Arno Groenewoud
Clover,SC
Summary
Strategic Account Manager and Business Developer with 15 years of experience driving market growth. Expertise in key account management and business development, particularly with Afrikaans-speaking clients. Proven ability in project management, budget oversight, and team leadership, ensuring high standards in customer service and operational efficiency. Committed to fostering strong client relationships and achieving organizational objectives.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant to the Operations Director
Absolute USA Inc
01.2022 - Current
- MAIN FUNCTIONS
- Assisting the Running Operations for the AFRICA and USA Market and overseeing & managing the P.O.s, Expedite, Accounts for Absolute USA and all outsourced operations, inclusive not limited to South Africa or the USA and all outsourced and offsite warehousing and consolidation points.
- Liaise with Clients & Suppliers
- Oversee Identified and evaluated potential suppliers to meet procurement needs. of New Suppliers
- Negotiate with Suppliers/Customers
- Overseeing Cost Sheet Quoting
- Overseeing Purchasing
- Overseeing Coordinated with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of orders.
- Conducting site visits in Africa to Various Customers
- Doing supplier visits for critical delivery
- Growing Client base and securing new mining contracts.
- Managing contracts, staff, and employees at foreign location. Including the UK and Australia
- Oversee and Manage the P.O.s, Expediter & Warehouse
- Ensure that client RFQs are sourced & costed correctly (obtain the right commodity at the best price & delivery according to customers’ requirements).
- Check the cost of sheets of the P.O’s that all information quoted is correct and accurate, ensuring that what we are offering our client is the same as what our suppliers are offering us—then sign off if correct.
- Ensure that the Expediter is expediting effectively and timeously
- Allocate inquiries to the P.O.’s
- Ensured that completed cost sheets were generated within 24 to 48 hours of client requests.
- Processed and executed all client orders on time, ensuring correct goods (quality & qty) were ordered, received by Absolute USA, and delivered to clients or their nominated freight forwarders.
- Check that reports submitted by staff are accurate and on time and forward to information management.
- Liaise with our clients and suppliers.
- Liaise on matters concerning quotes and RFQ’s more information needs to be obtained/clarified
- Accepting Telephonic quotes from clients and processing as per our system procedure.
- Assist on urgent matters ie. get breakdown equipment to site ASAP
- Build relationships with our suppliers ensuring that we receive the best possible service & price and/or receive distribution rights for their products in an effort to maintain competitive advantage.
- Liaise with our clients (purchasing staff and or management) to ensure that we are successfully & correctly servicing their needs.
- Sourcing
- Ensure that we get the right commodity on the RFQ at the best price and delivery as per our customer requirement within the shortest possible time.
- Sourcing of replacement items, checking existing supplier against potentially new suppliers.
- If required by our client, ensure that re-order items are correctly supplied by CTA/Absolute USA (i.e. the same as previously supplied by CTA-quality, brand, make etc.)
- Sourcing of new suppliers
- Constantly searching for new and better suppliers to enable CTA to offer a better-quality product, price, and delivery.
- Create new supplier (creditor) codes on our system and maintain an up-to-date supplier database (including supplier e-mail addresses)
- Manage and distribute supplier prices to POs and sales staff.
- Negotiate with suppliers
- Negotiate with suppliers on all matters i.e. Pricing, discounts, increases, availability, quality etc.
- Where possible arrange with suppliers to be distributors for them in areas like Tanzania, Ghana, and Mali etc.
- Cost Sheet Quoting
- Ensure that all inventory items are coded and loaded onto the system
- Purchase the commodities strictly in accordance with the accordance with the supplier’s orders ensuring that they are delivered within the period of time quoted in our cost sheet or sooner if possible and if our client requires it sooner.
- Purchasing locally, nationally and internationally including followed up, coordinating & Expediting.
- Updating the relevant client order status reports with accurate information on “Real Time”
- Constantly access & Interpret the Client’s orders COD list and Arrange with accounts department for funds to be allocated to purchase COD orders.
- Expediting
- Expedite orders that are urgently required should the expeditor need assistance.
- Ensure that expediting is executed within the time frame quoted to our clients.
- Liaising with the Warehouse supervisor
- Liaise with warehouse concerning collections, deliveries and returns so that clients' orders are carried out as required by our clients. (i.e., Ensure that delivery deadlines/ Cut-offs are met)
- Confirming goods received /assisted with stores to determine correct product quality/qty has been received
- Handling of queries
- Handle client/customer queries in a friendly and polite manner.
