execution Award - Compliance & Governance Award - High Performance Team Award 22.00 After Drinks CFO South Africa invites you to buy a table at the CFO Awards, attend the CFO Conference or become our partner. Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment. Register now here. Principal Sponsor CFO Awards: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Allianz, Aveng, Barclays, Cashbuild, City of Johannesburg, Eskom, EOH, FNB, G4S, Gauteng Treasury, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Sasol, Standard Bank, Telkom, Transnet and Woolworths. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 June 25 Johannesburg | Corporate Finance July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital 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"

The way the Nigerian presidential elections have unfolded over the last few days must surely be the single best news in 2015 for CFOs whose businesses are - or want to be - active in West Africa. With bad examples from Kenya, Zimbabwe and Ivory Coast many feared the worst when it became apparent that the opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, was about to win. The worst being last-minute election rigging and wide-spread violence. But none of that came to be, with outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan setting a valuable example for his peers and bowing out gracefully.

The representatives of more than 54 multinational, regional and local companies attended the SADC Multi-Sectoral High-Level Taskforce dinner on Monday, 23 March at the Hyatt Regency in Johannesburg, along with SADC ministers, UN dignitaries and functionaries from various health NGOs.

Embarking on a software upgrade can be a daunting and uncertain task for many CFOs, often clouded in over technical terms and confusing jargon. Regardless of the reason for your upgrade there are basic common components which each CFO should be familiar with before embarking on any software upgrade project.

KPMG Technology Sector Leader for Africa Frank Rizzo delivered a Master Class on trends in data analytics, business intelligence and technology at our Get Smart event at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on 17 February.

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday March 26 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Prof. Watson: 6 tips to get to grips with IFRS 15 (Revenue) The publication of the new standard on revenue, IFRS 15, in May 2014 is the most significant change to IFRS in the last couple of years. Almost every company earns revenue in some form or other, and for most of those companies revenue is the single largest figure in the financial statements. Preparers need to prioritise getting to grips with how IFRS 15 will impact their business. Great insight into African tax by KPMG’s top experts Never speak to the tax authority in an African country without an advisor present, make better use of tax incentives and familiarise yourself with the local tax law and the people who enforce it. Those were some of the lessons during the extremely insightful Master Class at Thursday’s Moving into Africa event in the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton. The CFOs present received a comprehensive overview of African tax affairs by some of the brightest tax minds on the continent, provided by KPMG. Tax strategies in the spotlight at Moving into Africa event - regis... Besides financial, social and environmental data, integrated reports should include data on the health and wellness of staff, argues Brett Tromp, CFO of Discovery Health. We asked him what his ‘fourth bottom line’ means and why CFOs should care about health in the first place. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Editorial: South African CFOs should drop the arrogance in 'Africa' Join the 2nd CFO Awards South Africa & Conference Thursday May 14th at the Summer Place, Johannesburg 15.30 - 23.00. The annual CFO Awards will be held at the beautiful Summer Place in Johannesburg. This prestigious event recognises CFOs of listed companies, large corporations, parastatals and government institutions and awards them for outstanding performance and leadership. 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. Chaired by Vusi Thembekwayo, 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. Program: 15.30 Opening CFO Awards 2015 & Reception 16.30 Sessions - Strategy Execution - High Performance Team - Finance Transformation - Public Finance - Moving into Africa - Master Class "The exponential organisation" 18.00 Pre Dinner Drinks 18.30 CFO Dinner & Awards - CFO of the Year Award - Public CFO of the Year Award - Young CFO of the Year Award - Moving into Africa Award - Finance & Technology Award - Transformation & Empowerment Award - Finance Transformation Award - Strategy Execution Award - Compliance & Governance Award - High Performance Team Award 22.00 After Drinks CFO South Africa invites you to buy a table at the CFO Awards, attend the CFO Conference or become our partner. Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment. Register now here. Principal Sponsor CFO Awards: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Allianz, Aveng, Barclays, Cashbuild, City of Johannesburg, Eskom, EOH, FNB, G4S, Gauteng Treasury, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Sasol, Standard Bank, Telkom, Transnet and Woolworths. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 June 25 Johannesburg | Corporate Finance July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital 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"

As an aside during our successful Moving into Africa event in the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton, Sean Bennett, Head of UBS South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa, remarked that South Africans are not always welcomed with open arms in the rest of the continent. We are often guilty of talking about 'Africa' as if South Africa is not part of the continent, we are often guilty of arrogantly viewing the swath of land north of the Limpopo as largely undeveloped and we are often wrongly assuming that we have to import expats because of the purported lack of local talent.

Besides financial, social and environmental data, integrated reports should include data on the health and wellness of staff, argues Brett Tromp, CFO of Discovery Health. We asked him what his ‘fourth bottom line’ means and why CFOs should care about health in the first place.

The publication of the new standard on revenue, IFRS 15, in May 2014 is the most significant change to IFRS in the last couple of years. Almost every company earns revenue in some form or other, and for most of those companies revenue is the single largest figure in the financial statements. Preparers need to prioritise getting to grips with how IFRS 15 will impact their business.

Never speak to the tax authority in an African country without an advisor present, make better use of tax incentives and familiarise yourself with the local tax law and the people who enforce it. Those were some of the lessons during the extremely insightful Master Class at Thursday’s Moving into Africa event in the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton. The CFOs present received a comprehensive overview of African tax affairs by some of the brightest tax minds on the continent, provided by KPMG.

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday March 19 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Greg Davis, Standard Bank: 4 principles for Africa - influencing In January Greg Davis, CFO Africa at the Standard Bank Group, introduced his key principles for doing business in Africa and elaborated on being in control. Last month he explained the finer details of the second i: interacting. In this Expert Insight he talks about the third principle: influencing. CFOs of Gold Fields, Howden, Spar and Morvest interviewed by award ... Members of the panel of judges for the CFO Awards 2015 is currently interviewing the nominated CFOs to help them decide who is going to be CFO of the Year and who will win the other 9 coveted awards. Last week Thursday judge Christo Els, senior partner at law firm Webber Wentzel, spoke to Paul Schmidt, Financial Director at mining company Gold Fields. Tax strategies in the spotlight at Moving into Africa event - regis... The raison d'être of organisations is to enable groups of people to work together and achieve what they would be unable to achieve as individuals, on their own. Delegation is an age-old art − of assigning tasks and sharing responsibilities – and is therefore essential to organisation. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Great energy at launch of FinTech Africa community Learn how to succesfully move into Africa CFO Event Moving into Africa Thursday March 19th at the Michelangelo Hotel 16.00 - 20.00. Avoid the pitfalls - grab the opportunities. We will help you to explore the challenges and opportunities from regional tax developments with the foremost African tax specialists from KPMG. Tax strategies for growing your business in Africa. South African businesses are finding many opportunities to thrive within the developing markets in Africa. As as CFO there are many things to consider while planning for an international growth strategy. The key to success can be in the tax details. Join us to learn and share practical insight and cases that can help you take tackle your African tax strategy. Program: Start and Welcome CFO Event 16.00 - 17.00 Master Class 'Moving into Africa' 17.00 - 18.45 Presenters: • Greg Davis - CFO Africa Standard Bank • Devon Duffield - Chairman: Tax & Legal KPMG • Venter Labuschagne - Head: Trade & Customs KPMG • Richard Ndung’u - Partner and Head of Tax KPMG Kenya • Victor Onyenkpa - Partner KPMG Nigeria • Louison Kiyombo - Head of Tax and Legal KPMG DRC Panel: • Bikash Prasad - CFO Olam International • Sean Bennett - CEO UBS South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa CFO Public Round Table 'Change Management' 17.00 - 18.45 There is power in sharing stories and experiences with your peers. The challenges that face the CFO in the Public sector demands not only financial knowledge and expertise. Change management and empowerment are skills that will determine the future and success of the public organisation. In this round table we are going to discuss Change management and the role you can or want to play in continuous improvement. This exclusive get-together will offer you the unique opportunity to share your vision and ideas with top CFOs from the public sector. CFO Café 18.45 - 20.00 Join this event free of charge and don’t miss out on the CFO Event on Moving into Africa from 16.00 - 20.00 and register here. Sponsors CFO Event Moving into Africa & Round Table Public Finance: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Aveng, Barclays, Eskom, EOH, FNB, General Cable, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Standard Bank and Transnet. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 June 25 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital 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"

A group of energetic investors, entrepreneurs, bankers and lawyers met at the office of Norton Rose Fulbright in Sandton on Tuesday 17 March 2015 to discuss the massive opportunities FinTech initiatives have to propel change in Africa. They gathering was the founding meeting of FinTech Africa, a new community that aims to provide robust peer to peer interaction, enabling synergies and acting as an incubator for exciting ideas.

