CEO Today Africa Awards

SOUTH AFRICA 63 www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO Today Africa Awards 2018 LINDSAY PETER RALPHS CEO of Bidvest Group FIRM PROFILE A leading South African services, trading and distribution group We operate in the areas of consumer and industrial products, electrical products, financial services, freight management, office and print solutions, outsourced hard and soft services, travel and aviation services and automotive retailing. Listed on the JSE Limited and with roots firmly established in South Africa, we consistently broaden our product offering through organic and acquisitive growth in local as well as select niche international markets. We subscribe to a philosophy of transparency, accountability, integrity, excellence and innovation in all our business dealings. Entrepreneurship, incentivisation, decentralised management and communication are the keys. We turn ordinary companies into extraordinary performers, delivering strong and consistent shareholder returns in the process. Most importantly, we understand that people create wealth, and that companies only report it. Group strategy A strong track record of consistent delivery, returns and growth. Strategy • Focus on growth in seven core divisions via diversification and innovation • Local bolt on acquisitions to continue • Internationalise niches in Services and Commercial Products • Maintain strong cash generation and excellent asset management Business Model • A blend of defensive, cyclical and growth assets • Diversified and asset-light businesses that are strongly cash generative • Dominant positions in each of our markets with broad product offerings • Highly entrepreneurial and decentralised management and operations • Strong record of efficient capital allocation Our Values • Respect • Honesty • Integrity • Accountability ABOUT LINDSAY RALPHS Lindsay was appointed a director of Bidvest on 10 May 1992. He is a director of numerous Bidvest subsidiaries, chairman of the Bidvest operational divisions and chairman of Bidvest Namibia. During his Bidvest career he has been Group operations director, managing director of Bidvest Steiner and was responsible for forming the Bidvest Services division in 1994. In February 2011, Lindsay was appointed CEO of Bidvest South Africa and in May 2016 was appointed chief executive of Bidvest Limited after the unbundling of the Bidvest foodservice division. Lindsay is a non-executive director of Adcock Ingram Holdings. www.bidvest.co.za