Deon Cato
Operations Manager
Boksburg
Summary
Summary of experience
Exceptional Operations Manager focused on successful team building, cost-cutting and operational improvements. Determined to cut costs without impacting quality of products and services. Reliable team player committed to building high-performing teams.
Seasoned Operations Manager and talented leader with 26 years of experience applying exceptional planning and problem-solving abilities toward enhancing business plans and day-to-day activities. Results-driven and resilient in developing teams while improving processes and increasing productivity. Bringing solid understanding of industry trends, excellent communication skills, talent for spotting areas in need of improvement and implementing changes with strategic approach.
Knowledgeable Operations Manager with solid foundation in optimizing operational processes and driving efficiency improvements. Proven track record of managing cross-functional teams to achieve project milestones and streamline workflows. Demonstrated proficiency in strategic planning and problem-solving, ensuring continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Experienced with overseeing complex operational functions and implementing process enhancements. Utilizes leadership skills to drive team collaboration and meet organizational benchmarks. Knowledge of strategic planning and resource management for optimal operational performance.
Encouraging manager and analytical problem-solver with talents for team building, leading and motivating, as well as excellent customer relations aptitude and relationship-building skills. Proficient in using independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact company success. Dedicated to applying training, monitoring and morale-building abilities to enhance employee engagement and boost performance.
Pursuing full-time role that presents professional challenges and leverages interpersonal skills, effective time management, and problem-solving expertise.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1983
1983
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Operations Manager/ Risk Manager
MBS Carriers
03.2019 - 07.2025
- Company Overview: Cross border Logistics
- As Operations Manager/ Risk Manager Staff compliment of 450 onsite staff and cross border drivers
- Oversee daily operational processes, linked to financial and HR such as: Adherence to the company budget and operational KPI’s as set by the Group Management
- Strick adherence to the company budget and operational KPI’s set by the Group Management (based on 223 trucks)
- Design and initiate management processes to achieve company targets by ensuring clear job descriptions are drawn up for each employee with clear KPI’s with measurable expectations
- Oversee the security contract and security operations for the MBS JHB site and lease with security management
- Ensure that the communication is flowing amongst the different departments such as Operations, Commercial, Finance and HR
- Improve the team spirit and work environment to achieve a healthy relationship with all employees and create a positive and happy workforce culture
- Bring the JHB site safety up to required standard to comply with the OHS Act
- Manage staff performance and discipline
- Manage processes and procedures effectively in the different departments
- Daily check and follow up on all reporting dashboards
- Open line to and from all drivers and making sure with the Driver Management Team that drivers adhere to daily reporting on the different communication platforms and their movements and any issues they experience
- Daily follow up with workshop activities and repair of trucks to increase turnaround times
- When the Durban branch was still open, daily follow up with the Durban Controller to check on loading and dispatching of the trucks to the borders
- Discussions and follow up with the Dubai commercial and operations teams to get loads available in time to increase turnaround times of trucks between the DRC, Zambia and Durban
- Take control with the tracking/ operations team of all high value and high risk vehicles moving from the DRC to Durban
- Making sure all South Bound and North Bound vehicles are tracked daily by the tracking teams to ensure they are on route and safe
- Follow up and investigation of any Highjacking and criminal incidents for the group in South Africa
- Cross border Logistics
- Reason for leaving: Retrenchment due to the business been closed down
National Loss Prevention and Safety Manager
ID Logistics
06.2018 - 02.2019
- Company Overview: Logistics and Warehousing
- As Loss Prevention and Safety Manager Staff Compliment: 600
- National Safety co-ordination at all IDL warehouses and cross dock facilities
- Training of employees on safety aspects
- Investigations on OHS incidents and accidents
- Support all IDL warehouses and cross dock facilities on Occupational Health, Safety and Environment
- Support all the IDL warehouses and cross dock facilities on the IDL CID system
- Internal auditing of all the IDL warehouses and cross dock facilities
- National roll out and training of employees on the Whistle Blowers ethics line
- Investigation of all reports received on the Whistle Blowers ethics line
- National prevention of stock losses
