Ross Blakeway

Current

Managing Member and Founder at Blakeway & Associates

Past

General Manager at V&A PROCESSING SERVICES
GENERAL MANAGER at V&A COLDSTORE
Senior Area Manager at Foschini Pty Ltd

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Education

Bond University (Australia)
University of Cape Town

Recommended

8 people have recommended Ross

Connections

60 connections

Industry

Investment Management

Ross Blakeway’s Summary

The business broking and management consulting business has involved opportunities to assist clients in Hospitality, Retail and services, manufacture, Distribution, Tourism and IT. Work has involved consulting to owners on strategy, change management, marketing, Finance and growth of their business, to include the valuation of the business coupled with the sourcing of potential investors and/or buyers for the going concerns.By utilising a business model that includes strategic alliances, joint ventures and partnerships, the company is able to offer its clients full access to a general management consulting, resource and support environment. The company's principle is ensuring that all Management consulting services delivered are of the highest possible quality.

Ross Blakeway’s Specialties:

SKILLS
 Strategic Planning
 Project analysis and management
 Negotiation and Relationships Management
 Business analysis and Development
 Enterprise “Fair Value” Calculations & Due diligence evaluations
 Business Plan creation and implementation
 Financial Budgeting and Forecasts
 “hands on” People management, Motivation and Leadersh

Ross Blakeway’s Experience

Managing Member and Founder

Blakeway & Associates

(Investment Management industry)

March 2005 — Present (4 years 5 months)

Managing the business broking and General consulting business involves opportunities to assist clients in Hospitality, Retail and services, manufacture, Distribution, Tourism and IT. The majority of clients are SME’S with turnovers between R1 Million and R10 Million per annum. Work involves consulting to owners on strategy, M&A strategy, Budgeting and growth of their business, Project management of identified change management initiatives, Campaigns and capital investment projects, including the valuation of the business and the sourcing of Venture Capital, Private Equity and the matching of potential BEE investors and/or M&A partners for the going concerns.
The property broking Business involves interaction with listed & unlisted South Africa Companies looking to invest or divest their property portfolios. Clients include foreign “high net worth” individuals seeking investments in commercial, Office, Hospitality and lifestyle property’s. I represent clients in rental negotiations; and consult to developers on potential commercial and retail development viabilities.
Work involves the sourcing of opportunities/Investors, valuations and negotiations on purchases/sales ranging in size from R2 Million to R300 Million
Through these client engagements opportunities are identified and Venture capital and PE investments made. Important Criteria being the business potential, the team and whether these meet our "checklist" and the "hurdle rate" set for our investments.
We are always looking for new partners/Investors and opportunities.
I openly welcome all approaches and opportunites including potential distribution agencies and Franchises.
Current focus is green technology products.
General Manager

V&A PROCESSING SERVICES

(Logistics and Supply Chain industry)

1997 — 2005 (8 years)
GENERAL MANAGER

V&A COLDSTORE

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Fishery industry)

1997 — March 2005 (8 years)

Responsible for overall performance of the warehouses & processing facility. This involves planning, organizing directing & controlling all staff,office & warehouse activities.
Accountable for prescribed company objectives in cost, productivity, customer service, profits and investment.
Responsibilities involve developing & implementing effective sales plans, budgets, new business opportunities & systems to enable company's to meet strategic objectives.

Key result areas:
Direct labour management operations
Efficient creation & operation of the Management information systems
Drive marketing, sales efforts & planning new account strategies
Develop annual operating budget.
Ensure profit centers achieve pre determined profit standards
Procure equipment required to assure efficient operation
Strategic planning of new operations in the groups’ expansion objectives
Management representive responsible for the efficiency of the HACCP system
Senior Area Manager

Foschini Pty Ltd

(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Retail industry)

March 1992 — August 1997 (5 years 6 months)

Responsible for 100 full time employees as well as 90 contract workers. As the Senior Area Manager of the Border/Kei area my most important focus was the attainment of customer service of the highest standard in all stores. I was responsible for the attainment of the areas turnover of R48 Million and profitability for the 1995/1996, 1996/1997 and 1997/98 financial year.
My job also entailed the merchandise management, staff development and other operating parameters as set by the Foschini Group.

Key result areas:

Promote exceeding customer service
Drive and manage planning activity
Promote turnover and profitability
Lead, manage and develop subordinate staff
Identify and exploit business opportunities
Manage clothing, jewellery and cosmetic merchandise to company standards.
Control expenses
Control security
Promote industrial relations harmony.

Ross Blakeway’s Education

Bond University (Australia)

MBA , International Business, International Finance , 2001 — 2002
University of Cape Town

Bachelor of Commerce , Management information systems . Economics , 1986 — 1990

Activities and Societies:

UCT Rugby Club