Maxwell Pirikisi
Chief Specialist: Business Development, Sales & Distribution
Johannesburg,Gauteng
Summary
Seasoned, versatile, and respected Corporate Executive with strong pan-African experience. Brings a wealth of global expertise in business leadership to the table. Consummate Pan-Africanist professional with a multi-skilled background and extensive travel experience. Unique perspective on navigating diverse business landscapes. Proven track record of driving success and fostering growth in challenging environments. Dedicated professional prepared to bring extensive expertise and results-oriented approach to Specialist role. Known for effectively managing tasks and supporting organizational goals through collaborative efforts and adaptive strategies. Recognized for excellent communication and analytical skills, ensuring seamless operations and consistent outcomes. Experienced leader with strong background in guiding teams, managing complex projects, and achieving strategic objectives. Excels in developing efficient processes, ensuring high standards, and aligning efforts with organizational goals. Known for collaborative approach and commitment to excellence.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
12
12
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Chief Specialist: Business Development, Sales & Distribution, Insurance & Asset Management
Standard Bank Group Ltd.
07.2024 - Current
- Seconded by Standard Bank Group LTD., to Nairobi, Kenya, to develop, build, enhance, and fast-track the cross-collaboration between Stanbic Bank Kenya, Liberty Life Kenya, and Heritage Insurance Kenya (all of which are Members of the Standard Bank Group LTD. SA.), to increase cross-selling primarily through new business acquisitions, across Life, Health & General Insurance, while maximising overall growth opportunities across the East African growth vector.
Chief Specialist: Business Development, Sales & Distribution
Liberty Health Ltd.
09.2022 - Current
- Sales Mastery: Utilize in-depth industry knowledge to drive sales, continually adapting to market trends and customer needs. Execute and refine sales processes to maximize results.
- Strategic Leadership: Lead and manage teams, shaping the growth strategy and direction of the company. Initiate change initiatives, evaluate business metrics, and drive teams in alignment with business strategies.
- Customer-Centric Approach: Build and nurture customer relationships, support C-Level Executives, and deliver win-win agreements. Precisely interpret, review, and leverage market dynamics and competitor landscapes.
- Business Growth: Build a pan-African Business Development, Sales & Distribution strategy for Liberty Health to grow the business in the current 27 markets and beyond.
- Improved operational efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing best practices.
- Understood business strategy and lined up strategic [Type] plan to achieve business goals.
- Generated robust revenue growth by executing targeted marketing campaigns designed to increase brand awareness among target audiences.
- Conducted thorough analysis of company performance metrics, identifying areas for improvement and implementing targeted solutions.
- Managed financial resources prudently, ensuring fiscal responsibility and cost optimization.
- Championed process improvement initiatives, resulting in enhanced workflow efficiency across departments.
- Established strong relationships with key stakeholders, promoting collaboration and effective communication.
- Ensured compliance with all relevant industry regulations, mitigating potential legal risks while maintaining a strong reputation in the field.
- Delivered significant cost savings through diligent negotiations with vendors and careful resource allocation.
- Evaluated market trends to identify new business opportunities, driving expansion into untapped markets.
- Negotiated favorable contracts with suppliers, securing advantageous terms for the organization''s long-term success.
- Led cross-functional teams to achieve project objectives on time and within budget constraints.
- Demonstrated critical thinking, self-motivation and leadership talents in ambiguous spaces with little or no supervision to consistently achieve objectives.
- Spearheaded major organizational change initiatives, leading to increased agility and responsiveness in a dynamic marketplace.
- Fostered a culture of innovation by encouraging creativity and supporting novel ideas from team members.
- Implemented comprehensive risk management strategies to minimize potential threats and ensure business continuity.
- Liaised between customers, partners, service engineering teams and support as expert technical resource.
- Developed strategic plans for business growth, resulting in increased market share and profitability.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by implementing innovative solutions and addressing concerns proactively.
- Optimized customer experience by delivering superior services and effectively troubleshooting issues.
- Helped meet changing demands by recommending improvements to business systems or procedures.
Divisional Director: Group Stakeholder Engagement
Liberty Holdings Limited
02.2012 - 08.2022
- To build a fully functional pan-African Business Development, Sales & Distribution strategy for Liberty Health.
- To position the business as an effective, leading and purposeful brand in South Africa and other markets within the spirit of high morality, sound ethics, good governance and good corporate citizenship.
- To build and activate a global best-practice Reputation Management Framework (including maintenance and recovery systems, processes, as well as measurement and management tools).
- To develop, manage, nurture, and leverage strategic and effective relationships with key stakeholders in South Africa and other African markets where Liberty and parent company Standard Bank Group Ltd operate.
General Manager & Head of Group Reputation
Absa Group Limited & Barclays Africa Group Limited
06.2009 - 01.2012
- To position the Group as a responsible and highly ethical pan-African and global institution that practically and proactively contributes to the socio-economic development, growth, and prosperity of communities in which it operates, whilst building a sustainable brand that appeals to all key stakeholders.
- Enable, manage, and guide the following strategic business units to ensure effective delivery on their overall business objectives in line with Group Strategy while enhancing and protecting reputable brand equity.
