Christos Aposporis
Commercial Operations Manager
Centurion
Summary
Commercial Operations Manager with 5+ years’ commercial and strategic experience in FMCG/Manufacturing. Dynamic MBA-qualified with a proven track record in large-scale Planning & Leading oversight, facility and process design, production planning, and leading teams of 120+ personnel. Recognized with national industry awards for operational excellence.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
3
3
Languages
Work History
Commercial Operations Manager
Lynca Meats
Johannesburg, South Africa
01.2021 - Current
- Lead Commercial Operations for the Retail, FMCG & Distribution Centre division; direct report to Group CEO.
- Oversee R120million in holding stock and manage a 5,000 sq.m Distribution Centre(s), integrating physical operations with IT systems.
- Drive New Business Development and Investment projects end-to-end, including site development, facility design, layouts, process flow and equipment procurement.
- Direct production planning using rate-of-sale and SOH ageing analytics to optimise scheduling and warehouse efficiency.
- Achieved National Industry Favourite Award and Best Business Titan 2024 for outstanding Retail & Distribution Centre performance.
- Lynca Meats is a fully integrated world-class pork manufacturing organisation, (the largest pork processing plant in Africa) that supplies a range of products to the food and butchery industry, both locally and internationally. Lynca Meats website: https://lyncameats.co.za/
- When Lynca Meats expanded from a wholesale-only operation into retail in January 2021, I was appointed as Operations Manager for the Retail, FMCG & Distribution Centre Division, reporting directly to the Group CEO.
- I lead a team of 120+ employees and oversee all commercial, operational and strategic aspects of the division.
- Streamlined inventory management processes, enhancing order accuracy and reducing waste.
- Coordinated logistics operations, improving delivery efficiency and vendor relationships.
- Developed and implemented safety protocols, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
- Trained and mentored team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.
- Led cross-functional teams to enhance operational workflows and streamline processes.
- Developed and implemented strategies to optimize inventory management and reduce waste.
- Analyzed market trends to inform pricing strategies and improve competitive positioning.
- Mentored and trained staff on best practices in commercial operations and customer service.
Business Analyst – Cost Accounting, Sales & Marketing, Data & Business Analyst
Lynca Meats
10.2020 - 01.2021
- Led strategic market research for Lynca Meats’ entry into the B2C retail market.
- Compiled and analysed data on: Retail and distribution site viability, Customer LSM segmentation, Competitor positioning, Retail store layout assessments.
- Developed financial and commercial models, including cost accounting models and sales & marketing forecasting tools.
- Managed procurement of promotional material for ATL marketing, ensuring adherence to brand CI guidelines.
- Handled BTL marketing activities, including: Managing website and social media service providers (Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Google My Business, Waze), Editing and preparing corporate communication videos (CEO announcements).
- Selected to join the core project team responsible for establishing Lynca Meats’ first Retail Factory Shops and Distribution Centres.
- Responsibilities included: Developing SOPs for new retail sites, Sourcing and onboarding suppliers, Managing and training 120 retail, administrative, and DC staff, Overseeing cash office operations (floats, Cash in Transit processes with Fidelity), Managing stock movement and inventory control, Negotiating supplier payment terms, Procuring and managing stock, Overseeing Point of Sale systems and retail pricing models, Coordinating monthly in-store promotional campaigns.
- Analyzed business requirements to identify process improvements and enhance operational efficiency.
- Developed detailed documentation for user requirements, functional specifications, and system testing.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline project execution and ensure alignment with business goals.
- Facilitated stakeholder meetings to gather feedback and refine project scopes for better outcomes.
Education
Masters in Business Administration (MBA) -
Wits Business School
12.2025
Bachelor of Commerce Honours (B.Com Honours) - Business Sciences (Strategic Management)
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg12.2019
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) - Business Management
University of Pretoria
Pretoria12.2017
National Senior Certificate - undefined
Cornwall Hill College
Pretoria12.2014
Skills
Commercial Business Strategy
Commercial & Business Operations Management
End-to-end management
SOP design
Operational process optimisation
Staff leadership
Team management
Logistics management
Fleet management
Strategic Financial Planning
Investment Planning
Cost accounting
Margin accounting
Selling price modelling
Profit centre budgeting
CAPEX planning
NPV investment modelling
Commercial Strategy
Business Development
New site development
Building design
Layouts
Process flow design
Project management
Strategic sales
Marketing
Technical Skills
MS Office Suite
Interests
Equestrian sport
Soccer
Swimming
Greek traditional dancing
Physical Address
18 Shillingford Road, Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa
Telephone - Cell
+27 84 619 2281
Dual Citizenship
- Greek (European Union)
- South African
Personal Information
Nationality: Greek, South African
References
- Brent Fairlie, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Lynca Meats, (+27) 82 804 2517, Brent@lyncameats.co.za
- Adrian Franken, Marketing & Sales Executive at Lynca Meats, (+27) 83 577 7853, Adrianf@lyncameats.co.za
Timeline
Commercial Operations Manager
Lynca Meats
01.2021 - Current
Business Analyst – Cost Accounting, Sales & Marketing, Data & Business Analyst
Lynca Meats
10.2020 - 01.2021
Bachelor of Commerce Honours (B.Com Honours) - Business Sciences (Strategic Management)
University of the Witwatersrand
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) - Business Management
University of Pretoria
National Senior Certificate - undefined
Cornwall Hill College
Masters in Business Administration (MBA) -
Wits Business School