Vicus Burger

I am a transformation executive who has successfully led operational and business turnarounds for a solid portfolio of large organisations over the past 28 years. I have recently started my own business and provide advanced analytics, data engineering, and business intelligence development services to multi-billion rand businesses in the financial services and telco sectors. My leadership style enables me to assimilate into new roles quickly, collaborate across functional interfaces to identify improvement opportunities, and unlock business plans and results. I have successfully led extensive integration and enterprise implementation initiatives that provided sustainable acceleration and turnaround results. Substantial savings and PnL benefits that moved total business net profit by
1% to 5% at Smiths Manufacturing, Unilever, SA Breweries, and Reckitt Benckiser. 5% to 10% at Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, and Cell C.

Senior Consultant SR 71 Consulting
Mar 2020 - Present (3 years)
• Fast-tracked Business Intelligence Solutions
• Advanced Analytics and Analytical Problem Solving (Finance and Business functions)
• On-premises and cloud solutions data solutions (AWS, Snowflake, SQL etc.)
• Specialised Deep and Complex Problem Solving
• Software development Contract services to Cellular and Financial services industries
 

Executive Head Product Management Cell C
Aug 2019 - Feb 2020 (7 months)
• Advanced business and product Analytics to optimise and time smart product decisions
 

Executive Head: Strategic Operations & Commercial Projects Cell C
Jan 2017 - Jul 2019 (2 years 7 months)
• Data Science and Simplified Big Data Analysis for Breakthrough Business Decisions and Problem Solving
• Transformation projects (Network and Commercial)
• Big Data / Big Processor Lab built and actively used to drive business INSIGHTS and solve complex business problems.
• Finite element Network modeling with integrated Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Industry-leading roaming model designed and implemented (instrumental leadership role)
 

Managing Executive - Regions Cell C
Jan 2015 - Jan 2017 (2 years 1 month)
• Business Turnaround and accelerated growth in 5 of the six regions across the country.
• Implemented Regional PNLs to drive operational focus and facilitate investment strategies and decisions
• New Customer-centric KPIs introduced, Customer-centric upgrade of various Key customer interface Processes
• Disruptive "out of the box" leadership role to Drive business and Cultural Transformation
 

Manufacturing Director Africa (turnaround project) Reckitt
Feb 2013 - Dec 2014 (1 year 11 months)
• 2 Plants, various co-packers across Africa, 700-1000 employees, 120 Million USD COGS
• Service level improvement lead: improved service levels from 85 to 97% in 4 months
• Warehousing and planning processes overhauled controls whilst maintaining customer service levels above 95%
• New manufacturing operational model (to deliver a 15 - 30% conversion cost reduction
• Margin Mix Analysis Implementation Lead

Manufacturing Director (turnaround project) PepsiCo
Sep 2011 - Jan 2013 (1 year 5 months)
• Resolved chronic capacity constraints of the two manufacturing plants without capital investment
• 21% headcount reduction across two factories.
• Highest ever Q4 volume and reliability drive enabled the business to achieve the best Q4 performance.
• Reduction of workplace injuries by 80% and reduced consumer complaints by 25% in one year
• High-tech manufacturing facility (50 million USD) built under an extremely tight budget and timing constraints.
 

Customer Services & Logistics Director (transformation role) Mondelēz International
Apr 2008 - Sep 2011 (3 years 6 months)
• Budget 220 million ZAR, 220 Employees, Business Size 500M USD
• 4 Sourcing Plants in South Africa, 12 Sourcing Plants Globally, 15,000 Customer Delivery Points, 363 SKUs, 6 Distribution Centres
• Integrated Business & Demand Planning
• Logistics and Warehousing (complete Sub Sahara network)
• Integration of Kraft Foods and Cadbury Supply and Distribution networks (end to end)
• Aggressive productivity pipeline successfully delivered– 15% productivity in 2 years.
 

Plant Manager (turnaround project) Mondelēz International
Aug 2006 - Mar 2008 (1 year 8 months)
• Widely recognised in Mondelez for turning around one of the worst and underperforming plants Globally - 2 Presidents awards received two years in a row.
• 5-year plant strategy to lead the factory's transformation.
• Developed a comprehensive strike BCP plan and managed the plant through a 17-week wage strike.
• During this time, the plant managed to produce 70% of the demand with 315 people on strike and run the plant only with 160 temporary staff. The wealth of learnings from the strike formed a solid basis for restructuring the plant and leading the business turnaround. Awarded Kraft's international Presidents
• Award for the achievements during and after the strike.
• "Spectacular" performance rating for 2007

Business Development Manager Mondelēz International
Nov 2005 - Aug 2006 (10 months)
• Development and Plant Strategic Master Plan, achieving a result that had not been possible in the past.
 