- Handling all client/customer queries on stock issues
- Handling of all supplier queries concerning price and quotes.
- Handling of queries on wrong goods received from suppliers and/or sent to our clients.
- Supported overall operations and efficiency by managing various tasks as needed.
- As purchasing manager for Absolute Africa South Africa I am required to ensure that the entire purchasing function (sourcing, quoting, ordering and delivery of client orders) is carried out correctly & efficiently in order to achieve sound customer satisfaction. Rolled out a new ERP system and managed the developers.
- Run errands for clients as and when required Archive & backups, for our ERP system
- Database management and maintenance
- Ensure that all work carried out and data captured is correct and checked.
Assistant to the Operations Director
Absolute Africa, Absolute USA
10.2015 - 12.2021
- MAIN FUNCTIONS
- Assisting the Running Operations for the AFRICA and USA Offices and Oversee & Manage the P.O’s, Expedite, Accounts for the Group Department and Warehouse.
- Facilitated communication with clients and suppliers to ensure smooth operations.
- Oversee Researched and evaluated supplier options for procurement. of New Suppliers
- Negotiate with Suppliers/Customers
- Overseeing Cost Sheet Quoting
- Overseeing Purchasing
- Overseeing Coordinated expedited shipping processes to ensure timely delivery of orders.
- Liaising with the Warehouse Supervisor
- Handling of Queries
- Conducting site visits in Africa to Various Customers
- Doing supplier visits for critical delivery
- Growing Client base and securing new mining contracts.
- Oversee and Manage the P.O.s, Expediter & Warehouse
- Ensure that client RFQs are sourced & costed correctly (obtain the right commodity at the best price & delivery according to customers’ requirements).
- Check the cost of sheets of the P.O’s that all information quoted is correct and accurate, ensuring that what we are offering our client is the same as what our suppliers are offering us—then sign off if correct.
- Ensure that the Expediter is expediting effectively and timeously
- Allocate enquiries to the P.O’s
- Produced cost sheets for clients within a 24 to 48-hour timeframe.
- Ensure that all client orders are processed and executed on time and that the correct goods (quality & qty) are ordered, received by Absolute USA and delivered to our clients (or their nominated freight forwarder)
- Check that reports submitted by staff are accurate and on time and forward to information management.
- Liaise with our clients and suppliers
- Liaise on matters concerning quotes and RFQ’s more information needs to be obtained/clarified
- Accepting Telephonic quotes from clients and processing as per our system procedure.
- Assist on urgent matters ie. get breakdown equipment to site ASAP
- Cultivated relationships with suppliers to secure optimal service and pricing, supporting competitive advantage through potential distribution rights.
- Liaise with our clients (purchasing staff and or management) to ensure that we are successfully & correctly servicing their needs.
- Ensure that we get the right commodity on the RFQ at the best price and delivery as per our customer requirement within the shortest possible time.
- Sourcing of replacement items, checking existing supplier against potentially new suppliers.
- If required by our client, ensure that re-order items are correctly supplied by CTA/Absolute USA (i.e. the same as previously supplied by CTA-quality, brand, make etc.)
- Sourcing of new suppliers
- Constantly searching for new and better suppliers to enable CTA to offer a better-quality product, price, and delivery.
- Create new supplier (creditor) codes on our system and maintain an up-to-date supplier database (including supplier e-mail addresses)
- Manage and distribute supplier prices to POs and sales staff.
- Negotiate with suppliers
- Negotiate with suppliers on all matters i.e. Pricing, discounts, increases, availability, quality etc.
- Where possible arrange with suppliers to be distributors for them in areas like Tanzania, Ghana, and Mali etc.
- Cost Sheet Quoting
- Ensure that all inventory items are coded and loaded onto the system
- Purchase the commodities strictly in accordance with the accordance with the supplier’s orders ensuring that they are delivered within the period of time quoted in our cost sheet or sooner if possible and if our client requires it sooner.
- Purchasing locally, nationally and internationally including followed up, coordinating & Expediting.
- Updating the relevant client order status reports with accurate information on “Real Time”
- Constantly access & Interpret the Client’s orders COD list and Arrange with accounts department for funds to be allocated to purchase COD orders.
- Expediting
- Expedite orders that are urgently required should the expeditor need assistance.
- Ensure that expediting is executed within the time frame quoted to our clients.