- Investigation of any stock losses on a national basis
- Investigation and recommendation of all disciplinary actions
- Investigation of all criminal activities and liaison with Law Enforcement agencies
- Reporting to EXCO on all Risk, Occupational Health, Safety and Environment incidents and accidents
- Reporting to EXCO on any national risk, strike actions, criminal incidents and investigations
- Logistics and Warehousing
Operations Manager
Imperial Retail Logistics
10.2015 - 05.2018
- Company Overview: Logistics and Warehousing
- As Operations Manager Staff Compliment: 420
- Direct Subordinates: Manager, Picking Controllers, Waveplanners, Query Clerks, MHE Operators and Pickers
- Responsible for the daily Yaldwin Road Facility 1 outbound operations
- Responsible for the daily accurate picking of all orders on both RedPrairy and SAP
- Controlling of all loads released and picked to customers, transfers to branches nationally and export loads
- Controlling of high value stock picks and insuring that stock are picked into the correct areas
- Responsible for the daily clearance of both RedPrairy and SAP systems on loads picked
- Responsible for daily housekeeping of the entire warehouse
- Responsible for the Occupational Health and Safety for the Facility 1 warehouse
- Responsible for all disciplinary actions of the outbound department
- Monitoring and control of all loads dispatched on a daily basis
- Risk control of all stock leaving the warehouse on a daily basis
- Minimization of all risks of high value stock picked and the movement of high value stock
- In charge of the daily planning of the wave of loads to be released and to be picked
- Responsible for the preparation of the warehouse for audits, customer visits and EXCO visits
- Daily communication with the call centre on load information for daily deliveries
- Logistics and Warehousing
- Reason for leaving: Uncertainty due to restructuring of the business, better career path and personal growth
General Manager/ Managing Director/ Operations Manager
Alliance Stream LTD Zambia
05.2013 - 07.2015
- Company Overview: Transport and Warehousing
- As General Manager/ Managing Director Staff Compliment: 96
- Direct Subordinates: Transport Manager, Senior Accountant, Warehouse Controller, Fleet Admin Controller
- Direct report structure to the Group Directors
- Manage the Site operations at the Ndola, Zambia facility
- Responsible for the Alliance Stream warehousing and stock on site
- Daily report of stock movements to internal and external customers
- In charge of site revamping projects and maintenance co-ordination for the Ndola site
- In charge of the Alliance Stream truck fleet of 82 horses and 82 super link and tri-axle trailers doing transport in the SADC region
- Daily checks on vehicle movement between Zambia and the DRC and SADC region
- Daily communication with internal and external clients regarding stock movement with the Alliance Stream Fleet
- Communicate with clearing agents regarding progress of clearing of documents at loading points as well as checkpoints and border posts to speed up the clearing time of documents
- Cost control on the fleet maintenance, truck damages and fuel
- Explore new businesses opportunities in the SADC region, securing new clients for warehousing at the Ndola warehouse facility and new clients for our transport department to do local or international transport in the SADC region
- Manage the customer communication with all our customers in the SADC region
- Budget preparation and presentation to the Group Financial Director Africa and control of the transport department budget and expenditure
- Manage the staff compliment for both the warehouse and transport function
- Manage staff morale, disciplinary action and HR issues
- Daily, Weekly and Monthly reporting to the Group Directors on operations
- Monthly reporting to the Group on the Ndola office finances with the Finance Team
- Sign of on all contracts for transport and warehousing
- Create all legal transport and warehouse contracts on the company Meerkat system
- Signatory for all legal documents for the Alliance Stream Zambia division
- Maintain the integrity of the company Meerkat system implemented to control all transport and warehouse contracts as well as the control of the invoicing and finances by the finance department
- Responsible for all site Occupational Health, Safety and Environment all Legal Compliance for the Ndola, Zambia Site and operations
- Transport and Warehousing
- Reason for leaving: Contract not renewed due to restructuring and merging of the Zambia business
Logistics Manager / Warehouse Manager / Transport Manager
Vector Logistics
08.2010 - 04.2013
- Company Overview: Transport and Warehousing
- As Logistics Manager Staff Compliment: 120
- Direct Subordinates: Warehouse Manager, Shift Controllers, Financial Controller, Administration staff
- Responsible for the Midrand VSC B operations with the main client been McCain
- Manage staff compliment of around 120 employees
- Direct report structure to the Regional Manager
- Prepare and consolidate annual Capex requirements
- Consult with our business partners McCain on a daily basis
- Build a solid customer relationship and regular visits to our primary customer McCain