Group Engineering Manager - Maltings The South African Breweries
Apr 2002 - Nov 2005 (3 years 8 months)
• 3-year R110 million plant upgrade program across two plants to boost quality, productivity, and asset life
• Strategy to significantly extend the asset lifespans without capital investment
• 20% energy usage reduction improvements to 12,000 MW refrigeration plant
 

Production Unit Manager - Cape Town Brewery The South African Breweries
Jun 2000 - Mar 2002 (1 year 10 months)
• Management of two high-speed packaging lines (900 bottles/min and 1100 cans/min)
• Implementation of Best Operating Practice (BOPII) – Comprehensive skills-based restructuring
• Developed a highly integrated system of team and individual performance management tools
 

Factory Engineer - Aerosol Factory Unilever
Apr 1999 - Jun 2000 (1 year 3 months)
• Durban Aerosol Factory (Largest Aerosol filling operation in Africa) – Major Hazardous Installation
• Won a national safety competition (NOSA) and achieved the highest local and international status.
• Member of the Global Aerosol Benchmark team. Sessions hosted in Argentina & UK.
 

Assistant Factory Maintenance Engineer - Personal Products Factory Unilever
Sep 1998 - Apr 1999 (8 months)
• Implemented maintenance projects in extremely tight timeframes.
• Developed a batch logging system required by the Medical Control Council.
• Developed a new concept, petroleum jelly packaging line filler.
 

Assistant Factory Projects Manager - Soap Factory Unilever
Dec 1996 - Sep 1998 (1 year 10 months)
• Successful replacement of a large (9m) shell & tube heat exchanger within a highly tight budget & timing constraints.
• Developed World Class system for managing drawing office resources and job Scheduling

Business Development Manager Mondelēz International
Nov 2005 - Aug 2006 (10 months)
• Development and Plant Strategic Master Plan, achieving a result that had not been possible in the past.
 

Group Engineering Manager - Maltings The South African Breweries
Apr 2002 - Nov 2005 (3 years 8 months)
• 3-year R110 million plant upgrade program across two plants to boost quality, productivity, and asset life
• Strategy to significantly extend the asset lifespans without capital investment
• 20% energy usage reduction improvements to 12,000 MW refrigeration plant
 

Production Unit Manager - Cape Town Brewery The South African Breweries
Jun 2000 - Mar 2002 (1 year 10 months)
• Management of two high-speed packaging lines (900 bottles/min and 1100 cans/min)
• Implementation of Best Operating Practice (BOPII) – Comprehensive skills-based restructuring
• Developed a highly integrated system of team and individual performance management tools
 

Factory Engineer - Aerosol Factory Unilever
Apr 1999 - Jun 2000 (1 year 3 months)
• Durban Aerosol Factory (Largest Aerosol filling operation in Africa) – Major Hazardous Installation
• Won a national safety competition (NOSA) and achieved the highest local and international status.
• Member of the Global Aerosol Benchmark team. Sessions hosted in Argentina & UK.
 

Assistant Factory Maintenance Engineer - Personal Products Factory Unilever
Sep 1998 - Apr 1999 (8 months)
• Implemented maintenance projects in extremely tight timeframes.
• Developed a batch logging system required by the Medical Control Council.
• Developed a new concept, petroleum jelly packaging line filler.
 

Assistant Factory Projects Manager - Soap Factory Unilever
Dec 1996 - Sep 1998 (1 year 10 months)
• Successful replacement of a large (9m) shell & tube heat exchanger within a highly tight budget & timing constraints.
• Developed World Class system for managing drawing office resources and job Scheduling

Test Engineer - Automotive Air-conditioner Development Smiths Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd
Sep 1994 - Nov 1996 (2 years 3 months)
• Developed World-Class air-conditioner heat exchanger performance test facility using Visual Basic – 1st in the country.

Junior Engineer
East Rand Proprietary Mines Limited
Jan 1994 - Jun 1994 (6 months)
• Management of an underground production maintenance section

Stellenbosch University/Universiteit Stellenbosch
B. Eng. (Mechanical Engineering), Mechanical Engineering
1990 - 1993
Studied Mechanical Engineering
 

Licenses & Certifications
Data Scientist in R - DataCamp
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt - The South African Breweries