WARREN BROWN

Hardworking professional with over twenty-five years’ experience in the financial services industry specializing in trade finance. Exposure to every payment instrument involved in international trade coupled with my educational background enabled me to rapidly climb the ladder at several large Financial Institutions in both operational and sales related positions. Extroverted and extremely results oriented; I have a track record of increasing revenue; reducing risk; and beating financial expectations. I have accomplished this by understanding how to motivate others; networking with individuals; and making sure all stakeholders involved in the value chain are aligned with the company’s goals. Although I have held many leadership roles throughout my career due to my ability to manage and motivate others, that has never been the primary reason I’ve changed jobs. My greatest skill set is partnering with people regardless of their position to make sure the team and company goals are exceeded. I currently offer my services as a trade finance consultant to individuals as well as trade finance houses/banks when they need my expertise and skills to train personnel as well as help them with the structuring of complex international trade deals. Having been an independently contracted consultant for the past 13 years, I would like to become part of an organization where I can be a team player that provides immense value not only to the bottom line, but also through transfer of knowledge.

• Nedbank Ltd Corporate Banking:
• Appointed to lead the Global Transactional Trade Sales/Relationship Team within Nedbank Corporate Banking with the goal of transforming and improving the team’s performance.
• The revenue derived from global trade within Nedbank Corporate Banking grew by 47 percent in the first two years - exceeding original set targets by over 20 percent.
• The team received seven individual and team encore performance awards from 2007 to 2011.
• I received Nedbank Corporate Encore Achiever Awards in 2007 and 2008.
• Nominated for, and successfully completed, the prestigious Nedbank Senior Management Programme in 2009 facilitated through GIBS/University of Pretoria.
• I successfully had an Auditing Division/Unit RED Flag finding to prohibit discounting Documentary Credits. This was achieved by soliciting a world-renowned Trade Finance Author and expert witness in trade finance court cases at a cost of three hundred times lower than the revenue that would have been lost if Nedbank were to close the business unit responsible for discounting the deals.
• In 2010, I successfully persuaded two of the largest car manufacturers in Germany to give Nedbank another opportunity to quote on FX deals exceeding R600 Million. These were the first FX deals concluded through Nedbank by these companies in over six years and resulted in a further +/-R2 billion Rand in FX turnover in 2011.
• I successfully formulated and implemented a new risk management process for cross currency swaps involving Non-Nedbank Corporate and Multi-National clients during the financial crisis, from 2008 to 2010. This ensured that Nedbank incurred no financial losses related to swaps over that period.
• Won several high-profile client accounts and individual deals as Point Man, including a single deal yielding R2 million economic profit.
• Designed and implemented several new processes and documentation increasing efficiencies and reducing risk.
• Through negotiations with the Exchange Control and Global Transactional Services Departments, a separate service area was implemented for Nedbank Corporate Banking clients, resulting in improved service levels, turnaround times and customer satisfaction.
• The above examples of achievements are evidenced by a salary growth from R350000 at the time of my appointment to R950000 at the time of my resignation. My discretionary bonuses also grew exponentially during my tenure. Restricted shares were also awarded.

• Nedbank Senior Management Programme; Gordon Institute of Business, 2009.
• Credit Basics; Becoming the Complete Leader; Trade Finance Masterclass; various other Treasury courses.

• Rand Merchant Bank, Product Head; Traditional Trade Finance [February 2013 to May 2013]
• Nedbank Ltd. Corporate Banking; Team Leader (Manager) Global Transactional Sales [December 2006 to June 2011]
• Forex Brief (Pty) Ltd; Foreign Exchange and Trade Finance Consultant [August 2006 to December 2006]
• The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited; International Trade Manager, CIB | Senior Trade Officer [February 1992 to July 2006]

Represented South Africa from 1992-1997

Represented Provincial Teams from 1990-2005

Managed and Coached The Gauteng North Ladies Provincial Team from 1998-2000