Members of the panel of judges for the CFO Awards 2015 is currently interviewing the nominated CFOs to help them decide who is going to be CFO of the Year and who will win the other 9 coveted awards.

Extra CFO South Africa Newsletter | Monday March 16 Learn how to succesfully move into Africa CFO Event Moving into Africa Thursday March 19th at the Michelangelo Hotel 16.00 - 20.00. Avoid the pitfalls - grab the opportunities. We will help you to explore the challenges and opportunities from regional tax developments with the foremost African tax specialists from KPMG. Tax strategies for growing your business in Africa. South African businesses are finding many opportunities to thrive within the developing markets in Africa. As as CFO there are many things to consider while planning for an international growth strategy. The key to success can be in the tax details. Join us to learn and share practical insight and cases that can help you take tackle your African tax strategy. Program: Start and Welcome CFO Event 16.00 - 16.45 Master Class 'Moving into Africa' 16.45 - 18.45 Presenters: • Greg Davis - CFO Africa Standard Bank • Devon Duffield - Chairman: Tax & Legal KPMG • Venter Labuschagne - Head: Trade & Customs KPMG • Richard Ndung’u - Partner and Head of Tax KPMG Kenya • Victor Onyenkpa - Partner KPMG Nigeria • Louison Kiyombo - Head of Tax and Legal KPMG DRC Panel: • Bikash Prasad - CFO Olam International • Sean Bennett - CEO UBS South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa • Colin Coleman - Head for sub-Saharan Africa Goldman Sachs CFO Public Round Table 'Change Management' 16.45 - 18.15 There is power in sharing stories and experiences with your peers. The challenges that face the CFO in the Public sector demands not only financial knowledge and expertise. Change management and empowerment are skills that will determine the future and success of the public organisation. In this round table we are going to discuss Change management and the role you can or want to play in continuous improvement. This exclusive get-together will offer you the unique opportunity to share your vision and ideas with top CFOs from the public sector. CFO Café 18.15 - 20.00 Join this event free of charge and don’t miss out on the CFO Event on Moving into Africa from 16.00 - 20.00 and register here. Sponsors CFO Event Moving into Africa & Round Table Public Finance: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Aveng, Barclays, Eskom, EOH, FNB, General Cable, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Standard Bank and Transnet. Are you a CFO? You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your finance colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 June 25 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital 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]

In January Greg Davis, CFO Africa at the Standard Bank Group, introduced his key principles for doing business in Africa and elaborated on being in control. Last month he explained the finer details of the second i: interacting. In this Expert Insight he talks about the third principle: influencing.

John King | Chief Financial Officer | EOH Holdings Ltd

Cobus Grove is nominated for the CFO Awards 2015. The factsheet below together with his interview with the panel of judges will be used to determine the CFO Award winners 2015.

Lawrence Weitzmann is nominated for the CFO Awards 2015. The factsheet below together with his interview with the panel of judges will be used to determine the CFO Award winners 2015.

Robbie Taylor is nominated for the CFO Awards 2015. The factsheet below together with his interview with the panel of judges will be used to determine the CFO Award winners 2015.

Brett Tromp is nominated for the CFO Awards 2015. The factsheet below together with his interview with the panel of judges will be used to determine the CFO Award winners 2015.

Casper Troskie is nominated for the CFO Awards 2015. The factsheet below together with his interview with the panel of judges will be used to determine the CFO Award winners 2015.

Anoj Singh is nominated for the CFO Awards 2015. The factsheet below together with his interview with the panel of judges will be used to determine the CFO Award winners 2015.

Paul Schmidt | Chief Financial Officer | Gold Fields

Megan Pydigadu is nominated for the CFO Awards 2015. The factsheet below together with her interview with the panel of judges will be used to determine the CFO Award winners 2015.

Greg Davis is nominated for the CFO Awards 2015. The factsheet below together with his interview with the panel of judges will be used to determine the CFO Award winners 2015.

While South African CFOs are keen to help their businesses explore options in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries, the prospect of governance and tax issues still fills many with trepidation. During our Moving into Africa event on Thursday 19 March in Johannesburg a impressive team of African tax specialists will ease your mind and talk about the latest developments. It is not too late yet to REGISTER for the event. This is the CFO event you can’t afford to miss!

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday March 12 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Exclusive: FirstRand's retiring CEO Sizwe Nxasana on CFOs, SAICA, B... Business power house, Chartered Accountant and Fort Hare graduate Sizwe Nxasana (57) started KwaZulu-Natal’s first black audit firm in 1989, listed Telkom at the JSE in 2003 and more than doubled FirstRand’s market cap to R295 billion in 2015, after becoming CEO in 2010. Last week he announced he will step down as CEO in September In an exclusive interview with CFO South Africa, Nxasana chats about the role of CFOs, SAICA, the economy and BEE. He also has some tips for ambitious CAs. CFOs of Barclays Africa, Discovery Health, Transnet and Santova int... March is the month that the judges for the CFO Awards 2015 interview most of the nominated CFOs, with the event - a conference and gala dinner - taking place on 14 May. Just in the last three days, the judges have spoken to the finance bosses of a bank, a health insurer, a state-owned company and a logistics business. 7 tips for CFOs who struggle to delegate The raison d'être of organisations is to enable groups of people to work together and achieve what they would be unable to achieve as individuals, on their own. Delegation is an age-old art − of assigning tasks and sharing responsibilities – and is therefore essential to organisation. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Panel of judges for CFO Awards 2015 meet at JSE Limited Register for CFO Event Moving into Africa Learn how to successfully move into Africa Thursday March 19th at the Michelangelo Hotel. A world of opportunities await innovative organisations in Africa and South Africa. As the pace of development into the rest of Africa gains momentum, more and more South African and international companies are considering expanding their businesses into the rest of the continent, the opportunities are rife. Learn from how to successfully move into Africa by sharing the best practices of Standard Bank's CFO Africa Greg Davis and other experts. Join this next CFO Event in Johannesburg. Join this event free of charge and don’t miss out on the CFO Event on Moving into Africa from 4pm - 8pm and register now: - Register. Principal Sponsor CFO Event Moving into Africa: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Aveng, Barclays, Eskom, EOH, FNB, General Cable, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Standard Bank and Transnet. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital 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]

March is the month that the judges for the CFO Awards 2015 interview most of the nominated CFOs, with the event - a conference and gala dinner - taking place on 14 May. Just in the last three days, the judges have spoken to the finance bosses of a bank, a health insurer, a state-owned company and a logistics business.

Business power house, Chartered Accountant and Fort Hare graduate Sizwe Nxasana (57) started KwaZulu-Natal’s first black audit firm in 1989, listed Telkom at the JSE in 2003 and more than doubled FirstRand’s market cap to R295 billion in 2015, after becoming CEO in 2010. Last week he announced he will step down as CEO in September. In an exclusive interview with CFO South Africa, Nxasana chats about the role of CFOs, SAICA, the economy and BEE. He also has some tips for ambitious CAs.

The raison d'être of organisations is to enable groups of people to work together and achieve what they would be unable to achieve as individuals, on their own. Delegation is an age-old art − of assigning tasks and sharing responsibilities – and is therefore essential to organisation.

One of the key success factors behind the annual CFO Awards is the strong composition of the panel of judges. On 17 February 2015 the panel for the 2015 awards met in a boardroom of the JSE Limited to discuss this year’s process and procedures. “We are truly honoured to have a group of such respected leaders on the panel to decide who are the best CFOs in South Africa at the moment,” said CFO South Africa CEO Melle Eijckelhoff, who convened the meeting.