- Bi-weekly meetings with McCain and their senior management team
- Manage the McCain DSL, BSL and CSL
- Manage and improve customer services and maintain 100% Daily Service Level
- Responsible for all disciplinary action and IR issues in the department
- Manage and co-ordinate monthly Union Meetings
- Manage biannual Talent Management (KPI) assessments for the Midrand VCS A and B departments
- Implement cost saving initiatives and drive to reach targets
- Monitor and clear the SAP system on the Midrand VCS A and B operations
- Re-launch of the Journey process at Midrand VCS A and B and bringing the process up to date
- Responsible for monthly stock count for the Midrand A facility for Rainbow and Midrand B facility for McCains
- Manage all day to day inbound and outbound operations and manage all daily correspondence and communication with McCain
- Responsible for all weekly stock reports as well as monthly Service Reports to McCain and EXCO
- Implement the McCain Temperature Monitoring Project in conjunction with McCain and all aspects around the project
- Responsible for the Occupation, Health and Safety for the Midrand A and Midrand B operations
- Responsible for all customer audits to comply with customer standards
- Transport and Warehousing
- Reason for leaving: Personal and career path growth
CDC Manager / Delivery Services Officer / Loss Control Manager
Clover SA
01.1999 - 07.2010
- Company Overview: Warehousing and Logistics
- As CDC Manager Staff Compliment: 24
- Direct Subordinates: Stock Controller, Shift Controllers, Administration staff
- Budget Control and budget preparation and estimations
- Stock Control on FIFE (First in First Expiry) Concept
- Responsible for all Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental issues and legal aspects of the Central Distribution Centre department
- Control of All Warehouse operations
- Control of All Dispatching and Receiving Functions
- Responsible for all stock in the warehouse
- Control of employees and their operations
- Disciplinary Action in the department
- Control and maintenance of equipment and buildings
- Investigation and implementation of shifts to maximize operations
- Liaison with 3rd party suppliers, Unilever and Hudson and Knight
- Investigation of all 3rd party claims
- Monitoring and control of the StarTrak Warehouse Management System and all operations around the system
- Investigation and reporting on stock loss issues
- Reporting from the IDS System on a daily basis regarding transactions between the IDS and StarTrak Systems
- Reporting to Unilever on a daily basis on KPI’s of the Clover Hub operations including warehouse capacity, received loads, dispatched loads, planned loads, short picks and quarantined and expired stock
- Checking all daily reports from the StarTrak system on stock expiry dates, stock discrepancies, stock adjustments, received stock dates and date discrepancies
- Handling of all contractors on maintenance issues
- Warehousing and Logistics
- Reason for leaving: Personal and career path growth
Education
Matric -
Hoërskool Hoogland
National Diploma - Safety Management
UNISA
Skills
SAP
Current Income Package
R 1 200 000.00 per annum (total cost to company)
Known As
Deon
Contact Details
+27 72 423 6274, decat46@gmail.com
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 05/30/66
- Nationality: South African
Summary Of Experience
- MBS Group, 03/01/19 to current, Operations Manager
- ID Logistics, 06/01/18 to 03/01/19, National Loss Prevention and Safety Manager
- Imperial Retail Logistics, 10/01/15 to 05/01/18, Operations Manager
- Vector Logistics, 09/01/15 to 09/30/15, Warehouse Manager
- Alliance Stream LTD Zambia, 05/01/13 to 07/01/15, Managing Director/ General Manager / Operations Manager
- Vector Logistics, 08/01/10 to 04/01/13, Logistics Manager
- Clover SA, 01/01/99 to 07/01/10, CDC Manager / Delivery Services Officer / Loss Control Manager
- South African Police Service, 01/01/87 to 01/01/99, Detective Warrant Officer
Additional Information
Contacts:
Clover SA and ID Logistics : Charl Ciliers - 082 491 2748
MBS Group : Ruan Kahts - 072 261 4448
MBS Group : Stefann Bezuidenhout - 072 625 6123
MBS Group : Sebastian Detraz - +41 79 728 4050
Timeline
Operations Manager/ Risk Manager
MBS Carriers
03.2019 - 07.2025
National Loss Prevention and Safety Manager
ID Logistics
06.2018 - 02.2019
Operations Manager
Imperial Retail Logistics
10.2015 - 05.2018
General Manager/ Managing Director/ Operations Manager
Alliance Stream LTD Zambia
05.2013 - 07.2015
Logistics Manager / Warehouse Manager / Transport Manager
Vector Logistics
08.2010 - 04.2013
CDC Manager / Delivery Services Officer / Loss Control Manager
Clover SA
01.1999 - 07.2010
National Diploma - Safety Management
UNISA
Matric -
Hoërskool Hoogland
Similar Profiles
Charlene Van Der LindenCharlene Van Der Linden
Creditor's Clerk at MBS CarriersCreditor's Clerk at MBS Carriers
Michael BowlesMichael Bowles
Owner and Subcontractor at MBS Construction IncOwner and Subcontractor at MBS Construction Inc
Demetri DouglasDemetri Douglas
Fabricator at MBS FabricationFabricator at MBS Fabrication
Thando ZimemaThando Zimema
Finance Officer at Ndalama Armature Winders (Pty) LtdFinance Officer at Ndalama Armature Winders (Pty) Ltd
Renaldo EsbendRenaldo Esbend
Sales Engineer at InstronSales Engineer at Instron