Wilhelm Mc Cabe
COO
Summary
Experienced Telecommunications Executive with 20+ years of success leading multi-national telecom infrastructure projects. Expert in fibre optics, GSM, and microwave network deployments across Africa. Adept at executive leadership, operational strategy, and delivering projects on time and within budget
Knowledgeable COO with proven track record in operational leadership and strategic planning. Successfully implemented process improvements, leading to enhanced organizational efficiency and growth. Demonstrated expertise in team management and resource allocation.
Experienced executive skilled in strategic planning, operational efficiency, and driving growth. Expertise in optimizing business processes, leading cross-functional teams, and implementing innovative solutions. Strong focus on collaboration and adaptability to meet evolving business needs. Known for leadership, problem-solving, and delivering measurable results.
Knowledgeable COO with proven track record in operational leadership and strategic planning. Successfully implemented process improvements, leading to enhanced organizational efficiency and growth. Demonstrated expertise in team management and resource allocation.
Companies Experience:
MTN
Vodacom
DFA
Ericsson
Huawei
ZTE
Countries Work Experiences
South Africa
Kenya
Uganda
Tanzania
Mozambique
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Namibia
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
COO (Chief Operational Officer)
Bara Telecommunication Networks
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
03.2013 - Current
- Lead and oversee all company operations across multiple African countries, ensuring strategic alignment, operational efficiency, and financial sustainability.
- Provide executive leadership in planning, directing, and coordinating all technical and administrative functions of the organization.
- Manage large-scale telecommunications infrastructure projects, including fibre optic, microwave, GSM, and civil works across diverse regions.
- Supervise country managers and regional teams to ensure consistent execution of company goals, KPIs, and service delivery standards.
- Develop and implement corporate policies, operational procedures, and compliance frameworks in line with global telecom standards.
- Oversee budget preparation, cost control, resource planning, and financial reporting for multiple concurrent projects across Africa.
- Maintain and build relationships with key stakeholders including government officials, telecom operators, vendors, and international clients.
- Identify new business opportunities and expand Bara Telecoms' footprint through strategic partnerships and joint ventures.
- Ensure all project deliverables meet quality, safety, and timeline requirements, while proactively mitigating risks and managing escalations.
- Lead contract negotiations, procurement strategies, and logistics coordination to support turnkey project execution.
- Drive innovation by implementing new technologies and process improvements to enhance organizational performance and scalability.
- Represent the company in high-level meetings, industry events, and regional forums, acting as the face of the business across the continent.
- Spearheaded the development and implementation of operational strategies, enhancing overall efficiency across multiple departments.
- Directed cross-functional teams to streamline processes, resulting in improved productivity and reduced operational delays.
- Established key performance indicators to monitor service delivery, facilitating data-driven decision-making and operational excellence.
- Oversaw the integration of advanced telecommunications systems, optimizing resource allocation and enhancing service quality for clients.
- Cultivated a culture of continuous improvement through training and mentoring programs, increasing employee engagement and performance.
- Collaborated with executive leadership to align operational objectives with corporate strategy, driving organizational growth and profitability.
- Spearheaded the implementation of operational strategies that enhanced efficiency across multiple departments, driving overall business growth.
- Directed cross-functional teams in the execution of process improvements, significantly reducing operational bottlenecks and increasing productivity.
- Developed key performance indicators to monitor operational effectiveness, resulting in enhanced decision-making and strategic planning.
- Led initiatives focused on optimizing supply chain management, which streamlined operations and improved service delivery timelines.
National Long Haul Distance Fibre Optic Project Manager
Nokia Siemens Networks
Bloemfontein, South Africa
03.2010 - 02.2012
- Manage projects to achieve defined objectives of scope, quality, time and cost.
- Manage and coordinate multiple projects simultaneously. Supervise contractors, consultants and vendor resources effectively.
- Maintain accurate records of project resources hours and materials used.
- Chair Project Planning Meetings (PPM's) and ensure that all relevant information forthcoming from such meetings is accurately recorded and actioned.
- Schedule projects internally, making sure that adequate and correct resources are assigned.
- Develop and maintain project schedules and financial budget for assigned projects.
- Establishes, in accordance with the Divisional Manager, procedures and policies as well the enforcement thereof.
- Obtain commitments and schedule the projects accordingly.
- Anticipate and catch deviations from a plan or schedule early and keep all participants and stakeholders informed.
- Ensure that all responsibilities are clearly communicated, from requirements gathering to developing a solid quality action plan.
- Has direct responsibility in ensuring that the project teams are fully prepared for installations.
- Interface with outsource teams, vendors, technicians and clients to coordinate on-site installation work.