I always find it slightly disappointing when CFOs need to run an interview by their communications department. So it was really refreshing to do an interview yesterday that I managed to write up on the same day and that was approved within an hour. The interviewee? Sizwe Nxasana, CEO of FirstRand and responsible for a R295 billion market cap. Yet again, I must conclude: the more senior or influential a person is, the easier they are to talk to and the less bureaucratic they are about approving their interviews.

“It is very important to understand how investors see the business, because if you don’t listen to them, you might miss important trends,” says Casper Troskie, Financial Director at financial services company Liberty. In an exclusive interview with CFO South Africa Troskie shares valuable advice for ambitious Chartered Accountants, recalls his proudest moments and elaborates on the culture change that Liberty has embarked on. “It has been a great journey, but I see the task only as a third of the way done.”

Line managers in government departments, municipalities and other public institutions should prioritise financial management and public CFOs should help them with that, argues Dumisani Dlamini, CFO at the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC).

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CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday February 26 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Lifehacker Martijn Aslander warns CFOs for ‘weapons of mass disrupt... After dazzling the CFOs and other top finance professionals with a barrage of inspiring technological innovations, visionary speaker and entrepreneur Martijn Aslander sounded the clarion call for a people-centered digital revolution. “In the next ten years, the world will have changed more than it has in the last century.” CFO of the Week: Steven Whiley (Neotel): great CFOs take risks “A great CFO needs to have appetite for a certain level of risk,” says Steven Whiley, CFO at Neotel, South Africa’s second fixed line operator. Whiley is currently part if the negotiations for the sale of Neotel to communications giant Vodacom and has earned his stripes during a long and varied career as CFO in several industries. “The best CFOs can look at the balance sheet and understand from there what makes the business tick.” CFOs of Oceana, Spur and Ascendis Health speak to Awards judges Whether social investment is central to your business or not, it is undeniable that all companies have social touch-points, which mean that companies influence, and are influenced by the societies in which they operate. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - News: Shock after resgination SAB Miller CFO Jamie Wilson Register for CFO Event Moving into Africa Learn how to successfully move into Africa Thursday March 19th at the Michelangelo Hotel. A world of opportunities await innovative organisations in Africa and South Africa. As the pace of development into the rest of Africa gains momentum, more and more South African and international companies are considering expanding their businesses into the rest of the continent, the opportunities are rife. Learn from how to successfully move into Africa by sharing the best practices of Standard Bank's CFO Africa Greg Davis and other experts. Join this next CFO Event in Johannesburg. Join this event free of charge and don’t miss out on the CFO Event on Moving into Africa from 4pm - 8pm and register now: - March 19th at the Michalengelo Hotel Principal Sponsor CFO Event Moving into Africa: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Aveng, Barclays, Eskom, EOH, FNB, General Cable, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Standard Bank and Transnet. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital 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"

The sudden resignation of SAB Miller's Chief Financial Officer Jamie Wilson has got a lot of people thinking. First of all, many people are wondering if his departure is linked to the rumoured bid the world's largest beer brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev apparently wants to make for SAB Miller, the global number 2. Second of all, and this one is particularly relevant for the CFO Community, is that is clear that CFO appointments and departures set tongues wagging these days.

“A great CFO needs to have appetite for a certain level of risk,” says Steven Whiley, CFO at Neotel, South Africa’s second fixed line operator. Whiley is currently part if the negotiations for the sale of Neotel to communications giant Vodacom and has earned his stripes during a long and varied career as CFO in several industries. “The best CFOs can look at the balance sheet and understand from there what makes the business tick.”

The work of the panel of judges for the CFO Awards 2015 might be a huge responsibility and - at times - a lot of work, but it is definitely never boring! On Thursday and Friday nominated CFOs from Africa's largest fishery, one of our most beloved restaurant groups and a Cape Town-based healthcare firm were interviewed by the judges. Earlier that we the panel had already learnt about aerospace and defence, fleet management, waste management and the governance of mining.

After dazzling the CFOs and other top finance professionals with a barrage of inspiring technological innovations, visionary speaker and entrepreneur Martijn Aslander sounded the clarion call for a people-centered digital revolution. “In the next ten years, the world will have changed more than it has in the last century.”

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday February 19 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles CFOs shaken out of comfort zone during Get Smart event CFOs were rattled out of their comfort zone yesterday during our Get Smart in 2015 event, hosted at the JSE Limited in Sandton, Johannesburg. In an extremely well-received key note speech, Martijn Aslander - from The Netherlands - told finance leaders they need to adapt or risk becoming obsolete. He talked the audience through a number of exciting innovations and disruptive developments that will change the world within the next 10 years Awards judges interview CFOs of Denel, MiX Telematics, Interwaste a... Who is going to be the CFO of the Year 2015? It is up to the impressive panel of judges to decide who will climb the podium of the Summer Place on 14 May 2015 and receive the prestigious award. The 15 captains of industry (and a professor) will largely base their judgement on the interviews with the 28 nominated CFOs. Expert Insight: How to create business value through social investment Whether social investment is central to your business or not, it is undeniable that all companies have social touch-points, which mean that companies influence, and are influenced by the societies in which they operate. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Allan Mundell Director Nolands - The case for having auditor act as... Register for CFO Event Moving into Africa Learn how to successfully move into Africa Thursday March 19th at the Michelangelo Hotel. A world of opportunities await innovative organisations in Africa and South Africa. As the pace of development into the rest of Africa gains momentum, more and more South African and international companies are considering expanding their businesses into the rest of the continent, the opportunities are rife. Learn from how to successfully move into Africa by sharing the best practises of experts and CFOs. Join this next CFO Event in Johannesburg. Join this event free of charge and don’t miss out on the CFO Event on Moving into Africa from 4pm - 8pm and register now: - March 19th at the Michalengelo Hotel Principal Sponsor CFO Event Moving into Africa: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Aveng, Barclays, Eskom, EOH, FNB, General Cable, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Standard Bank and Transnet. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital 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]

CFOs were rattled out of their comfort zone yesterday during our Get Smart in 2015 event, hosted at the JSE Limited in Sandton, Johannesburg. In an extremely well-received key note speech, Martijn Aslander - from The Netherlands - told finance leaders they need to adapt or risk becoming obsolete. He talked the audience through a number of exciting innovations and disruptive developments that will change the world within the next 10 years. “In the future it is no longer about what you own or what you do, but it is about your attitude and your ability to adapt.”

Who is going to be the CFO of the Year 2015? It is up to the impressive panel of judges to decide who will climb the podium of the Summer Place on 14 May 2015 and receive the prestigious award. The 15 captains of industry (and a professor) will largely base their judgement on the interviews with the 28 nominated CFOs. Yesterday, we kicked off the interview process and just like last year, it is an enormous privilege for me as editor of CFO South Africa to witness these in depth conversations between some of the most influential and interesting leaders in the country.

Whether social investment is central to your business or not, it is undeniable that all companies have social touch-points, which mean that companies influence, and are influenced by the societies in which they operate.

When should a company hire a CFO? It is a difficult question to answer said Nolands director, Allan Mundell but it usually came down to size and whether the business owner is serious about growth and sustainability.

