Hands-on expertise, without the full-time overhead
I work as a hands-on consultant to start-ups and large corporates alike, stepping into whatever role a business needs, from management and training to strategy facilitation, due diligence and relationship and product development.
Less friction, more results
I've been consulting for the last 5 years and before that spent over a decade in Private Equity, from 1997 to 2008. In that time, I've worked across small start-ups and large corporate clients, taking on roles in management and training, strategy facilitation, due diligence management and relationship and product development.
My approach is to work closely with the business day to day and where it makes sense. Taking away hassle from the business owner to focus on what is important.
- 5 years independent consulting
- Private Equity, 1997–2008
- Start-ups to large corporates
- Train and hand over when ready
A career across the years
Select a role to see more about the work and what it delivered.
Executive
Spring Consulting
Jan 2022 – Present · 4 yrs 10 mos · Cape Town, Western Cape
Founded Spring Consulting to provide advice, guidance and business solutions built on 29 years of insurance industry experience, spanning financial accounting, reinsurance, strategy and business development.
- Facilitated strategic planning for a property holding company
- Co-ordinated a successful due diligence for the buyer of a telecoms business
- Guided a startup insurance underwriting manager on optimal reinsurance terms
- Consulted to Compass Insurance on reinsurance management and trained incoming reinsurance managers
Executive
Spring Consulting
Jan 2022 – Present · 4 yrs 10 mos · Cape Town, Western Cape
Founded Spring Consulting to provide advice, guidance and business solutions built on 29 years of insurance industry experience, spanning financial accounting, reinsurance, strategy and business development.
- Facilitated strategic planning for a property holding company
- Co-ordinated a successful due diligence for the buyer of a telecoms business
- Guided a startup insurance underwriting manager on optimal reinsurance terms
- Consulted to Compass Insurance on reinsurance management and trained incoming reinsurance managers
Compass Insurance Company
Feb 2008 – Dec 2021 · 13 yrs 11 mos · Johannesburg, Gauteng
Chief Underwriting Officer
Feb 2008 – Jul 2010 · 2 yrs 6 mos
Led underwriting at Compass, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannover Reinsurance Africa.
- Secured above-average underwriting results for the company
- Delivered quality reinsurance premium for the Hannover Reinsurance Group
Executive: Reinsurance & IT
Aug 2010 – May 2012 · 1 yr 10 mos
Placed the reinsurance programmes that best protected the company's balance sheet while ensuring its technology infrastructure was sufficient for the business.
- Managed the IT function of the group
- Employer representative on the Hannover Re/Compass Pension and Provident Fund
- Part of the company committee managing the SAM projects
Executive: Reinsurance and Risk
Feb 2012 – Dec 2021 · 9 yrs 11 mos
Prescribed officer responsible for placing reinsurance programmes that best protected the balance sheet and for managing the company's risk environment according to best practice and group guidelines.
- Developed the Risk Management Policy and reported to the Risk Committee of the board
- Planned renewal processes and liaised with reinsurers locally and internationally
- Board-appointed member of the Risk Management and Social & Ethics committees
- Managed facultative reinsurance placement and premium settlements
Senior Portfolio Manager
Lireas Holdings
Feb 1997 – Jan 2008 · 11 yrs · Johannesburg, Gauteng
Senior manager of a majority-owned Private Equity subsidiary of Hannover Reinsurance Africa, operating as a closed venture capital fund and a member of the South African Venture Capital Association.
- Secured above-average investment returns and quality reinsurance premium for the Hannover Reinsurance Group
- Strategic planning for a portfolio of more than 19 companies, including board presentations
- Full board of director responsibility for several Lireas investments
- Chairman of the Group Audit Committee and the Employment Equity Committee
Earlier career, Feb 1984 – Jan 1997
What I help clients with
Practical, strategic support across the areas that keep a business running well.
Strategy Consulting
Facilitating clear strategic direction for growing businesses.
Process Review
Identifying and streamlining what's slowing the business down.
Full Service Financial Function
- Covers:
- Bookkeeping
- Financial preparation
- Management
- Account interpretation
Payroll Processing
Accurate, reliable payroll so you don't have to think about it.
Built for businesses that need strategic expertise and not a full-time hire
I work with small and medium-sized businesses (SMMEs) who need experienced hands-on support but aren't ready for, or don't need, a full-time person in the role. I work with both businesses and individuals, across most sectors, with the deepest experience in insurance, though the fundamentals apply to any business.
Flexible to how you need to work
Engagements can be a fixed project, an ongoing retainer, or a daily rate, whatever fits the problem. I'm based to work remotely and happy to travel to you as needed, preferably locally.
Fixed project
A clearly scoped piece of work with a defined outcome.
Ongoing retainer
Regular, hands-on support as part of your team.
Daily rate
Flexible expertise exactly when you need it.
Selected engagements
Due Diligence for Business Acquisition
Problem
A client needed a trusted partner to manage a full due-diligence process and support a confident, risk-aware purchase decision.
Approach
We designed and executed a comprehensive framework aligned with the buyer's strategic and operational requirements, assessing every aspect of the target business.
Result
The transaction concluded successfully and the acquired business has since been seamlessly integrated into the client's operations.
Strategic Repositioning for a Purpose-Driven Travel Company
Problem
A travel business needed to validate its direction and align product development with conservation and community-impact initiatives.
Approach
Working with management, we clarified the strategic vision, developed budgets and management tools and refined the product suite around market demand and mission.
Result
The business repositioned itself around meaningful, science-based ocean travel with experiences designed to deliver tangible conservation outcomes.
Insurance Product Development for African Market Expansion
Problem
A sports registration business wanted athlete-focused insurance products linked to federation registrations as part of an expansion into Africa.
Approach
We defined the product, worked with an in-country insurer to structure it and refined reinsurance arrangements with an international reinsurer.
Result
The project was shelved after a shift back to core registration activities, but the work established a clear blueprint for future insurance expansion.
Let's talk about what your business needs
Send a short note about where you are and what you need and I'll get back to you.