Babsy Molefe

• Reports to the Managing Director, leading commercial growth and strategic market development initiatives focused on identifying opportunities, expanding customer portfolios, and strengthening market presence across commercial, industrial, and retail segments.
• Drive customer acquisition and portfolio expansion initiatives through ongoing engagement and understanding of operational requirements, aligning product solutions to support customer retention, account growth, and long-term business opportunities.
• Support business growth and diversification initiatives by establishing and leading the tender function, introducing structured processes for pricing, proposal preparation, submissions, opportunity tracking, and pipeline management.
  Impact: Built and continue to maintain a strong opportunity pipeline, and secured appointment on a multi-year contractor panel for lubricant supply for a municipality in the Western Cape.
• Analyse and monitor sales performance, pricing structures, customer demand patterns, and key commercial indicators to support informed decision-making, profitable growth initiatives, and commercial performance.
  Impact: Drive pricing and commercial evaluations aligned with profitability objectives, supporting sustained year-on-year margin performance and growth.
• Gather, analyse and communicate customer feedback and market insights to identify emerging opportunities, support commercial decision-making and guide market development initiatives.
• Collaborate across sales, logistics and operational functions to align customer requirements, strengthen responsiveness and support effective commercial execution.
  Impact: Leveraged internal logistics capabilities to optimise route planning and reduce lead times from approximately 3 days to under 24 hours.
• Develop and maintain customer engagement and account management practices while tracking key commercial indicators, including sales growth, opportunity pipeline performance, customer responsiveness, payment cycles, and demand trends.
  Impact: Strengthened cash flow performance through proactive account management and customer engagement practices, maintaining a DSO below 7 days across strategic customer accounts and recurring demand channels.
• Lead market development initiatives through forecourt activations, industry exhibitions, and trade platforms to strengthen market visibility, build strategic relationships, and support pipeline growth.

Provided business development and strategic advisory support across startup, industrial, and market research engagements. Supported startup businesses on tender, compliance, and business development activities; contracted with an outdoor media company to provide procurement and event equipment sourcing expertise; and supported a market research consultancy through data refinement, field coordination, and quantitative community impact studies within mining communities. During this period, I contributed to the establishment of Atisa Lubricants through market research, commercial analysis, and participation in distributor business case and market entry initiatives, which subsequently evolved into a permanent role focused on Commercial Growth and Market Development.

A provider of refractory products and high-temperature solutions for steel, cement, foundry, petrochemical and power industries.

Reported to the VP of High-Temperature Solutions, Paris, and served as a member of the Executive Committee.

• Led sales and marketing strategies across Southern Africa, strengthening Calderys’ position in refractory solutions for iron & steel, aluminium, cement, foundry, petrochemical and power industries.
• Managed a portfolio of major clients including ArcelorMittal SA, Samancor, South32 and Glencore Group, delivering tailored solutions and maintaining high customer satisfaction.
• Directed the Direct Sales and Projects & Installation Department through staff shortages and restructuring, ensuring operational continuity and excellence.
• Contributed to the EMEA Sales & Marketing Directors team on pricing optimisation, product mapping and strategic planning to enhance market presence and drive growth.
• Implemented performance management for Direct Sales Managers, setting monthly benchmarks and enhancing customer service standards.
• Leveraged CRM analytics (SMILES) to monitor sales pipelines, track milestones and achieve revenue targets.
• Aligned marketing strategies with product development to support successful new product launches and improve offerings based on client feedback.
• Cultivated strategic partnerships and joint marketing initiatives, expanding market reach and stakeholder engagement.