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday February 12 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Greg Davis, Standard Bank: 4 principles for Africa - interacting In January Greg Davis, CFO Africa at the Standard Bank Group, introduced his key principles for doing business in Africa and elaborated on being in control. In this Expert Insight he talks about the second principle: interacting. 5 questions for… Frank Rizzo (KPMG): weird relationships and strang... Frank Rizzo is Partner and Technology sector leader for Africa at KPMG. During our upcoming events in Johannesburg (17 February) and Cape Town (19 February) he will deliver two thought provoking master classes about the latest and greatest in the IT world. In today’s partner interview we ask him what the major trends are and why CFOs should care. CFO of the Week: Nishant Saxena (Cipla Medpro): Finance as business partner and in-h... Last year Nishant Saxena traded his job as CFO of pharmaceutical company Cipla India for a move to Cape Town, where he is now the Chief Financial & Administrative Officer of Cipla Medpro. During the CFO event at the Cape Town Club on 19 February, Nishant will be the key note speaker. He will share some of his experiences in South Africa so far and he will talk about the transition of finance from a bookkeeping role to a true business partner. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - CFO Awards biggest and best on CFO calendar Register for CFO Event Get Smart in Cape Town Discuss your agenda for 2015 Thursday February 19th at the Cape Town Club As global economic growth recovers there will be opportunities and risks for South Africa's economy, CFOs must ensure that the financial choices you make maintain the recent gains in competitiveness. During the first CFO Events of 2015 we will discuss the new economy, value creation, complementary economics, networking, ideas to make te world a better place and we share smart ideas to improve your business. We offer a great opportunity to learn from your peers and get new ideas. Keynote by Nishant Saxena CFO Cipla Medpro Hear from the CFO of one of the country’s leading pharmaceutical companies, Cipla Medpro. He will discuss the changing role of the CFO, expectations to manage risks, using technology for analytics, and share his experiences at Cipla. Afterwards at the CFO Café you can share and discuss the latest insights with the other attending CFOs. Join this event free of charge and don’t miss out on the first CFO Event of 2015 from 4pm - 8pm and register now: - February 19th at the Cape Town Club, register here. Partners CFO Event Get Smart in 2015: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Aveng, Barclays, Eskom, EOH, FNB, General Cable, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Standard Bank and Transnet. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 Feb 17 Johannesburg | Get Smart in 2015 Feb 19 Cape Town | Get Smart in 2015 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital Transformation Nov 19 Cape Town | 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"

With three months to go to the annual CFO Awards, we have been amazed by the excitement and anticipation the conference and gala dinner have already created amongst CFOs. With finance bosses of big banks, listed companies and government departments already on the list of attendees, the event is proving to be the biggest and best on the annual CFO calendar.

Technology has changed the way we live and the way we work. The pace of change resulting from technological advancement has accelerated. We will discuss innovations and inventions as a result of technology on business and how it is exposing business opportunities.

Last year Nishant Saxena traded his job as CFO of pharmaceutical company Cipla India for a move to Cape Town, where he is now the Chief Financial & Administrative Officer of Cipla Medpro. During the CFO event at the Cape Town Club on 19 February, Nishant will be the key note speaker. He will share some of his experiences in South Africa so far and he will talk about the transition of finance from a bookkeeping role to a true business partner.

In January Greg Davis, CFO Africa at the Standard Bank Group, introduced his key principles for doing business in Africa and elaborated on being in control. In this Expert Insight he talks about the second principle: interacting.

Frank Rizzo is Partner and Technology sector leader for Africa at KPMG. During our upcoming events in Johannesburg (17 February) and Cape Town (19 February) he will deliver two thought provoking master classes about the latest and greatest in the IT world. In today’s partner interview we ask him what the major trends are and why CFOs should care.

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday February 5 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles CFO of the Week: Fanus le Roux, CFO Africa – Middle East, Aurecon: being trusted is ... There are not a lot of South African CFOs who have experienced and contributed to such spectacular corporate growth as Fanus le Roux. When he joined Tshwane-based engineering, management and specialist technical services company Aurecon (then Africon) 20 years ago, it had a turnover of R132 million. These days the company is a global one, with its African operations contributing a R2.6 billion turnover annually. “It has been an exciting journey,” le Roux says modestly. Expert Insight Alex Watson: Rethinking financial disclosures in integrated reports Most listed South African companies include either full or summarized financial statements in their integrated reports (In 2013 54 of 100 largest listed companies included full financials and 35 summarized). Are companies doing that in order to be compliant with regulations (as in “the company secretary insists!”) or because they believe that is the best way to communicate the company’s ability to create value in the future? Editorial: the bright side of headless chickens & impressive speakers As we’re getting closer to our February events in Johannesburg (17 February) and Cape Town (19 February), I have the privilege of chatting to some of the people that will be sharing their insights during those afternoons and evenings. This week I spoke to KPMG’s Frank Rizzo about technology and to Cipla Medpro’s Nishant Saxena about the transition from bookkeeper to business partner that many of our CFOs are going through. These are two experienced business people that know exactly what they are talking about! Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - 6 Questions for KPMG's Granville Smith: turn risk into opportunity Register for CFO Event Get Smart in Cape Town Discuss your agenda for 2015 Thursday February 19th at the Cape Town Club As global economic growth recovers there will be opportunities and risks for South Africa's economy, CFOs must ensure that the financial choices you make maintain the recent gains in competitiveness. During the first CFO Events of 2015 we will discuss the new economy, value creation, complementary economics, networking, ideas to make te world a better place and we share smart ideas to improve your business. We offer a great opportunity to learn from your peers and get new ideas. Keynote by Nishant Saxena CFO Cipla Medpro Hear from the CFO of one of the country’s leading pharmaceutical companies, Cipla Medpro. He will discuss the changing role of the CFO, expectations to manage risks, using technology for analytics, and share his experiences at Cipla. Afterwards at the CFO Café you can share and discuss the latest insights with the other attending CFOs. Join this event free of charge and don’t miss out on the first CFO Event of 2015 from 4pm - 8pm and register now: - February 19th at the Cape Town Club, register here. Partners CFO Event Get Smart in 2015: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Aveng, Barclays, Eskom, EOH, FNB, General Cable, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Standard Bank and Transnet. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 Feb 17 Johannesburg | Get Smart in 2015 Feb 19 Cape Town | Get Smart in 2015 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital Transformation Nov 19 Cape Town | 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"

As we’re getting closer to our February events in Johannesburg (17 February) and Cape Town (19 February), I have the privilege of chatting to some of the people that will be sharing their insights during those afternoons and evenings. This week I spoke to KPMG’s Frank Rizzo about technology and to Cipla Medpro’s Nishant Saxena about the transition from bookkeeper to business partner that many of our CFOs are going through. These are two experienced business people that know exactly what they are talking about!

There are not a lot of South African CFOs who have experienced and contributed to such spectacular corporate growth as Fanus le Roux. When he joined Tshwane-based engineering, management and specialist technical services company Aurecon (then Africon) 20 years ago, it had a turnover of R132 million. These days the company is a global one, with its African operations contributing a R2.6 billion turnover annually. “It has been an exciting journey,” le Roux says modestly.

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday January 29 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles 6 Questions for KPMG's Granville Smith: turn risk into opportunity "Turn risk on its head and explore the opportunities offered by signals of change in the marketplace," says Granville Smith, KPMG Partner in charge of the South African KPMG’s Internal Audit Business Division. We spoke to Granville about what makes a good internal auditor and he gave some great tips for CFOs and CAs of 2015. "Stay away from the tick-box approach!" CFO of the Week: Jonathan Maehler, ChemSpec: honest information - a recipe for success “I have always had the philosophy that honesty, which at first, in some cases, may lead to a negative response, in the long run acts as a motivator,” says Jonathan Maehler, Financial Director at ChemSpec, one of Africa's largest paint and coatings companies. He has been guiding the business through a difficult period over the last three and a half years. “Being a CFO requires toughness in these situations, because you have to bring the truth to the fore. Through an intense focus on growing sales and regaining customers, we have found our way up.” Expert Insight Fowzia Gamiet: Why the tweet are CFOs not online? CFOs are not really known for their active presence on social media. The focus is more on the so-called risks around social media than the opportunities it presents. Social media has long been associated with a pre-teen to twenty-something pastime. We have all been there - having to dodge the youth walking in the roads, on the pavements and even driving on the road, whilst – unaware of their surroundings - they are so engrossed in their cell phones tweeting about their “exciting surroundings”. How ironic. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Editorial: preparing for disruption & PPC CFO Ramano stays put Register for CFO Event Get Smart in Cape Town Discuss your agenda for 2015 Thursday February 19th at the Cape Town Club As global economic growth recovers there will be opportunities and risks for South Africa's economy, CFOs must ensure that the financial choices you make maintain the recent gains in competitiveness. During the first CFO Events of 2015 we will discuss the new economy, value creation, complementary economics, networking, ideas to make te world a better place and we share smart ideas to improve your business. We offer a great opportunity to learn from your peers and get new ideas. Keynote by Nishant Saxena CFO Cipla Medpro Hear from the CFO of one of the country’s leading pharmaceutical companies, Cipla Medpro. He will discuss the changing role of the CFO, expectations to manage risks, using technology for analytics, and share his experiences at Cipla. Afterwards at the CFO Café you can share and discuss the latest insights with the other attending CFOs. Join this event free of charge and don’t miss out on the first CFO Event of 2015 from 4pm - 8pm and register now: - February 19th at the Cape Town Club, register here. Partners CFO Event Get Smart in 2015: 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. CFO Awards 2015 - Reserve your table now Buy a table for the CFO Awards and meet South Africa's leading CFOs, demonstrate thought leadership, extend your network and develop business. You are seated with CFOs and finance directors from among others Advtech, Aveng, Barclays, Eskom, EOH, FNB, General Cable, Hollard, Liberty, Nedbank, Nissan, Novartis, Old Mutual, Standard Bank and Transnet. You are also more than welcome to join the CFO Conference preceding the CFO Awards dinner with your colleagues. Don't wait too long, first come, first served. Become a partner or attend with your finance team and RSVP here. For more information check out CFOAwards.co.za. 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 Feb 17 Johannesburg | Get Smart in 2015 Feb 19 Cape Town | Get Smart in 2015 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital Transformation Nov 19 Cape Town | 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"