- Liaising with the Warehouse supervisor
- Liaise with warehouse concerning collections, deliveries and returns so that clients orders are carried out as required by our clients. (ie. Ensure that delivery deadlines/ Cut-offs are met)
- Confirming goods received /assisted with stores to determine correct product quality/qty has been received
- Handling of queries
- Resolved client and customer queries promptly and courteously, enhancing client satisfaction.
- Handling of all client/customer queries on stock issues
- Handling of all supplier queries concerning price and quotes.
- Handling of queries on wrong goods received from suppliers and/or sent to our clients.
- Oversaw purchasing processes to ensure customer satisfaction.
- As purchasing manager for Absolute Africa South-Africa I am required to ensure that the entire purchasing function (sourcing, quoting, ordering and delivery of client orders) is carried out correctly & efficiently in order to achieve sound customer satisfaction. Rolled out a new ERP system and managed the developers.
- Run errands for clients as and when required Archive & backups, for our ERP system
- Database management and maintenance
- Ensure that all work carried out and data captured is correct and checked.
Regional Manager Tigerbrands Field Sales
Smollan Group South Africa
10.2005 - 09.2015
- Responsibilities
- Performed various human resources tasks to support company operations.
- Training and development of all staff from B Band to C Upper.
- Facilitate succession planning and development of candidates.
- Recruitment of all staff and appointment of all new staff.
- Ensured adherence to company disciplinary codes.
- Conducted of relevant training of new and current staff.
- Management of BEE Target set out by company.
- Manage all disciplinary hearings and charging of cases.
- Adhere to all staff welfare.
- Facilitated staff development initiatives.
- Managed staff performance through monthly scorecards.
- Management of a Executed sales strategies to drive revenue growth. force of 429 staff members
- Cycle meetings with staff on a monthly basis.
- Manages personnel and develops sales and sales support staff.
- Reviews progress of sales roles throughout the company.
- Oversaw financial budget allocation.
- Managing expense budget yearly.
- Maintaining budget monthly to achieve goal.
- Manage profit and loss on budget.
- Control all expenses.
- Manage daily expenses to be in line with budget.
- Tracked budget monthly and explained variances.
- Managing and signing off daily, weekly and monthly expenses:
- Travel expense of Managers.
- Cycle meetings for Managers.
- Repair & Maintenance on laptop, mobile phone, company vehicle.
- Managed procurement and distribution of new staff uniforms.
- Internal and External training.
- Oversaw promotional campaigns to enhance product visibility.al implementation expenses.
- Sales
- Interprets short and long-term effects on sales strategies in operating profit.
- Educates sales team by establishing programs/seminars in the areas of new account sales and growth, sales of emerging products and multi-product sales
- Profitability, improved presentation strategies, competitive strategies, proper use and level of sales support, management of expenses and business.
- Provides quarterly results assessments of sales staff productivity.
- Coordinates proper company resources to ensure efficient and stable sales results.
- Monthly review with Customer.
- Management and control budgets for sales promotion and trade show expenses.
- Manages personnel and develops sales and sales support staff.
- Reviews progress of sales roles throughout the company.
- Maintaining high standard customer relationship with retail store and buyers from different buying groups.
- Managing and maintaining the relationship between the company and the customer.
- Present to client monthly scorecard:
- Sales UP/Down tracking.
- Sales forecast monthly.
- Promotion activities and achievements of targets.
- Listing of new innovations to the different buying groups.
- In-store activation of promotion and achievements.
- Credit note target versus achievements.
- Communication of sales target to field staff.
- To ensure sales increase in volume in stores.
- Forecast Sales volume.
- Driving stock pressure.
- Development of alternative strategies to increase sales.
- Weekly meetings with Buyer to increase sales, new listings of products.
- Weekly meetings with Sales team.
- Managing a sales team of 429 employees.
- Ensuring to minimize credit notes.
- Monitoring sales daily.
- Promotion
- Management of new product to the market, listing within the different retail sectors within buyers
- Management and control budgets for sales promotion and trade show expenses.
- Speed to market with new launch of products.
- Implementation of Point of Sale 100% with every Promotion and new launch of products.
- Management of new launch of products.
- Coordinated product sample distribution.
- Sales drive in store.
- New listings with Buyer.
- Point of purchase implementation.
- Forecasting stock accuracy.
- Facilitate the implementation of promo grid.
- Communication of promotion activities to all field force.
- Managed company vehicle maintenance schedule.
- Maintain all 18 vehicles:
- Service on regular intervals.
- Regulate fuel set out by budget – monthly targets.
- Maintain accident report.
- Ensure profit and loss when selling assets.
