Samuel Pather
Group Chief Executive Officer
Sandhurst, Sandton,Gauteng Province
Summary
Group Chief Executive Officer leading business growth through strategic planning, business development, and financial controls. Builds partnerships, negotiates supplier terms, and streamlines operations to improve profitability and decision-making. Shapes an inclusive, performance-focused culture that supports expansion across multiple enterprise settings.
Strategic and commercially focused with strong entrepreneurial drive and the ability to operate effectively within complex business environments. Recognised for disciplined decision-making, resilience, relationship building and the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders around significant commercial objectives. Maintains a strong commitment to professional integrity, confidentiality, accountability and the development of sustainable businesses capable of creating long-term stakeholder value.
Overview
47
47
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Group Chief Executive Officer
Rising Petroleum (Pty) Ltd
Sandhurst, Sandton, Gauteng
01.2019 - Current
- Negotiate supplier and vendor contracts to support cost-effective procurement.
- Drive revenue growth through business development initiatives and expanded product offerings.
- Lead high-performing teams to execute corporate objectives and support organisational success.
- Build strategic relationships with industry partners and competitors to advance business objectives and development opportunities.
- Implement financial controls and accurate reporting to strengthen decision-making and accountability.
- Streamline operations and business processes to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase profitability.
- Cultivate an inclusive, performance-oriented culture that supports innovation and forward-thinking leadership.
Chief Executive Officer
African Landmark Properties
Roodepoort, Gauteng
06.2008 - 12.2018
- Drive revenue growth by implementing business strategies and expanding product offerings.
- Managed high-performing teams to execute corporate objectives and strengthen organisational leadership.
- Built productive relationships with industry partners and competitors to support strategic business objectives.
- Cultivated an inclusive, performance-driven culture that supported innovation and company-wide alignment.
- Directed strategic planning and operational strategy to align business development with organisational growth.
- Applied cross-functional leadership to coordinate teams and strengthen execution across business priorities.
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Freight Forwarders
Roodepoort, Gauteng
04.1999 - 03.2008
- Built productive relationships with industry partners and competitors to advance strategic business objectives.
- Established strategic partnerships with industry leaders to expand business development opportunities.
- Cultivated an inclusive, performance-oriented culture that encouraged innovation and steady organisational progress.
- Oversaw major infrastructure upgrades supporting rapid growth while minimizing service disruptions.
- Reviewed department performance with leadership to improve processes, procedures, and practices.
Procurement Officer / Commercial Director
Kohler Flexible Packaging (Pty) Ltd
Pinetown, Kwa-Zulu-Natal
07.1988 - 02.1999
Directed procurement and commercial activities to align purchasing decisions with operational requirements.
Supported business development efforts by evaluating commercial opportunities and customer requirements.
Reviewed purchasing costs and identified opportunities to improve financial control in sourcing decisions.
Contributed to strategic planning discussions around sourcing priorities and commercial performance.
Monitored supplier performance and raised concerns when delivery or service standards slipped.
Developed purchasing procedures that improved consistency across routine procurement activities.
Assessed procurement options and recommended actions based on cost, availability, and business need.
• Provided operational guidance to support smoother coordination between purchasing and commercial functions.
• Applied commercial judgment to balance supplier relationships with internal purchasing priorities.
Purchasing Officer / Purchasing Specialist
Berger Master Paints & AECI Paints
Pinetown, Kwa-Zulu-Natal
03.1980 - 05.1988
Negotiated supplier terms to support consistent pricing, delivery schedules, and purchasing needs.
Reviewed purchase requests and verified specifications before releasing orders to suppliers.
Monitored stock levels and coordinated replenishment to prevent production delays and shortages.
Coordinated purchasing activities with production and stores teams to align supply needs.
Supported procurement planning by forecasting routine material needs and reviewing buying priorities.
Assessed supplier pricing and delivery performance to inform purchasing decisions and contract renewals.
Reviewed purchasing workflows for practical improvements in approvals, tracking, and supplier communication.
Education
B.Th. Honours - Theology
South African Theological Seminary
South Africa 05.2021 - 07.2024
Skills
Business development
Negotiation
Strategic planning
Strategic visioning
Executive leadership
Organizational leadership
Operational strategy
Business process improvement
Financial management
Cross-functional leadership
Accomplishments
Petroleum Storage & Infrastructure Development
Recognizing the strategic shortage of petroleum storage capacity across the African continent, has championed the development of infrastructure initiatives intended to strengthen petroleum storage, logistics and distribution capabilities.
Leading the strategic planning for large-scale petroleum storage infrastructure in Gauteng (Heidelberg), Kwa-Zulu Natal (Durban and Richards Bay) and a few on the African continent, including evaluation of suitable locations with access to major petroleum pipeline and logistics network.
Provides executive oversight of engagements concerning land acquisition, terminal infrastructure, engineering requirements, storage allocation, logistics integration and regulatory considerations.
RP Energy Fund
Instrumental in co-establishing and developing the strategic vision for the RP Energy Fund, an investment initiative intended to support petroleum supply and the broader storage and energy infrastructure development.
The Fund's strategic rationale arose from Rising Petroleum's experience engaging petroleum companies and government-related stakeholders across Africa, where inadequate storage capacity and infrastructure constraints restrict supply efficiency and the ability of markets to accommodate larger petroleum shipments.
The investment strategy therefore seeks to identify commercially viable infrastructure capable of improving storage capacity, logistics efficiency, security of supply and long-term energy resilience.
Provides strategic oversight of investment opportunities, project evaluation, due diligence, financing discussions and relationships with international professionals and institutional counterparties.
International Business & Strategic Partnerships
Engages with counterparties across multiple jurisdictions and promotes partnerships capable of strengthening Rising Petroleum's access to products, infrastructure, financing and international markets.
Additional Information
Mr. Pather sits on the following corporate boards:
1. Rising Petroleum (Pty) Limited - Executive Director
2. TheTop Property Group (Pty) Limited - Executive Director
3. SPH Group Limited - Executive Director
Mr Pather serves as the Logistics Director on the WJ Mudolo Foundation ( UN Accredited).
He serves as a political advisor to presidential candidate WJ Mudolo.
Mr Pather serves as a Financial Director for the WJM Zambia Development Forum.
He serves on the SADC Chamber of Commerce as Head of the Petroleum and Energy Sector.
He is a dedicated member of his community and is committed to various humanitarian endeavors.
Disclaimer
15th September 2026
Currently employed and not looking for work.
References
1. Mr Willah Joseph Mudolo - Group Chairman
2. Mr Duncan Odour Otieno - Group Co-Chairman / Group Chief Operations Officer
3. Dr/ Pastor Brian Naidoo - Pastor and close Family Friend
Timeline
B.Th. Honours - Theology
South African Theological Seminary
05.2021 - 07.2024
Group Chief Executive Officer
Rising Petroleum (Pty) Ltd
01.2019 - Current
Chief Executive Officer
African Landmark Properties
06.2008 - 12.2018
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Freight Forwarders
04.1999 - 03.2008
Procurement Officer / Commercial Director
Kohler Flexible Packaging (Pty) Ltd
07.1988 - 02.1999
Purchasing Officer / Purchasing Specialist
Berger Master Paints & AECI Paints
03.1980 - 05.1988