We are living in the age of disruption and CFOs have the responsibility to see what’s coming and anticipate the new business world order. During our Get Smart in 2015 events in Johannesburg (17 February) and Cape Town (19 February) we will chat about the challenges that come with change, but speakers like ‘lifehacker’ Martijn Aslander will also show the CFOs present that the recent digital revolution provides opportunities galore.

“I have always had the philosophy that honesty, which at first, in some cases, may lead to a negative response, in the long run acts as a motivator,” says Jonathan Maehler, Financial Director at ChemSpec, one of Africa's largest paint and coatings companies. He has been guiding the business through a difficult period over the last three and a half years. “Being a CFO requires toughness in these situations, because you have to bring the truth to the fore. Through an intense focus on growing sales and regaining customers, we have found our way up.”

In this Expert Insight Fowzia Gamiet, Senior Associate: Financial Recruitment at CA Global Finance deals with the power of social media and calls on Chief Financial Officers to go online and tweet.

"Turn risk on its head and explore the opportunities offered by signals of change in the marketplace," says Granville Smith, KPMG Partner in charge of the South African KPMG’s Internal Audit Business Division. We spoke to Granville about what makes a good internal auditor and he gave some great tips for CFOs and CAs of 2015. "Stay away from the tick-box approach!"

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday January 22 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles 5 key insights about CFOs in Africa Doing banking and finance in Africa is not a big shift from doing it in the rest of the world, especially with the significant foreign direct investment being channelled into the continent lately. This includes investment from all the globally recognized accountancy bodies and professional services firms. Following key principles is important for a finance team to ensure it delivers success and is a trusted business partner. CFO of the Week: Dumisani Dlamini, National Arts Council: a sense of higher purpose Improving the quality of governmental accounting is as high on Dumisani Dlamini's agenda as successfully executing his new job as CFO of the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC). “I am extremely proud of my involvement as chairperson of audit committees in various municipalities. It is great to see those finance departments change for the better.” Lenore Kerrigan, Sales Director OpenText: preparing for the Digital... “As companies prepare for a Digital First World, the CFO will play a key role in providing the financial underpinning of this digital transformation, says Lenore Kerrigan, Sales Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at software company OpenText Corporation. “It is controversial, but in many companies CFOs are still mainly reporting on historic facts and figures. The role of modern CFOs, however, is forward looking and includes a very strong focus on understanding risk and financial growth. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Editorial: outgoing ArcelorMittal CFO's SA optimism, boost for Wool... Register for CFO Event Get Smart in Cape Town Discuss your agenda for 2015 Thursday February 19th at the Cape Town Club As global economic growth recovers there will be opportunities and risks for South Africa's economy, CFOs must ensure that the financial choices you make maintain the recent gains in competitiveness. During the first CFO Events of 2015 we will discuss the new economy, value creation, complementary economics, networking, ideas to make te world a better place and we share smart ideas to improve your business. We offer a great opportunity to learn from your peers and get new ideas. Keynote by Nishant Saxena CFO Cipla Medpro Hear from the CFO of one of the country’s leading pharmaceutical companies, Cipla Medpro. He will discuss the changing role of the CFO, expectations to manage risks, using technology for analytics, and share his experiences at Cipla. Afterwards at the CFO Café you can share and discuss the latest insights with the other attending CFOs. Join this event free of charge and don’t miss out on the first CFO Event of 2015 from 4pm - 8pm and register now: - February 19th at the Cape Town Club, register here. Partners CFO Event Get Smart in 2015: 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. Join the ultimate peer to peer advisory network Various CFOs and finance directors from Eskom, Nedbank, Transnet, SAB, Nike, Standard Charered Bank, Hollard, Absa, Business Connexion and Super Group are members of CFO South Africa. Your peers understand best the issues you face and the challenges that impact your business. Together you will share your experiences at CFO South Africa’s events and help you advance in your career, company and knowledge. Get introduced to experienced colleagues that are happy to share their knowledge with you. Peer-to-peer consulting is by far the best and most cost effective way to help you solve problems. Are you interested? Please see our membership page for more information here. 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 Feb 17 Johannesburg | Get Smart in 2015 Feb 19 Cape Town | Get Smart in 2015 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital Transformation Nov 19 Cape Town | 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"

“More than in the past you have to pick your battles and prioritize.” I had to think of these wise words of Matthias Wellhausen, when I heard the ArcelorMittal CFO is leaving the country to join Swiss firm Schmolz + Bickenback, a global market leader in special steel, as CFO. Last year we spoke to Wellhausen and CFOs and finance professionals would be well-advised to reread the interview with the German.

Improving the quality of governmental accounting is as high on Dumisani Dlamini's agenda as successfully executing his new job as CFO of the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC). “I am extremely proud of my involvement as chairperson of audit committees in various municipalities. It is great to see those finance departments change for the better.”

KPMG’s 2014 Africa CFO Survey is based on the international survey Being the best: Inside the intelligent finance function. It collates and interprets responses from 264 CFOs of medium-to-large companies with a quarter of them working for companies with revenue over $1 billion. Here are 5 key insights about African CFOs from that survey.

“As companies prepare for a Digital First World, the CFO will play a key role in providing the financial underpinning of this digital transformation, says Lenore Kerrigan, Sales Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at software company OpenText Corporation. “It is controversial, but in many companies CFOs are still mainly reporting on historic facts and figures. The role of modern CFOs, however, is forward looking and includes a very strong focus on understanding risk and financial growth. Our Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and Enterprise Information Management (EIM) systems can help them accomplish this.”