- Ensure that all equipment delivered to site is correct and in accordance with the bill of quantities and arrange for secure storing of equipment.
- Understands and follows administrative procedures when delivering or collecting equipment to and from clients, stores, vendors etc.
- Verify and ensure that installation schematics are accurate and in accordance with BOQ and FD's.
- Present progress reports to the Manager and escalates any project delays timorously.
- Provide feedback to Manager regarding teamwork performance.
- Maintain accurate documentation and project files for each project.
- Reporting job status to internal team members.
- Communicate with clients regarding the details and the scope of work, timeline, schedules etc.
- Manage risks throughout the project by identifying, communication, tracking and mitigating. Manage dependencies and milestones.
- Establish and maintain program budgets.
- (South Africa)
- Led cross-functional teams to successfully implement national fibre optic projects, enhancing network reliability and efficiency.
- Developed and managed project timelines and budgets, ensuring on-time delivery and adherence to financial constraints.
- Coordinated with stakeholders to gather requirements and align project goals, fostering collaboration across multiple departments.
- Utilized project management tools to track progress and report outcomes, driving continuous improvement in project execution.Ca
Country Manager for Uganda
Baran Telecoms Networks
Uganda
03.2009 - 01.2010
- Manager for BTN
- Project Manager
- Operational Manager
- Project Development scope
- Monitor and control work
- Generate, Update, manage and report all Project cost, Incl. Budgeting and forecasting
- Generate Maintain manage and report on Project Risk
- Responsible for utmost focus on company's customers and in maintaining the best possible relations
- Responsible for the successful execution and control of projects
- Good Customer Relationship
- (HQ in Germany)
- Spearheaded market entry strategies that established a robust presence in the Ugandan telecommunications sector, driving brand recognition.
- Developed and implemented operational frameworks that enhanced service delivery efficiency, resulting in improved customer satisfaction.
- Led cross-functional teams to execute strategic initiatives, fostering collaboration and achieving project milestones ahead of schedule.
- Analyzed market trends and competitive landscapes to inform product development, aligning offerings with customer needs and preferences.
General Manager over East Africa region
Holistic Manufacturing
Africa
03.2007 - 01.2009
- Manage projects to achieve defined objectives of scope, quality, time and cost.
- Manage and coordinate multiple projects simultaneously. Supervise contractors, consultants and vendor resources effectively.
- Maintain accurate records of project resources hours and materials used.
- Chair Project Planning Meetings (PPM's) and ensure that all relevant information forthcoming from such meetings is accurately recorded and actioned.
- Schedule projects internally, making sure that adequate and correct resources are assigned.
- Develop and maintain project schedules and financial budget for assigned projects.
- Establishes, in accordance with the Divisional Manager, procedures and policies as well the enforcement thereof.
- Obtain commitments and schedule the projects accordingly.
- Anticipate and catch deviations from a plan or schedule early and keep all participants and stakeholders informed.
- Ensure that all responsibilities are clearly communicated, from requirements gathering to developing a solid quality action plan.
- Has direct responsibility in ensuring that the project teams are fully prepared for installations.
- Create and communicate realistic project schedules with input from technology and business partners.
- Interface with outsource teams, vendors, technicians and clients to coordinate on-site installation work.
- Ensure that all equipment delivered to site is correct and in accordance with the bill of quantities and arrange for secure storing of equipment.
- Understands and follows administrative procedures when delivering or collecting equipment to and from clients, stores, vendors etc.
- Perform on-site visits meeting with clients to ensure project are being installed according to approved schematics.
- Verify and ensure that installation schematics are accurate and in accordance with BOQ and FD's.
- Present progress reports to the Manager and escalates any project delays timorously.
- Provide feedback to Manager regarding teamwork performance.
- Maintain accurate documentation and project files for each project.
- Attends all pre-installation site visits.
- Reporting job status to internal team members.
- Communicate with clients regarding the details and the scope of work, timeline, schedules etc.
- Manage risks throughout the project by identifying, communication, tracking and mitigating. Manage dependencies and milestones.
- Work outside of normal office hours and week-ends from time-to-time.
- Establish and maintain program budgets.
- Manage and resolve issues effectively / identify and mitigates risk proactively.
- Projects Curried Out: Senegal West Africa: 200 Installation and commissioning of NSN GSM sites for Siemens.
- Mauritius: 40x sites Installation and commissioning of GSM Sites for NSN.
- Malawi: Installation of MSC Site for NSN.
- Zambia: Installation of BSC Site for NSN.
- Tanzania: Installation of MSC Site for Huawei, Construction of 100 full turnkey civil sites for Huawei, Installation and Commissioning of 200 equipment sites in Tanzania for Huawei, Civil Clean-up Sites on Vodacom sites.