Head: Media & Public Relations (Group Spokesperson)
Absa Africa and Barclays Africa & Indian Ocean Islands
12.2006 - 05.2009
- To support the Business in telling a consistent and coherent Barclays Africa & Indian Ocean (BA & IO) and Absa Africa story, as expressed in the organisational vision, which was, 'To become the leading contributor to Africa's future and the pre-eminent bank in Africa', to relevant Pan African and global audiences.
Account Executive: Group Support Functions (GSFS): Absa Group Corporate Communications
Absa Group Limited
08.2005 - 12.2006
- Managing all stakeholder marketing & communication (internal, external - government, media, public, customer & investor relations) around the overall Absa & Barclays deal.
Executive: Brand Marketing, Corporate & Public Affairs
National Bank of Commerce (NBC) Limited
04.2000 - 07.2005
- Company Overview: a subsidiary of Absa Group Limited, in Tanzania
- Setting up and managing the bank's Brand Marketing, Corporate & Public Affairs, Communications, Media Relations, Stakeholder Engagement and Government Relations.
- A subsidiary of Absa Group Limited, in Tanzania
Senior Manager: Group Media Relations
Absa Group Limited
09.1997 - 03.2000
- Specific focus on developing/ building and managing relationships between the Absa Group Executive Committee Members and media owners, senior editors, Economics Writers, and other financial journalists.
Education
MASTER OF ARTS IN CREATIVE BRAND LEADERSHIP -
VEGA SCHOOL OF BRANDING, INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION
01.2022 - Current
ETHICS OFFICER CERTIFICATION - undefined
UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH & THE ETHICS INSTITUTE
01.2020 - 01.2021
BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA) HONS. - STRATEGIC BRAND COMMUNICATION
VEGA SCHOOL OF BRANDING, INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION
01.2020 - 01.2021
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES - undefined
UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH
01.2020 - 01.2021
INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - undefined
GORDON INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS SCIENCE (GIBS)
01.2009 - 01.2010
POST GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN ADVANCED JOURNALISM - undefined
INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF JOURNALISM
01.2006 - 01.2007
EXECUTIVE MBA - MARKETING MANAGEMENT
BUSINESS SCHOOL NETHERLANDS
01.2002 - 01.2003
EXCUTIVE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME - undefined
BUSINESS SCHOOL NETHERLANDS
01.2002 - 01.2003
WRITING FOR THE PRESS CERTIFICATE COURSE - undefined
JENNY HUNTER BLAIR COMMUNICATIONS
01.1997 - 01.1998
Skills
Business Development, Sales & Distribution;
Board Memberships
- African Leadership Academy (ALA) Student Enterprise Programme (SEP), 01/01/14, 12/31/18
- South African Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SACCI) Council, 01/01/14, 12/31/22
- Institute for Stakeholder Relations, Southern Africa (iSRSA), 01/01/18, 12/31/23
- Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), 01/01/12, 12/31/22
- South Africa-Nigeria Business Chamber (SA-NBC), 01/01/15, 12/31/23
Contacts
+27 82 823 1353, +27 74 823 1353, mpirikisi@hotmail.co.za, https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwell-pirikisi-b35a521/
Personal Information
- ID Number: 6907025336082
- Nationality: South African
Timeline
Chief Specialist: Business Development, Sales & Distribution, Insurance & Asset Management
Standard Bank Group Ltd.
07.2024 - Current
Chief Specialist: Business Development, Sales & Distribution
Liberty Health Ltd.
09.2022 - Current
MASTER OF ARTS IN CREATIVE BRAND LEADERSHIP -
VEGA SCHOOL OF BRANDING, INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION
01.2022 - Current
ETHICS OFFICER CERTIFICATION - undefined
UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH & THE ETHICS INSTITUTE
01.2020 - 01.2021
BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA) HONS. - STRATEGIC BRAND COMMUNICATION
VEGA SCHOOL OF BRANDING, INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION
01.2020 - 01.2021
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES - undefined
UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH
01.2020 - 01.2021
Divisional Director: Group Stakeholder Engagement
Liberty Holdings Limited
02.2012 - 08.2022
General Manager & Head of Group Reputation
Absa Group Limited & Barclays Africa Group Limited
06.2009 - 01.2012
INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - undefined
GORDON INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS SCIENCE (GIBS)
01.2009 - 01.2010
Head: Media & Public Relations (Group Spokesperson)
Absa Africa and Barclays Africa & Indian Ocean Islands
12.2006 - 05.2009
POST GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN ADVANCED JOURNALISM - undefined
INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF JOURNALISM
01.2006 - 01.2007
Account Executive: Group Support Functions (GSFS): Absa Group Corporate Communications
Absa Group Limited
08.2005 - 12.2006
EXECUTIVE MBA - MARKETING MANAGEMENT
BUSINESS SCHOOL NETHERLANDS
01.2002 - 01.2003
EXCUTIVE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME - undefined
BUSINESS SCHOOL NETHERLANDS
01.2002 - 01.2003
Executive: Brand Marketing, Corporate & Public Affairs
National Bank of Commerce (NBC) Limited
04.2000 - 07.2005
Senior Manager: Group Media Relations
Absa Group Limited
09.1997 - 03.2000
WRITING FOR THE PRESS CERTIFICATE COURSE - undefined
JENNY HUNTER BLAIR COMMUNICATIONS
01.1997 - 01.1998
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