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday January 15 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Greg Davis, CFO Africa Standard Bank: 4 principles for doing busine... Doing banking and finance in Africa is not a big shift from doing it in the rest of the world, especially with the significant foreign direct investment being channelled into the continent lately. This includes investment from all the globally recognized accountancy bodies and professional services firms. Following key principles is important for a finance team to ensure it delivers success and is a trusted business partner. CFO of the Week: Linda Kumbemba, loveLife: being the NGO’s ‘bad guy’ “If you’re a quick-solutions type person, you tend to look like the bad guy at a non-profit organisation,” says Linda Kumbemba, CFO at loveLife, South Africa's largest HIV prevention initiative for young people. “The environment is slower-paced compared to the corporates, but you have to move and keep agile. It is also great to be part of a successful behavioral change campaign even though its results can’t be measured in the way a CFO would usually want results to be measured.” 5 questions with... lifehacker & CFO SA Keynote speaker Martijn... During our 2015 events, CFO South Africa will occasionally invite inspiring international speakers to deliver provoking Keynote speeches. In his own words, ‘lifehacker’ Martijn Aslander from The Netherlands will be aiming to “confuse people, make them think and make them laugh” during our next events in Johannesburg (17 February) and Cape Town (19 February). Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Get smart… join our February events and ask the JSE boss a question Register for CFO Events Get Smart in Johannesburg & Cape Town Discuss your agenda for 2015 As global economic growth recovers there will be opportunities and risks for South Africa's economy, CFOs must ensure that the financial choices you make maintain the recent gains in competitiveness. During the first CFO Events of 2015 we will discuss the new economy, value creation, complementary economics, networking, ideas to make te world a better place and we share smart ideas to improve your business. We offer a great opportunity to learn from your peers and get new ideas. Keynote by Nicky Newton King, CEO of the JSE She will discuss the comprehensive overview of the world today, as well as look forward on how she expects global trends, regional key challenges as education & skills development, African leadership will develop in the coming year as well as emerging issues that should be on the agendas of every CFO for 2015. Join this event free of charge with and don’t miss out on the first CFO Events of 2015 from 4pm - 8pm and register now: - February 17th at the JSE, register here. - February 19th at the Cape Town Club, register here. Partners CFO Events Get Smart in 2015: 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. Join the ultimate peer to peer advisory network Various CFOs and finance directors from Eskom, Nedbank, Transnet, SAB, Nike, Standard Charered Bank, Hollard, Absa, Business Connexion and Super Group are members of CFO South Africa. Your peers understand best the issues you face and the challenges that impact your business. Together you will share your experiences at CFO South Africa’s events and help you advance in your career, company and knowledge. Get introduced to experienced colleagues that are happy to share their knowledge with you. Peer-to-peer consulting is by far the best and most cost effective way to help you solve problems. Are you interested? Please see our membership page for more information here. 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 Feb 17 Johannesburg | Get Smart in 2015 Feb 19 Cape Town | Get Smart in 2015 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital Transformation Nov 19 Cape Town | 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"

Always wanted to ask Nicky Newton-King, CEO of the JSE, a question? In search of a unique, inspirational chat by an international 'lifehacker'? Keen to brush up on the latest technological innovations and inventions that CFOs should know about?

“If you’re a quick-solutions type person, you tend to look like the bad guy at a non-profit organisation,” says Linda Kumbemba, CFO at loveLife, South Africa's largest HIV prevention initiative for young people. “The environment is slower-paced compared to the corporates, but you have to move and keep agile. It is also great to be part of a successful behavioral change campaign even though its results can’t be measured in the way a CFO would usually want results to be measured.”

This week's Expert Insight comes from Greg Davis, CFO Africa at the Standard Bank Group and one of the nominees for this year's CFO Awards. He shares some key principles for doing business in Africa and elaborates on one of them.

During our 2015 events, CFO South Africa will occasionally invite inspiring international speakers to deliver provoking Keynote speeches. In his own words, ‘lifehacker’ Martijn Aslander from The Netherlands will be aiming to “confuse people, make them think and make them laugh” during our next events in Johannesburg (17 February) and Cape Town (19 February).

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday January 8 Dear CFO South Africa Member, We hope you had a great festive season and wish you a fantastic 2015. Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles CFO of the Week: Brooks Mparutsa, Hollard: success requires vision “At the age of 16 I made the decision to become a CA and a business leader,” says Brooks Mparutsa, the eloquent Group Chief Financial Officer of Hollard Insurance. His impressive career in the public and private sector has taken him all over the world. “I am following the path I set out for myself. What many people lack is a vision for their lives and careers. I benefited a lot from staying at my audit firm for a number of years and spending years in the public sector – it is a path I definitely recommend.” CFOs of Woolworths, Denel and UIF among nominees for CFO Awards 2015 More and more nominees for the CFO Awards 2015 are revealed. Supermarkets and retailers are well represented with Mark Godfrey (Group Financial Director at SPAR), Reeza Isaacs (Group Finance Director at Woolworths and Mr Price Group's CFO Mark Blair already among the nominees. Ronel van Dijk, CFO at Spur Group, has also been short-listed. Editorial: 2014 in numbers - which company's shares are worth 40 percent more? Today is the 8th day of the New Year. From tomorrow onwards we should be looking forward only! Earlier, I already wrote that South African CFOs and FDs have never been in a stronger position to share knowledge, meet peers, learn from partners and network. And 2015 is going to be even bigger and better! Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Editorial: 2015 a bumper year for CFOs Keynote Nicky Newton-King CEO JSE Discuss your agenda for 2015 As global economic growth recovers there will be opportunities and risks for South Africa's economy, CFOs must ensure that the financial choices you make maintain the recent gains in competitiveness. During the first CFO Events of 2015 we will discuss the new economy, value creation, complementary economics, networking, ideas to make te world a better place and we share smart ideas to improve your business. We offer a great opportunity to learn from your peers and get new ideas. Keynote by Nicky Newton King, CEO of the JSE She will discuss the comprehensive overview of the world today, as well as look forward on how she expects global trends, regional key challenges as education & skills development, African leadership will develop in the coming year as well as emerging issues that should be on the agendas of every CFO for 2015. Join this event free of charge with and don’t miss out on the first CFO Events of 2015 from 4pm - 8pm and register now: - February 17th at the JSE, register here. - February 19th at the Cape Town Club, register here. Partners CFO Events Get Smart in 2015: 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. Join the ultimate peer to peer advisory network Various CFOs and finance directors from Eskom, Nedbank, Transnet, SAB, Nike, Standard Charered Bank, Hollard, Absa, Business Connexion and Super Group are members of CFO South Africa. Your peers understand best the issues you face and the challenges that impact your business. Together you will share your experiences at CFO South Africa’s events and help you advance in your career, company and knowledge. Get introduced to experienced colleagues that are happy to share their knowledge with you. Peer-to-peer consulting is by far the best and most cost effective way to help you solve problems. Are you interested? Please see our membership page for more information here. 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 Feb 17 Johannesburg | Get Smart in 2015 Feb 19 Cape Town | Get Smart in 2015 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital Transformation Nov 19 Cape Town | 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]

Today is the 7th day of the New Year. From tomorrow onwards we should be looking forward only! Earlier, I already wrote that South African CFOs and FDs have never been in a stronger position to share knowledge, meet peers, learn from partners and network. And 2015 is going to be even bigger and better!

“At the age of 16 I made the decision to become a CA and a business leader,” says Brooks Mparutsa, the eloquent Group Chief Financial Officer of Hollard Insurance. His impressive career in the public and private sector has taken him all over the world. “I am following the path I set out for myself. What many people lack is a vision for their lives and careers. I benefited a lot from staying at my audit firm for a number of years and spending years in the public sector – it is a path I definitely recommend.”

South African CFOs and FDs have never been in a stronger position to share knowledge, meet peers, learn from partners and network. And here’s the good news: 2015 is going to be even bigger and better!

As 2014 draws to an end, more and more nominees for the CFO Awards 2015 are revealed. Supermarkets and retailers are well represented with Mark Godfrey (Group Financial Director at SPAR), Reeza Isaacs (Group Finance Director at Woolworths) and Mr Price Group's CFO Mark Blair already among the nominees. Ronel van Dijk, CFO at Spur Group, has also been short-listed. We recently spoke to Van Dijk about Spur's expansion plans and her role in the continuous growth of the business.