- Kenya: Optic Fiber Project in Nairobi, BTS Swaps from NSN to Huawei in Kenya 80 sites.
- Uganda: 150 Civil Cleanup sites for Alcatel, 40 Microwave Project for Backbone sites.
- Directed regional operations, optimizing supply chain efficiency and enhancing production capabilities across East Africa.
- Spearheaded strategic initiatives that aligned manufacturing processes with market demands, resulting in improved product delivery timelines.
- Implemented performance metrics that drove accountability and enhanced team productivity, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
- Cultivated partnerships with local stakeholders, enhancing operational support and ensuring compliance with regional regulations.
Deployment Engineer, Junior Project Manager
Datacentrix
Midrand, South Africa
03.2004 - 01.2007
- Hp Printer Specialist.
- Deploying HP & IBM Desktops.
- Deploying, Installing and Configuring of HP, IBM and Blade Server Racks.
- Installing and Configuring of Servers.
- Junior Project Manager.
- Project Coordinating.
- Maintaining of Clients Servers, and Computers.
- Senior Support Engineer.
- Novell to MS Server 2003 Migration.
- Upgrade MS Server 2003 SP1 to R2.
- Upgrade Exchange 2003.
- Based on the provided details for the role of Deployment Engineer and Junior Project Manager, here are eight resume experience statements:
- Streamlined deployment processes by implementing automation tools, resulting in decreased project timelines and improved efficiency.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to ensure successful project delivery, enhancing communication and collaboration across departments.
- Led system upgrades and migrations, minimizing downtime and ensuring seamless transitions for end-users.
Education
Higher Certificate - Business Management NQF 5
Damelin
Centurion, South Africa 04.2001 -
Diploma - Advanced Project Management
Damelin Computer College
Pretoria, South Africa01.2006
Diploma - MCSE 2000
Damelin Computer College
Pretoria, South Africa01.2000
Matriculated - Afrikaans, English, Maths, Technical Drawing, Motor Mechanics, Science
HTS Tom Naude
Polokwane01.1998
Skills
Telecom Infrastructure Deployment
Fibre Optic & GSM Networks
Project & Operational Leadership
Strategic Planning & Budgeting
Multi-country Team Supervision
Vendor & Stakeholder Management
Contract Negotiation & Risk Mitigation
Operational efficiency
Strategic planning
Project management
Telecommunications infrastructure
Budget preparation
Stakeholder engagement
Risk management
Team leadership
Process improvement
Contract negotiation
Resource allocation
Performance metrics
Quality assurance
Workforce planning
Organizational development
Management
Planning and execution
Problem-solving abilities
Planning and coordination
Account management
Client engagement
Additional Information
MTN
Vodacom
Cell C
DFA
Huawei
ZTE
Timeline
COO (Chief Operational Officer)
Bara Telecommunication Networks
03.2013 - Current
National Long Haul Distance Fibre Optic Project Manager
Nokia Siemens Networks
03.2010 - 02.2012
Country Manager for Uganda
Baran Telecoms Networks
03.2009 - 01.2010
General Manager over East Africa region
Holistic Manufacturing
03.2007 - 01.2009
Deployment Engineer, Junior Project Manager
Datacentrix
03.2004 - 01.2007
Higher Certificate - Business Management NQF 5
Damelin
04.2001 -
Matriculated - Afrikaans, English, Maths, Technical Drawing, Motor Mechanics, Science
HTS Tom Naude
Diploma - Advanced Project Management
Damelin Computer College
Diploma - MCSE 2000
Damelin Computer College
Languages
Afrikaans
English
Summary Of Qualifications - Courses Obtained
- Microsoft Certified System Engineer, Damelin Computer College, 1999-2000, MCSE 2000
- Advanced Project Management, Damelin Computer College, 2006,
- Business Management NQF 5, Damelin 2013
Secondary Education
HTS Tom Naude Polokwane, 1998, Afrikaans, English, Maths, Technical Drawing, Motor Mechanics, Science
Cellular Number
+2782 312 3320
Personal Information
- ID Number: 7912085276086
- Age: 45
- ID Number: 7912085276086
- Date of Birth: 1979-12-08
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: S.A
- Driving License: Code 08EB
- Marital Status: Married
Summary Of Qualifications - Courses Obtained
- Microsoft Certified System Engineer, Damelin Computer College, 1999-2000, MCSE 2000
- Advanced Project Management, Damelin Computer College, 2006,
- Business Management NQF 5, Damelin 2013
Secondary Education
HTS Tom Naude Polokwane, 1998, Afrikaans, English, Maths, Technical Drawing, Motor Mechanics, Science
Cellular Number
+2782 312 3320