Hi, I’m
Heidi Newman Minnaar
Retail Executive
Cape Town
Summary
Proven leader in strategy execution, retail operations, and retail risk management at Woolworths, adept at driving significant improvements in risk mitigation and business continuity. Combines strategic thinking with hands-on experience to deliver impactful solutions and enhance organisational performance. Skilled in stakeholder engagement, with a tenure marked by fostering robust operational frameworks and spearheading process enhancements, resulting in enhanced efficiency and safety protocols. Experienced leader with strong background in guiding teams, managing complex projects, and achieving strategic objectives. Excels in developing efficient processes, ensuring high standards, aligned with business objectives. Known for collaborative approach and commitment to excellence.
Overview
24
years of professional experience
2
Certificates
2
Languages
Work History
Woolworths Food
Head of Strategy Execution and EA to CEO
02.2023 - Current
Job overview
- Continually maintained and improved company's reputation and positive image in markets served.
- Oversaw preparation of marketing copy, images, videos, emails, and other collateral.
- Led team of marketing professionals, offering mentoring and coaching to build knowledge and skills.
- Developed creative presentations, trend reports, kitted assets, and product data sheets.
- Analyzed and reported on KPIs to validate and demonstrate success of marketing campaigns.
- Devised content strategy to effectively engage target audiences.
Woolworths Holdings Limited
Acting Head of Group Risk and Compliance
07.2020 - 06.2022
Job overview
- Oversee and drive implementation consistent interpretation and application of Enterprise Risk Management ("ERM"), Compliance Strategy, Policy and Framework and Business Continuity Framework.
- Assists the board and senior management to establish and communicate the organisations ERM objectives and direction including risk management policies, risk appetite and risk limits.
- Lead effective implementation and ongoing evaluation of risk management framework, compliance and assurance capability;
- Integrate risk management with strategy development process
- Collaborate with subsidiaries and business units to establish, maintain and continuously improve risk management capabilities;
- Ensure effective alignment between ERM process and internal audit;
- Oversee monitoring of changes in relevant legislation and regulatory environment and provide advisory capability in developing relevant business solutions:
- Developing and implementing a combined assurance strategy that will assist Board discharge their fiduciary duty and to give them comfort that all three lines of defence are effectively implemented and address all risks within the group
- Develop and implement risk assessment methodologies, models and systems;
- Assess and maintain risk maturity profile of the organisation
- Manage Group Insurance (Cell captive & External Markets),
- Define and manage Group BCM strategy, Policy and Crisis Management
Woolworths PTY LTD
Head of Selling Integration - Retail Operations
07.2022 - 01.2023
Job overview
- Proven ability to develop and implement creative solutions to complex problems.
- Resolved problems, improved operations and provided exceptional service.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
Woolworths PTY LTD
Senior Enterprise Risk Manager
12.2017 - 06.2020
Job overview
- Promoted enterprise-level risk management practices and helped instill strong culture focused on protective policies and procedures.
- Encouraged stakeholders to approach assessments analytically and offer unique insights to bring new understanding to risk management programs.
- Facilitate consistent application of Board approved risk frameworks, policies process across subsidiaries and business units.
- Perform Risk management and board reporting for WHL Group, Woolworths South Africa and Rest of Africa Business.
- Maintain risk assessment tools and methodologies.
- Support business unit management in identifying and quantifying significant risks of subsidiaries/business unit and approve risk assessment and risk management processes;
- Identify process and operational control weaknesses/flaws and risk management issues and initiate corrective actions;
- Monitor that corrective actions are appropriately implemented;
- Ensure that all enterprise wide risk management and loss containment activities are performed in timely manner;
- Compile, analyse and escalate risk reports through appropriate management and governance committee structure
- Development and execution of Business Continuity Management ("BCM") policy and framework
- Development and execution of business impact analysis, contingency strategies and business continuity plans.
- Execute annual Business Continuity Plan ("BCP") testing exercise and simulation for Woolworths South Africa
- Annual reporting on Group BCM programme and status to Executive Committee and Board Members
- Execute and facilitate assurance activities in relation to annual Combined Assurance Framework
- Review and maintenance of relevant Enterprise Risk Management ("ERM") including Business Continuity Policies and Frameworks
- Day to day management of Group Insurance Programme
Woolworths PTY LTD
Enterprise Risk Manager
10.2015 - 11.2017
Job overview
- Provide oversight for risk management activities within relevant business units
- Ensure risk processes (Risk identification, assessment, management reporting) are implemented
- Strategic and Operational Risk reporting for the Group
- Facilitate Business Unit Risk Assessment workshops
- Deliver risk management training, including Risk Management Coordinator (Risk Custodians) training and awareness on risk management in Group operating subsidiaries.
- Assist in developing the Enterprise Risk Management plan and responsible for its maintenance.
- Business Continuity coordinator, ensuring that Woolworths South Africa have fully functioning and tested BCP's and DRP
- Facilitate BCP workshops, Business Impact Assessments etc
- Facilitate and execute annual BCP testing and simulation exercise
- Promoted enterprise-level risk management practices and helped instill strong culture focused on protective policies and procedures.