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday December 18 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Minister Meyer endorses CFO South Africa’s public chapter “The public chapter of CFO South Africa is a great institution.” Those were the words of Dr Ivan Meyer, minister for finance in the Western Cape, when we spoke to him in the margins of the Risk, Compliance & Control Forum at the Cape Town Club last month. CFO Awards 2015 judged by impressive group of industry leaders One of the biggest success factors of the inaugural CFO Awards in May this year was the impressive panel of judges that was willing to interview and adjudicate each and every candidate for the various award categories. Not only CFO of the Year winner Simon Ridley (Standard Bank), but virtually all the other award nominees remarked what an honour it was to be judged by such an impressive group of industry leaders. Expert Insight: Explorer Martijn Aslander: we are living in a new renaissance In his latest book, Nooit Af, (Never Finished) which, as was the case with Easycratie (Easycracy) he wrote in tandem with Erwin Witteveen, Martijn Aslander is advocating a state of permanent beta. His argumentation follows from the way in which he interprets current trends in the network- and information society and topics such as self-direction and Quantified Self. ‘We’re living in a different world. The tools you need are available to anyone, even to young kids in Pakistan. You don’t need an expensive office to make a difference.’ Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Editorial: KPMG provides CFOs for JSE firms, Madonsela finds "improper conduct" Keynote Nicky Newton-King CEO JSE Discuss your agenda for 2015 As global economic growth recovers there will be opportunities and risks for South Africa's economy, CFOs must ensure that the financial choices you make maintain the recent gains in competitiveness. During the first CFO Events of 2015 we will discuss the new economy, value creation, complementary economics, networking, ideas to make te world a better place and we share smart ideas to improve your business. We offer a great opportunity to learn from your peers and get new ideas. Keynote by Nicky Newton King, CEO of the JSE She will discuss the comprehensive overview of the world today, as well as look forward on how she expects global trends, regional key challenges as education & skills development, African leadership will develop in the coming year as well as emerging issues that should be on the agendas of every CFO for 2015. Join this event free of charge with and don’t miss out on the first CFO Events of 2015 from 4pm - 8pm and register now: - February 17th at the JSE, register here. - February 19th at the Cape Town Club, register here. Partners CFO Events Get Smart in 2015: 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. Join the ultimate peer to peer advisory network Various CFOs and finance directors from Eskom, Nedbank, Transnet, SAB, Nike, Standard Charered Bank, Hollard, Absa, Business Connexion and Super Group are members of CFO South Africa. Your peers understand best the issues you face and the challenges that impact your business. Together you will share your experiences at CFO South Africa’s events and help you advance in your career, company and knowledge. Get introduced to experienced colleagues that are happy to share their knowledge with you. Peer-to-peer consulting is by far the best and most cost effective way to help you solve problems. Are you interested? Please see our membership page for more information here. 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 Feb 17 Johannesburg | Get Smart in 2015 Feb 19 Cape Town | Get Smart in 2015 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital Transformation Nov 19 Cape Town | 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]

Here at CFO South Africa we of course think that Chief Financial Officers have the best jobs in the world. At KPMG they are clearly thinking the same! Not only has the professional services firm signed up as our principal sponsor for 2015, this week another KPMG bigwig chose a career as CFO himself.

One of the biggest success factors of the inaugural CFO Awards in May this year was the impressive panel of judges that was willing to interview and adjudicate each and every candidate for the various award categories. Not only CFO of the Year winner Simon Ridley (Standard Bank), but virtually all the other award nominees remarked what an honour it was to be judged by such an impressive group of industry leaders.

“The public chapter of CFO South Africa is a great institution.” Those were the words of Dr Ivan Meyer, minister for finance in the Western Cape, when we spoke to him in the margins of the Risk, Compliance & Control Forum at the Cape Town Club last month. “With the current international financial climate we need financial resilience and this CFO forum confirmed to me that the CFOs we have, both in the public sector and in the private sector, have a lot of resilience to build the strong institutions that are necessary for a constitutional democracy.”

Martijn will be the Keynote Speaker at the CFO South Africa Events February 17th in Johannesburg, February 19th Cape Town, the CFO Awards 2015 and the Fintech Africa Event July 28th and 20 October in Stellenbosch.

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday December 11 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Take a selfie: what’s lacking on the CV of the CFO? Why are CVs of many CFOs ill-prepared, full of mistakes and lacking relevant information? In this Expert Insight Fowzia Gamiet, Senior Associate: Financial Recruitment at CA Global Finance answers this question and tells Chief Financial Officers how it’s done. CFO of the Week: Shabeer Khan (DTI): CAs should consider the government While Shabeer Khan, Chief Financial Officer of the dti, admits to dreaming of becoming an astronaut, a Formula One racing driver and even a fireman as a young boy, he would now like to encourage young Chartered Accountants (CA’s) to take the route that he has taken. At the age of 34 he confesses to having considered other career prospects but working for Government was a conscious decision for him and he assures us that nothing compares with the daily fulfillment he gets from his current role. Master Class Kerry Jenkins, Head Regulatory and Compliance KPMG: "G... Good governance is good for business, was the underlying message of the Master Class hosted by Dr Kerry Jenkins, head of the Regulatory and Compliance unit at KPMG, at the CFO South Africa Event Risk, Compliance & Control Forum at the Cape Town Club last week. Dr Jenkins said given the plethora of laws, regulations and a number of pending changes , it was easy for a CFO to feel overwhelmed by what that they were now expected to know. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Editorial: Sony CFO Kenichiro Yoshida as role model & common CV mistakes Keynote Nicky Newton-King CEO JSE Discuss your agenda for 2015 As global economic growth recovers there will be opportunities and risks for South Africa's economy, CFOs must ensure that the financial choices you make maintain the recent gains in competitiveness. During the first CFO Events of 2015 we will discuss the new economy, value creation, complementary economics, networking, ideas to make te world a better place and we share smart ideas to improve your business. We offer a great opportunity to learn from your peers and get new ideas. Keynote by Nicky Newton King, CEO of the JSE She will discuss the comprehensive overview of the world today, as well as look forward on how she expects global trends, regional key challenges as education & skills development, African leadership will develop in the coming year as well as emerging issues that should be on the agendas of every CFO for 2015. Join this event free of charge with and don’t miss out on the first CFO Events of 2015 from 4pm - 8pm and register now: - February 17th at the JSE, register here. - February 19th at the Cape Town Club, register here. Partners CFO Events Get Smart in 2015: 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. Join the ultimate peer to peer advisory network Various CFOs and finance directors from Eskom, Nedbank, Transnet, SAB, Nike, Standard Charered Bank, Hollard, Absa, Business Connexion and Super Group are members of CFO South Africa. Your peers understand best the issues you face and the challenges that impact your business. Together you will share your experiences at CFO South Africa’s events and help you advance in your career, company and knowledge. Get introduced to experienced colleagues that are happy to share their knowledge with you. Peer-to-peer consulting is by far the best and most cost effective way to help you solve problems. Are you interested? Please see our membership page for more information here. 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 Feb 17 Johannesburg | Get Smart in 2015 Feb 19 Cape Town | Get Smart in 2015 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital Transformation Nov 19 Cape Town | 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]

If modern CFOs ever needed a role model, Kenichiro Yoshida could be their man. Described as “blunt”, Sony’s new Chief Financial Officer has bowled over influential publications like Wall Street Journal and Financial Times and restored faith in the flailing Japanese business giant by asking the right questions, cutting the dead wood and setting achievable targets.

While Shabeer Khan, Chief Financial Officer of the dti, admits to dreaming of becoming an astronaut, a Formula One racing driver and even a fireman as a young boy, he would now like to encourage young Chartered Accountants (CAs) to take the route that he has taken. At the age of 34 he confesses to having considered other career prospects but working for Government was a conscious decision for him and he assures us that nothing compares with the daily fulfillment he gets from his current role. The perception is that working for government can be a risky career choice but Khan says that working for the government provides an opportunity where you can enhance your skills and make a real contribution to your country. Khan currently leads a team of 90 people and was the only CA within the dti when he joined in 2013.

Why are CVs of many CFOs ill-prepared, full of mistakes and lacking relevant information? In this Expert Insight Fowzia Gamiet, Senior Associate: Financial Recruitment at CA Global Finance answers this question and tells Chief Financial Officers how it’s done.

Good governance is good for business, was the underlying message of the Master Class hosted by Dr Kerry Jenkins, head of the Regulatory and Compliance unit at KPMG, at the CFO South Africa Event Risk, Compliance & Control Forum at the Cape Town Club last week.

