Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Memberships:
References
Timeline
Generic
Desmond Brothers

Desmond Brothers

Tshwane (Pretoria)

Summary

Dynamic CEO with a proven track record at Sun Pharma, driving ZAR 2.5 billion in sales while enhancing market share and operational efficiency. Experienced in financial management and strategic planning, I excel in fostering high-caliber teams and achieving ambitious growth targets, ensuring compliance and delivering exceptional results in competitive environments.

Overview

40
40
years of professional experience

Work History

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Sun Pharma
06.2012 - 01.2025
  • As group CEO of three legal entities responsible for the successful management of total operations in South Africa, achieving sales revenue of ZAR 2.5 billion in 2024, and leading a staff of 550, supported by an Exco team of 10. For the past five years Sun Pharma has regularly been the fastest growing generic company in value (Ref: IQVIA)
  • Chairing boards of these three legal entities; overseeing leadership and management of Marketing & Sales, Business Development, Finance, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, Logistics, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance (advisory) and Human Resources as well as overall performance of finance operations in South Africa (total responsibility for P&L).
  • Directly oversee complete production facility for Be-Tabs, including Liquids, Solids, corticosteroids with total capacity of 1.9 billion counting units per annum, and QA/QC lab.
  • Ensuring achievement of budgeted sales and profits; improving company market share and ranking; establishing strategic direction for business unit; improving cash flow and working capital.
  • Actively establishing, nurturing and participating in alliances and partnership deals.
  • Attracting, motivating, developing and retaining high-calibre staff.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Pharmaceutical Healthcare Distributors / RTT Medical (RTT Group)
06.2010 - 12.2011
  • Wholly responsible for management of healthcare division; managing logistics for 35 healthcare companies including innovators, generics and FMCG in respect of receiving stock, sample testing, warehousing, orders, pick pack and transport as well as debtors management.
  • Supplying in excess of 100 million units a year from 4 500 product lines to 5 900+ customers nationally.
  • Managing all financial performance parameters for annual sales throughput of ZAR 6.4 billion.
  • Responsible for management of 520 staff members in four cities in South Africa, with 11 direct reports including 10 Exco members ranging from managers to divisional directors; directly accountable for staff turnover, BBBEE and skills development throughout organisation.
  • Formulating strategic plan for company improvement and growth; preparing and presenting to board the annual budget plan; meeting all KPIs in respect of budget success including key financial parameters.
  • Enhancing organisational effectiveness by liaising personally at senior level with all key clients regarding partnering on strategic focus areas and ability to meet service requirements.
  • Ensuring compliance with Medicines Control Council, ISO 9001 and client audit expectations.
  • Successfully accomplishing operational expansion project in Centurion from capacity of 10000m to 26500m, including managing all process and SAP upgrades and meeting the post-‘go live’ challenges.
  • Nationally rebranding division from PHD to RTT Medical including implementing effective internal and external communications and defining a new marketing strategy.
  • Significantly enhancing people engagement and focus through face-to-face interactions and by initiating, defining and sharing Purpose, Values and Mission statements with all staff.

OWNER

Sparkling Auto Care
10.2009 - 03.2010
  • Company Overview: Franchise
  • Owning and running franchise operation; subsequently selling so as to return to corporate management.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Ranbaxy (S.A.) (Pty) Ltd and Be-Tabs Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd
09.2001 - 09.2009
  • Successfully managing total operation in South Africa including Ranbaxy S.A. (Pty) Ltd, Be-Tabs Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd, and Sonke Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd; serving on board of all three entities.
  • Overseeing management of all divisions including complete production facility for Be-Tabs.
  • Leading sales achievement of ZAR 580 million in 2008 and ZAR 650 million in 2009.
  • Managing staff of 450 with 11 direct reports; recruiting and training HR talent to meet company objectives; ensuring training and development of all employees and compliance with BBBEE guidelines.
  • Working closely with management team to prepare strategic growth plan for SA operation and define objectives; preparing and presenting annual budget for approval by corporate management; ensuring meeting of strategic objectives and budget, including identifying and implementing alliances and JVs.
  • Regularly monitoring regulated local market laws and evaluating options for RXSA; determining means of differentiation for RXSA against competitors and implementing strategy.
  • Achieving first profit since 1996 for Ranbaxy S.A. in 2002, through growing sales by 95%; continuing to improve performance and accomplishing EBT / sales ratio of 40% in 2004.
  • Bringing Ranbaxy first-to-market with a number of anti-infective and anti-depressant products.
  • Launching Sonke Pharmaceuticals in 2006; acquiring Be-Tabs in 2007 and managing full integration.

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND SALES / MARKETING MANAGER

Knoll Pharmaceuticals
01.1999 - 08.2001
  • Company Overview: including Abbot Laboratories after Knoll acquisition
  • Wholly responsible for all marketing and sales functions of company, including managing team of 3 product managers, 2 sales managers, 20 sales representatives and a secretary.
  • Enhancing profitability by implementing innovative ideas including 80 Continuing Medical Education events during 1999 alone, a mentorship programme, advisory boards and a corporate campaign.
  • Introducing quarterly performance reviews for Product Managers; ensuring regular fieldwork by Product Managers; creating business plans for sales territories; focusing continuously on key training needs; formalising job expectations; introducing disciplinary code.
  • Establishing greater commercial focus including measuring inputs; creating and testing new marketing campaigns for introduction to sales force every four months; sourcing and entering new markets.
  • Including Abbot Laboratories after Knoll acquisition

Business Unit Manager

Astra Pharmaceuticals
Johannesburg
01.1998 - 12.1998
  • Effectively leading, motivating and managing staff of 36 including 3 Regional Sales Managers.

PRODUCT MANAGER / REGIONAL SALES MANAGER / SENIOR SALES REPRESENTATIVE

MSD (Pty) Ltd
07.1989 - 12.1997

BRANCH MANAGER / SALES MANAGER

Edgars Stores
01.1985 - 06.1989

Education

National Diploma - Marketing

Technicon South Africa

Skills

  • Financial management
  • Strategic planning
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Project management
  • Market analysis
  • P&L oversight

Memberships:

Member of Generics association and serving on that exco since 2003 (NAPM / GBMSA)

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Sun Pharma
06.2012 - 01.2025

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Pharmaceutical Healthcare Distributors / RTT Medical (RTT Group)
06.2010 - 12.2011

OWNER

Sparkling Auto Care
10.2009 - 03.2010

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Ranbaxy (S.A.) (Pty) Ltd and Be-Tabs Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd
09.2001 - 09.2009

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND SALES / MARKETING MANAGER

Knoll Pharmaceuticals
01.1999 - 08.2001

Business Unit Manager

Astra Pharmaceuticals
01.1998 - 12.1998

PRODUCT MANAGER / REGIONAL SALES MANAGER / SENIOR SALES REPRESENTATIVE

MSD (Pty) Ltd
07.1989 - 12.1997

BRANCH MANAGER / SALES MANAGER

Edgars Stores
01.1985 - 06.1989

National Diploma - Marketing

Technicon South Africa

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Desmond Brothers