Woolworths PTY LTD
Business Continuity Manager
09.2013 - 09.2015
Job overview
- Develop and implement the Group BCM policy and framework
- Development and execution of business impact analysis, contingency strategies and business continuity plans for the Woolworths South Africa Business (+/- 400 locations, and 10 Business Units i.e. FMG business, Fashion, Beauty & Home, Human Resources, Central Finance etc)
- Define and implement a BCP testing framework
- Execute annual BCP testing exercise and simulation for Woolworths South Africa
- Organized and updated strategies for managing crisis events.
- Used risk analysis tools, mitigation strategies and management approaches in consistent fashion with different departments.
- Annual reporting on Group BCM programme and status to Executive Committee and Board Members
- Review and maintenance of Business Continuity Policies, Frameworks, BIA's and BCP's.
- Implementation of a Woolworths South Africa Business Continuity systems tool. Launched across +/- 400 locations and 11 countries
- Devised and deployed training tools and business structures to help department leaders and liaisons develop and improve business continuity plans.
- Created or administered training and awareness presentations or materials.
- Offered expertise to business wide continuity coordinators to guide, support and lead contingency and playbook development.
Woolworths PTY LTD
National Health, Safety and Operations Specialist
09.2012 - 08.2013
Job overview
- Developed and implemented an end-to-end occupational health and safety strategy and operational practices that will increase efficiency and decrease risk to employees and customers across +/-330 branches across the chain.
- Manage all statutory health and safety standards, centralizing them in a single repository.
- Develop, implement, and maintain operational and safety policies and procedures as necessary and in accordance with applicable legislation.
- Ensure that procedures are designed and developed in an effective and efficient manner to support critical new business and selling efforts.
- Recognize trends and concerns in process compliance and ensure that appropriate corrective measures are planned and executed.
- Identifying and analysing all trends relating to operational efficiency, as well as designing and implementing sustainable solutions.
- Develop and execute a tool and method for sustainable management of Workplace Health and Safety across all +/- 330 stores in the chain.
- Compile risk assessments in order to decrease workplace occurrences and save money.
- Establish risk management guidelines that are consistent with accepted self-practices and regulatory requirements.
- Conduct a review of all health and safety reporting, take appropriate action, and manage it effectively.
- Implement and maintain all health and safety management systems.
- Liaise with appropriate external stakeholders, such as the Department of Labour, Local Municipality, and safety-related authorities, to ensure that the retail store environment ss up to speed on all safety-related law updates and regulations.
Woolworths PTY LTD
Divisional Operations Manager (Western Cape)
10.2009 - 08.2012
Job overview
- Assume leadership responsibility for ensuring that critical processes for stock management, shrinkage, operations, legal, and security are followed across all +/- 60 stores within the Wester Cape Division.
- Assume leadership and ensure that the division has an effective loss prevention plan in place that addresses stock loss, till shorts, and cash losses.
- Coordinated leadership workshops to educate team members on best practices to optimize process efficiency and compliance.
- Coach and develop Store Management and the Divisional Leadership team in the areas of Loss Prevention, Workplace Health & Safety, Stock Management, General Operations, Regulatory and process Compliance.
- Examine possibilities to streamline end-to-end operational procedures in order to achieve cost reductions and efficiencies.
- Responsible for the successful administration and management of service providers in the areas of physical security, cleaning, merchandising, and trolley collection.
- Assessed service provider quality to maintain tight cost controls and maximize business operational performance.
- Assure the Division's successful integration of existing and future operational initiatives
- Responsible for the procurement process and budgeting for Service Providers, Smallworks and maintenance.
- Assume leadership responsibility for driving Good Business Journey initiatives in relation to the Division's achieving agreed sustainability targets.
- Effective handling of the Division's Smallworks and maintenance needs
- Enhanced regional branch performance by implementing proven management processes to increase revenue.
- Developed processes to save on costs and prevent losses.
Woolworths PTY LTD
Retail Integration Manager
10.2008 - 09.2009
Job overview
- Expanded cross-functional organizational capacity by collaborating across Financial Services, the General Merchandise Business Unit (Homeware, Online, Gift Registry, Cellular and Gaming) and Retail Stores on priorities, functions and common goals.
- Raised performance in areas of sales, management and operations by identifying and targeting areas in need of improvement.
- Developed and implemented performance improvement strategies and plans to promote continuous improvement.
- Identified issues, analyzed information and provided solutions to problems.
- Drove operational improvements which resulted in savings and improved profit margins.
- Drive improvements in stock accuracy and management through detailed analysis, by contributing to improvements in upstream processes and by providing leadership to stores in stock accuracy disciplines.
- Led projects and analyzed data to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Created plans and communicated deadlines to ensure projects were completed on time.
- Ensure that the product groups provide merchandise and layouts which support the principles of assisted self selection.