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday December 4 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles CFOs in the winelands - Platinum Member and VIP Tour “It’s very interesting that when you look at some of the international benchmarks, South Africa is ranked tenth in the world when it comes to protecting investors from directors. That’s a CFO’s responsibility,” said Wesgro CEO Nils Flaatten. Flaatten said this showed SA’s CFOs were serious about their jobs and that there was a regulatory framework to support them. CFO of the Week: Austin McDonald (Promasidor): choose the consumer over the product When Austin McDonald became a Chartered Accountant, he was already “the world’s worst engineer”. Although he is a self-professed “maverick” the Finance world has clearly suited him much better than engineering did, especially after he joined the family’s business: Promasidor. Now his CV boasts a successful rescue operation, a handsome R9 billion annual turnover and unequalled insight into African opportunities. “When looking at African countries, be consumer driven and not product driven,” he advises. Editorial: The power of a CFO, Moving into Africa & what to think of brain... Yesterday I had the privilege of chatting to Casper Troskie, the experienced CFO of Liberty Holdings. He re-affirmed what CFOs have started telling me over the last year or so: communication skills are a crucial asset for a Chief Financial Officer or Finance Director these days. Whether talking to investors, customers, unions, analysts or the general public, a simple, transparent, unison message from the board – and all other employees of a company– is very important. These days, particular attention is being paid when a CFO opens his or her mouth. A CFO that can communicate clearly and confidently is therefore in an extremely powerful position. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Expert insight: Stanford Payne: Does a CFO on ‘sabbatical’ actually have burnout? Join CFO Events Get Smart in 2015 in JHB & CT Discuss your agenda for 2015 As global economic growth recovers there will be opportunities and risks for South Africa's economy, CFOs must ensure that the financial choices you make maintain the recent gains in competitiveness. During the first CFO Events of 2015 we will discuss the new economy, value creation, complementary economics, networking, ideas to make te world a better place and we share smart ideas to improve your business. We offer a great opportunity to learn from your peers and get new ideas. Keynote by professional lifehacker Martijn Aslander Our new network society demands that we work faster and more efficient in a world where competing is done with knowledge. Martijn offers tools to do this, such as lifehacking and how to utilise a great network. Lifehacking: tracing information, organizing, filtering and sharing it in a way where you keep track of it all. Martijn is a Dutch national and a very experienced speaker at several Forums as CFO Day the Netherlands and the Public Finance Conference. Join this event free of charge with and don’t miss out on the first CFO Events of 2015 from 4pm - 8pm and register now: - February 17th at the JSE, register here. - February 19th at the Cape Town Club, register here. Partners CFO Events Get Smart in 2015: 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. Join the ultimate peer to peer advisory network Various CFOs and finance directors from Eskom, Nedbank, Transnet, SAB, Nike, Standard Charered Bank, Hollard, Absa, Business Connexion and Super Group are members of CFO South Africa. Your peers understand best the issues you face and the challenges that impact your business. Together you will share your experiences at CFO South Africa’s events and help you advance in your career, company and knowledge. Get introduced to experienced colleagues that are happy to share their knowledge with you. Peer-to-peer consulting is by far the best and most cost effective way to help you solve problems. Are you interested? Please see our membership page for more information here. 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 Feb 17 Johannesburg | Get Smart in 2015 Feb 19 Cape Town | Get Smart in 2015 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital Transformation Nov 19 Cape Town | 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]

Yesterday I had the privilege of chatting to Casper Troskie, the experienced CFO of Liberty Holdings. He re-affirmed what CFOs have started telling me over the last year or so: communication skills are a crucial asset for a Chief Financial Officer or Finance Director these days. Whether talking to investors, customers, unions, analysts or the general public, a simple, transparent, unison message from the board – and all other employees of a company– is very important. These days, particular attention is being paid when a CFO opens his or her mouth. A CFO that can communicate clearly and confidently is therefore in an extremely powerful position.

When Austin McDonald became a Chartered Accountant, he was already “the world’s worst engineer”. Although he is a self-professed “maverick” the Finance world has clearly suited him much better than engineering did, especially after he joined the family’s business: Promasidor. Now his CV boasts a successful rescue operation, a handsome R9 billion annual turnover and unequalled insight into African opportunities. “When looking at African countries, be consumer driven and not product driven,” he advises.

An Expert Insight by Executive Coach Stanford Payne.

A tour of the cape winelands offers CFOs a chance to connect

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday November 27 Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles CFO South Africa launches public finance chapter Heeding a call many Chief Financial Officers in the public sector have made over the last year or so, CFO South Africa has established a separate chapter for public CFOs. The Public Finance Chapter will give CFOs of departments, municipalities and other governmental bodies the opportunity to share knowledge, discuss challenges, network and listen to solutions that partner organisations have to offer. CFO of the Week: Talelani Enos Ramaru (Cosatu): learning from other CFOs is very val... “A platform like CFO South Africa is very useful,” says Talelani Enos Ramaru, Chief Financial Officer at The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). “There is a lot of innovation happening and as a CFO you have to know about it,” says Ramaru, who is proud of the work he has done to bring stability to the trade union federation’s finance team. The CFO’s approach to analysing an M&A transaction An Expert Insight by Johann de Lange, founder of M&A advisory firm Pollination Capital* M&A transactions are game changers for companies. They are usually large transactions when compared to other capital investments and tie up substantial resources and focus. They are normally also closely tied to the strategic direction of a company. The many unknowns represent an increased risk environment for the acquirer. Read more exclusive articles on cfo.co.za - Editorial: Twitter CFO blunders, public South African CFOs unite Join CFO Events Get Smart in 2015 in JHB & CT Discuss your agenda for 2015 As global economic growth recovers there will be opportunities and risks for South Africa's economy, CFOs must ensure that the financial choices you make maintain the recent gains in competitiveness. During the first CFO Events of 2015 we will discuss the new economy, value creation, complementary economics, networking, ideas to make te world a better place and we share smart ideas to improve your business. We offer a great opportunity to learn from your peers and get new ideas. Keynote by professional lifehacker Martijn Aslander Our new network society demands that we work faster and more efficient in a world where competing is done with knowledge. Martijn offers tools to do this, such as lifehacking and how to utilise a great network. Lifehacking: tracing information, organizing, filtering and sharing it in a way where you keep track of it all. Martijn is a Dutch national and a very experienced speaker at several Forums as CFO Day the Netherlands and the Public Finance Conference. Join this event free of charge with and don’t miss out on the first CFO Events of 2015 from 4pm - 8pm and register now. - February 17th in Johannesburg, register here. - February 19th in Cape Town, register here. Partners CFO Events Get Smart in 2015: 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. Join the ultimate peer to peer advisory network Various CFOs and finance directors from Eskom, Nedbank, Transnet, SAB, Nike, Standard Charered Bank, Hollard, Absa, Business Connexion and Super Group are members of CFO South Africa. Your peers understand best the issues you face and the challenges that impact your business. Together you will share your experiences at CFO South Africa’s events and help you advance in your career, company and knowledge. Get introduced to experienced colleagues that are happy to share their knowledge with you. Peer-to-peer consulting is by far the best and most cost effective way to help you solve problems. Are you interested? Please see our membership page for more information here. 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 Feb 17 Johannesburg | Get Smart in 2015 Feb 19 Cape Town | Get Smart in 2015 Mar 19 Johannesburg | Moving into Africa Apr 16 Johannesburg | Capital & Finance May 14 Johannesburg | CFO Awards 2015 July 30 Johannesburg | Corporate Growth Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital Transformation Nov 19 Cape Town | 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"

A stark reminder that ‘living the brand’ is not only important for CEOs and marketing gurus came this week when Twitter CFO Anthony Noto accidentally tweeted sensitive information about a pending acquisition. If the CFO doesn't know how to use his own product, how should the rest of the world? It is an important lesson for CFOs in South Africa and around the globe: know your own business! A public mistake, like the Twitter gaffe, can have a major impact on your bottom line.

“A platform like CFO South Africa is very useful,” says Talelani Enos Ramaru, Chief Financial Officer at The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). “There is a lot of innovation happening and as a CFO you have to know about it,” says Ramaru, who is proud of the work he has done to bring stability to the trade union federation’s finance team.

An Expert Insight by Johann de Lange, founder of M&A advisory firm Pollination Capital*