LB Pipes (Pty) Ltd is a private-public partnership company, previously Group Five Pipe, which was a 50/50 JV between Marine Civil and Group Five Construction. LB Pipes is a leading manufacturer and supplier of large diameter, spirally welded steel pipes that are used in bulk water reticulation, wastewater treatment, oil and gas, hydropower, and structural applications in the construction industry, mainly in Africa, with a strong emphasis on Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Designed and executed strategic business plans that expanded the customer base and reinforced regional market presence.
• Monitored industry developments, competitor activity and market trends to ensure the company remained up-to-date, proactive and strategically aligned with emerging opportunities.
• Anticipated market shifts and competitor moves, including pricing trends and new water infrastructure projects, to guide strategic and budgetary decisions.
• Delivered actionable insights to senior management and the board through quarterly and annual performance reports.
• Shaped unified customer strategies by aligning Production, Quality and Logistics functions to optimise processes and performance.
• Cultivated strategic relationships with suppliers and end-users, ensuring the company remained top-of-mind, strengthened market presence, secured priority access to products and opportunities, and forecasted sales pipelines to support revenue growth and strategic planning.
• Built trusted relationships with additional key stakeholders including Private, State Owned Enterprises, Property Developers, Construction Companies, Consulting firms and Mining houses.
• Maintained professional and technical knowledge through participation in sector workshops (water, steel, construction, and corrosion protection).

• Led the South African Business to Consumer portfolio, managing Account Managers and Trade Champions to exceed sales targets.
• Developed and executed sales strategies, translating marketing campaigns into measurable growth.
• Built and maintained distributor and reseller relationships, ensuring alignment with Shell’s route-to-market strategy.
• Conducted competitor analysis to inform pricing, product offerings and market positioning.
• Delivered marketing programs to drive cross-selling and up-selling of new and reformulated products.
• Coached and mentored the team, enhancing sales competencies and sustaining high performance.

Tube & Pipe Portfolio

• Managed ArcelorMittal’s largest flat steel portfolio, including Hot Roll & Plate, Cold Roll, Chequered Plate and Electro-Galvanized Coil, serving building, construction, home appliances, automotive, water infrastructure and oil & gas industries.
• Oversaw distributor networks and the South Africa three major pipe manufacturing clients, strengthening relationships, ensuring product availability and driving regional revenue growth.
• Provided input on pricing execution and payables to support commercial performance across key accounts.
• Developed market intelligence strategies to mitigate risk, maintain market share and stimulate product demand amid fluctuating conditions.
• Conducted competitive analysis to anticipate market trends, optimise pricing strategies and enhance product offerings, ensuring superior customer service and strategic account growth.

A global engineering company providing heat transfer, separation and fluid handling solutions for industries including energy, food, marine and chemical.

• Developed a robust Key Account Management framework, enhancing client retention and loyalty.
• Engaged with diverse clients across mining, energy and packaging sectors to foster strong business relationships.
• Crafted and executed strategic marketing plans to drive business growth and market penetration.
• Collaborated with Corporate Services, Projects and Professional Services Divisions to ensure alignment with company strategy and operational protocols.
• Maintained up-to-date industry knowledge, particularly in the biofuels sector, to inform strategic decisions and innovation.
• Proactively managed key solutions in heat transfer, separation and fluid handling for multiple industries, ensuring top-tier service and support.

• Marketed a diverse chemical portfolio across industries including aerosols, agriculture, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
• Executed sales and marketing strategies to exceed Business Unit growth targets, leveraging industry analysis and value-adding opportunities.
• Championed customer retention and acquisition through strategic relationship programmes, expanding market share and client loyalty.
• Maintained a competitive edge by tracking industry trends and translating insights into actionable sales leads.
• Engaged with key clients across paints, adhesives, pharmaceuticals and packaging sectors, providing high-level support.
• Managed major accounts such as Barloworld Plascon, Protea Chemicals, Reckitt Benckiser and Nampak Group, driving significant business growth.

Early Technical & Engineering Experience

• Gained broad technical expertise through roles including In-Service Training at Caltex (now Astron Energy) and Metallurgist in Training at Finsch De Beers Mine (1996–1998).
• Served as Process Technician at Sasol Synthetic Fuel (1998–2000), developing expertise in synthetic fuel production and process operations.
• Enhanced quality control and engineering skills as a Guest Engineer at Bosch GMBH, Germany (2001).
• Applied process engineering principles at Eskom-Generation (Duvha Power Station) (2001), optimising power generation processes and operational efficiency.