Matthew Sidebottom

Edge Growth is an impact investment firm in the financial sector, focused on fund management and SME growth support.

• Accountable for Operations functions including: Facilities & Office backbone, IT systems and platforms, Group Compliance, Supplier Mgt, Risk Mgt, Event Mgt, Travel Mgt, Data Information & Knowledge Mgt, Corporate Secretariat and Project Mgt Office
• Create, Plan & Implement Business Operations & IT Strategy
• Create an EPIC culture & unique EVP that drives Ops team engagement
• Manage technology backbone & network proactively (with focus on service, simplicity & security)
• Design, build & deliver insightful strategic group & BU reporting
• Set-up and manage PMO capability & execute on group-wide projects
• Set-up and manage Strategic Supplier management capability
• Ensure B-BBEE Strategy & compliance is effectively planned, implemented & communicated to achieve desired targets
• Ensure regulatory & legal compliance at group level
• Ensure Risk management and reporting across the group
• Regularly report to Exco & Board on operational strategy and group-wide projects
• Manage Ops department costs in line with budget
• Position Ops as Culture Evangelists that drive employee experience & culture engagement

Jawbone is a boutique marketing agency focused on events and activations throughout S.A and Africa.

• Lead, nurture and mentor the Ops team
• Accountable for business operations strategy, roadmap, planning and execution, including regular reporting thereof to Exco
• Accountable for operations functions including: Finance, Traffic, Process Mgt, Facilities Mgt, Project Planning, Procurement Mgt, Supplier Mgt, Travel, Project Admin, Site Mgt & Technology Mgt.
• Accountable for COS & Supplier Spend across the business
• Accountable for process analysis, mapping, implementation and improvements
• Accountable for planning and Program/Project management across the business
• Plan resource utilization within the agency, ensuring all projects attain margin and profitability targets
• Develop & Maintain supplier & client relationships including contract negotiations
• Manage & Optimize business reporting

Connected Video is the Multichoice entity responsible for online products such as: DStvNow, Catch-up, SuperSport, BoxOffice, DStv.com and DStv Connect.

• Manage the development and implementation of major/critical Project initiatives from back-end system development & integrations to front-end application development (iOS, Android, Xamarin & Web) as well as decoder software and hardware related projects.
• Prepare, update & communicate project feedback to leadership & project stakeholders
• Manage resources and activities of the project team
• Develop, Maintain & Communicate relevant project management documentation such as Project charter, project plan, action logs, decision logs, risk register & issue register
• Develop and maintain relationships with Product and technical teams, external stakeholders and third parties
• Manage project Scope, Schedule, Cost & Quality
• Manage project through 5 project phases (Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Control and Closing)

"DStv Connect" is the login and authentication service which allows over a million users to access DStv’s online products & services for S.A and the rest of Africa.

• Led an agile development team of 9 consisting of 4 developers, 2 testers, 2 UI/UX designers and a scrum master, focused on implementing new business requirements.
• Integrated with VAS (Value added service) platform for customer authentication & entitlements
• Launched new Front-end “on-boarding” flows for the Connect product across Web & Apps
• Integrated with PayU (payment gateway)
• Back-end stabilization & implementation of a technical deployment pipeline

Digital Mobile Television (DMTV) was a Multichoice start-up, tasked with establishing a "Made-for-mobile" broadcast footprint in key African territories

• Acted as Operations manager for 9 months during UAT Manager tenure, until suitable candidate was appointed
• Established User Acceptance Testing (UAT) team responsible for quality control and deployment into production of new enhancements, products & systems for all DMTV countries.
• Established & implemented UAT Test Strategy
• Sourced & Implemented testing tool to improve processes, reporting and standardization
• Established & maintained relationships with internal & external stakeholders in all African territories
• Created standardised documentation for Test cases, Planning and sign-off
• Introduced Agile testing methodology within the UAT department
• Managed product acceptance and hand over for commercial launch
• Managed test environment, deployment pipeline & test resources
• Designed, managed and improved test policies & processes

Permanently contracted through BooHoo Consulting to Digital Mobile Television (DMTV - African division of DStv Mobile) in a dual role of Business analyst and Account manager for the Kenyan and Namibian territories.

• Established in-country teams to manage operations, customer support, marketing & partner relationships
• Built & maintained business relationships with mobile operator (Telco) partners in-country
• Facilitated product & support training for Telco's and in-country teams throughout Africa
• Facilitated technical integration with mobile operator partners
• Developed & documented business rules and system requirements
• Facilitated in-country training and preparation of material (Product & Technical)
• Performed product & systems testing (UAT)
• Documented, maintained & implemented business process, policies & standards

Bespoke management consultancy called Market Works Advisory, whose clients included the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) and Digital Mobile Television (DMtv).

• Successfully captured and documented key business processes for DMTV into Casewise process mapping tool
• Collaborated with client to capture and document requirements
• Evaluated information gathered, Identified business problems and provided proposed solutions
• Provided objective advice, expertise and specialist skills with the aim of creating value and improving business performance

Contracted independently as a lighting specialist for over 10 years in the Live entertainment industry doing theatre shows and corporate events including:

• The Lion King S.A - Deputy Head of Lighting | Board operator
• Chicago The Musical S.A - Lighting electrician & Head Follow Spotter
• We Will Rock You S.A - Lighting electrician & Moving light tech
• Gearhouse S.A, Contracted to Emperors' Palace - Lighting tech & Follow Spotter
• Richard Lorings' Sound Stage - Stage mgr | Board operator | Follow Spotter

• Worked as a Customer Manager (Sales & Customer Service) for Barlow World Renault.

• Worked as a Lighting Specialist/Technician for Showtime Management on the production of 'Chicago the Musical'.

• Started working on live theatre shows at the age of 15 in a small dinner theatre called 'The Sound Stage' in Midrand, which led to an 11 year journey in the live entertainment industry
• I specialized in lighting and worked my way through the ranks, beginning as a follow spotter and eventually being appointed Deputy Head of lighting on the hit broadway musical 'The Lion King'.

Acting Operations manager during tenure as UAT manager

• Oversee operations team activities towards achieving company objectives
• Lead, motivate & develop operations team members
• Establish and ensure adherence to critical processes such as UAT, Change control and Release management
• Establish & maintain mobile operator partner relationships
• Facilitate Technical system integration between DMTV and mobile operators
• Ensure in-country & in-house product & support training
• Ensure 2nd line product support in-country
• Develop & manage SLA’s with internal & external stakeholders