- Maintain all 152 mobile phones.
- Ensuring staff is in their budgets set out by targets.
- Conducted monthly tracking of departmental performance metrics..
- Call check gets done monthly.
- Ensure computers are maintained according to company policy.
Sales Manager
Parmalat South Africa
11.1999 - 10.2005
- Manages sales of the company’s products and services within a defined geographic area, province, or country.
- Ensured consistent, profitable growth in sales revenue through strategic planning, effective deployment, and management of sales personnel.
- To align selling resources with the greatest opportunities in the most cost effective ways.
- To improve sales performance through better processes, technology and methodologies.
- Speed to market with new launch of products.
- Implementation of Point of Sale 100 % with every Promotion and new launch of products.
- Coordinates proper company resources to ensure efficient and stable sales results.
- To make sound and timely business decisions to drive short-term and long-term performance.
- Oversaw national management of special events
- Developed partnerships with schools to facilitate product engagement.
- Art and Craft Festivals Nationally.
- Coordinated national mall promotional activities
- Conducted sample campaigns for product launches
- Organized road shows for product introduction
- Participated in trade shows across various buying channels
- Oversaw staff management processes including recruitment and training.
- Recruitment and Disciplinary processes.
- Executed HR functions to support employee needs and compliance.
- Managed employee leave requests efficiently
- Promoted staff wellbeing initiatives consistently
- Trained sales team to meet established standards.
- Provides quarterly results assessments of sales staff productivity.
Regional Area Manager
KFC South Africa
06.1994 - 11.1999
- Leads the way by working with each RGM in the market to deliver RCP (Restaurant Controllable Profit) and meet targeted flow-thru in each restaurant in market; utilizes available reports (e.g. exception reporting) to identify opportunities; encourages a top-line orientation through operational focus; ensures that correct operational procedures are followed at all times.
- Partners with each RGM in the market to build sales over last year’s sales achievement.
- Partnered with RGMs in the market to achieve year-over-year sales growth.
- Supervised 150 kitchen employees to maintain high standards of food quality and safety..
- Developed and maintained RGM and AM staffing levels, ensuring full management staffing across all restaurants in market through a committed selection process and active monitoring.
- Resolved restaurant-level ER activities by providing targeted assistance to RGMs and proactively addressing ER needs in the market.
- Led initiatives to recognize and motivate employees across the market.
- Full authority to recruit staff for any vacancy within the 10 stores.
Education
NQ 4 National Certificate in Generic Management Level 5 -
Sales & Marketing Diploma -
Investment in Excellence Diploma -
Smollan Group Certificates in Chairing Disciplinary Hearing - Labour Relations, Selling Skills, Sales Skills, Negotiating skills, Sales Management, Performance Management, Microsoft Excel, Word, Power Point and Outlook 2o10
Skills
- Project management
- Budget management
- ERP system (Palladium)
- Sales process optimization
- Client base growth
- Strategic account management
- Key account management
- Customer relationship management
- Negotiation
- Business development
- Promotional strategy development
- Marketing management
- Staff training and development
- Cross-cultural communication
- Operational excellence
- Customer service
- Organizational skills
- Technological competence
- Time management
- Leadership
- Managing department managers
- Staff management
- Results-driven
- Adaptability/flexibility
- Professionalism
- Confidentiality
Personal Information
- Dependents: Zero
- Health Status: Excellent
- Criminal Record: None
- Date of Birth: 06/06/1974
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: South African
- Driving License: YES
- Marital Status: Single
Telephone Number
- Dependents: Zero
- Health Status: Excellent
- Criminal Record: None
- Date of Birth: 06/06/1974
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: South African
- Driving License: YES
- Marital Status: Single
Driver S License
- Dependents: Zero
- Health Status: Excellent
- Criminal Record: None
- Date of Birth: 06/06/1974
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: South African
- Driving License: YES
- Marital Status: Single
Languages
- Afrikaans, True, True, True
- English, True, True, True
Interests
- Mountain Bike
- Trail Running
- Drone Flying
- Softball
- Kickball
- Curling
- Volleyball
Timeline
Assistant to the Operations Director
Absolute USA Inc
01.2022 - Current
Assistant to the Operations Director
Absolute Africa, Absolute USA
10.2015 - 12.2021
Regional Manager Tigerbrands Field Sales
Smollan Group South Africa
10.2005 - 09.2015
Sales Manager
Parmalat South Africa
11.1999 - 10.2005
Regional Area Manager
KFC South Africa
06.1994 - 11.1999