- Process integration with sales management and the supply chain to ensure that initiatives are robust and sustainable.
Woolworths PTY LTD
Senior Business Process Analyst
11.2006 - 06.2008
Job overview
- Produced documentation outlining process improvement solutions, including cost-benefit analyses.
- Developed change management protocols to streamline required business process alterations through preemptive training and guidance.
- Liaised with management and subject matter experts to collaboratively design processes and change implementation plans.
- Assessed impact of business processes on users and stakeholders and evaluated potential areas for improvement.
- Drafted user feedback tools such as questionnaires, surveys, and interview scenarios to incorporate business needs and desires into process improvement.
Woolworths PTY LTD
Project Implementation Manager
11.2004 - 09.2006
Job overview
- Plan and manage Store Inventory Management System (SIMS) rollout to all Corporate and Franchise stores (+/- 300) within a 6 month period.
- Design policies, procedures and processes, ensuring that business changes and requirements are integrated with that of the project.
- Initiate and develop new policies, procedures and processes that will improve project deliverables.
- Implemented and managed the User Acceptance Testing.
- Implemented pilot studies and conduct post implementation reviews.
- Analyse, design and implement process changes, incorporating feedback from users and business requirements.
- Monitor processes and analyse statistics to identify potential problems and enhancement.
- Prepare and document implementation requirements for system changes.
- Provided input to training material and training approach for project implementation.
- Identify system requirements to accommodate business processes.
- Ensured integrated and accurate communication to stores regarding training, rollout, the process progress and implementation.
- Documented specialized data and requirements to address business demands.
Woolworths PTY LTD
Business Finance Manager
02.2001 - 10.2004
Job overview
- Managed and perform business administration and financial tasks to ensure sound financial and administrative control with in responsible business unit
- Prepared cash flow projections, cost analysis and monthly, quarterly stock management and financial reports.
- Monitor Business Unit (BU) expenses through effectively reviewing documents, assessing exceptions and identifying problem areas.
- Collaborated with Commercial manager to achieve consistent processes and maximize efficiency of resources.
- Aggregated and analyzed data related to administrative costs to prepare budgets
- Monitored and evaluated employee performance to complete annual reviews, recommend advancement or address productivity concerns.
- Mitigated process gaps and managed all operational functions, including stock management, resource planning and payroll, operational expenses, cash and backing reconciliation, documentation, regulatory compliance and occupational health and safety.
- Trained Business Unit employees in company and regulatory compliance requirements to promote conformance.
- Produced high-quality documents, spreadsheets and presentations for internal and customer-facing needs using MS Office suite.
- Established and developed highly efficient and dependable administrative team by delivering ongoing coaching and motivation and fostering career advancement.
Education
University of Cape Town Cape Town
PGDip Business Management from Retail Management
01.2005 - 2016.03
University of Western CapeCape Town
PGDip BCOM from General Studies
02.2001 - 2003.07
Skills
Accomplishments
2020 Woolworths Difference Award (COVID-19 Crisis Response)
2019 Woolworths CEO Award
2018 International Business Continuity Institute (BCI) - Africa Continuity and Resilience Professional Award
2018 Woolworths Difference Award (Kwazulu Natal Crisis Management)
2016 Woolworths Difference Award (Successful implementation and execution of the WHL BCM Programme and BCM tool implementation across +/- 400 stores and 12 countries)
2014 Woolworths Difference Award (Development and Implementation of the Retail Operations Group OHSA Programme and Workplace Compliance Tool)
2007 Woolworths Difference Award (Store Inventory Management System Implementation)
Affiliations
Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA)
Institute of Risk Management UK (IRM)
Certification
International Risk Management Certification (IRM UK)
Timeline
Head of Strategy Execution and EA to CEO
Woolworths Food
02.2023 - Current
Head of Selling Integration - Retail Operations
Woolworths PTY LTD
07.2022 - 01.2023
Acting Head of Group Risk and Compliance
Woolworths Holdings Limited
07.2020 - 06.2022
Senior Enterprise Risk Manager
Woolworths PTY LTD
12.2017 - 06.2020
Enterprise Risk Manager
Woolworths PTY LTD
10.2015 - 11.2017
Business Continuity Manager
Woolworths PTY LTD
09.2013 - 09.2015
National Health, Safety and Operations Specialist
Woolworths PTY LTD
09.2012 - 08.2013
Divisional Operations Manager (Western Cape)
Woolworths PTY LTD
10.2009 - 08.2012
Retail Integration Manager
Woolworths PTY LTD
10.2008 - 09.2009
Senior Business Process Analyst
Woolworths PTY LTD
11.2006 - 06.2008
University of Cape Town
PGDip Business Management from Retail Management
01.2005 - 2016.03
Project Implementation Manager
Woolworths PTY LTD
11.2004 - 09.2006
Business Finance Manager
Woolworths PTY LTD
02.2001 - 10.2004
University of Western Cape
PGDip BCOM from General Studies
02.2001 - 2003.07
Languages
English
Advanced
Afrikaans
Advanced
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