LOUIS DU PLESSIS
Bloemfontein
Summary
Seasoned Senior Executive with over 20 years of director-level experience in large-scale shopfitting, furniture manufacturing, and construction projects across Africa. Expertise in delivering complex hospitality and commercial projects on time and within budget. Skilled in building and leading diverse teams, fostering collaboration, and driving client-focused solutions.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Operations Director
Sonhe SHL Group
Bloemfontein, South Africa
02.2022 - Current
- Coordinated daily site operations, managing tasks for multiple trades to ensure timely project completion.
- Coordinated daily site operations, aligning work schedules and project timelines to optimise efficiency.
- Monitored and adjusted stock levels of operational materials to ensure consistent supply flow and support uninterrupted site operations. of operational materials, such as daily cover, to ensure uninterrupted site operations.
Education
BA - Psychology, Education and Economics
University of the Free State (UFS)
Industrial Arts and Graphic Engineering Design
University of the Free State (UFS)
Skills
- Construction project oversight
- Project leadership
- Project and operational delivery
- Live project management in operational environments
- Site operations
- Site logistics
- Project scheduling
- Risk management
- Budget control and cost management
- Budget oversight
- Asset and fleet management
- Supply chain management
- Trade coordination
- Quality assurance and standards compliance
- Commercial refurbishment management
- Refurbishment execution specialist
- Cross-border operations leadership
- Executive leadership and management
- Strategic planning and resource allocation
- Workforce Engagement – Deep experience leading and integrating diverse teams across South Africa, West Africa, and wider Africa
- Workforce engagement and motivation
- Client relationship management
- Client communication
- Operations reporting
- Problem-solving in complex environments
- Decision making
- Time-management
- Decision making
Accomplishments
- Manufacturing & Operations Leadership (Africa-Wide)
- Directed a multi-million rand shopfitting factory for over 20 years, manufacturing and exporting premium shopfitting, furniture, and fixtures to 5-star hospitality, leisure, and commercial clients throughout Africa.
- Managed company assets, plant, equipment, and commercial vehicle fleets across multiple operational sites in West Africa, ensuring optimal utilization, maintenance, and cost efficiency.
- Built and led high-performing, multicultural workforces, fostering strong labor relations and consistent delivery across borders.
- Southern Sun Brand (South Africa)
- Beacon Island Resort (200 Rooms) – Record refurbishment completed in 11 weeks
- Umhlanga Sands (17 Floors)
- Drakensberg Sun Resort
- Cabana Beach Resort
- Maharani (North Beach, Durban)
- Garden Court OR Tambo
- Garden Court Polokwane
- Garden Court Kimberley
- Garden Court Mthatha
- Protea by Marriott Brand
- Protea Hotel, Big Hole, Kimberley
- Protea Fire and Ice, Cape Town
- Sun International Brand (South Africa)
- Sun City Vacation Club
- Sun City Casino & Entertainment Centre
- Sun Windmill Casino
- Radisson Blu & Park Inn by Radisson (West Africa)
- Hotel 2 Fevrier 5 Star, Lomé, Togo (320 Rooms) – Award-winning hotel refurbishment
- Radisson Blu 5 Star, Libreville, Gabon (298 Rooms)
- Park Inn by Radisson, Libreville, Gabon (140 Rooms)
Websites, Portfolios, Profiles
https://www.sonhe-shlgroup.com/
PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHY
"Delivering world-class hotel refurbishments across Africa requires more than technical skill—it demands passionate leadership, relentless positivity, and a deep respect for client operations. I bring all three to every project, ensuring that my teams and I not only meet expectations but set new benchmarks for quality and speed."
CONTACT & AVAILABILITY
- Based in South Africa | Available for projects across Africa
- References and full project portfolio available upon request.
Timeline
Operations Director
Sonhe SHL Group
02.2022 - Current
BA - Psychology, Education and Economics
University of the Free State (UFS)
Industrial Arts and Graphic Engineering Design
University of the Free State (UFS)