FA OCTIDINGS APR10 - Oceana Group

After celebrating its 40th anniversary last year,
Commercial Cold Storage (CCS) began 2012 with
a new chapter – the arrival of Lourens de Waal
as Managing Director of the division.
The Tidings team set up an interview with Lourens to
find out more about the man behind the name.
How does it feel to hold the title of Managing
Director at CCS? I have never been big on titles and
you certainly don’t need one to take the lead or make
a difference. I am however excited and positively challenged about
being given the opportunity of taking the CCS team on a journey of
first making it a more sustainable business and then hopefully taking
it on a path of true step change. I have also enjoyed my interactions
with my colleagues across the Oceana Group to date.
What motivates you? Positive people
How do you motivate others? It is important to encourage diversity
of input and to be genuinely open to being challenged. People by their
very nature want to contribute and you need to make sure you listen
and take their contributions seriously without letting your ego get in
the way. In this way, they become part of the solution and will take
personal ownership for their own and the business’ success.
What are some of the key contributing factors for your success
to date? Anticipating customer needs, taking some calculated risks
and learning from my many mistakes are definitely some of the factors
high on the list. In addition, I like to focus on positive team behaviours
and translating the strategic direction and aspirations of the business
into a practical plan. When it comes to my wife and three children, I need
6
New Managing Director at Commercial Cold Storage
Phillip Conradie appears to be ready and eager
to take on the challenge of being responsible for
the continued success of Oceana Brands’ (OB)
operations.
He assumed his new position on 1 December
2011, leaving behind the role of Managing Director
at Etosha Fishing in Walvis Bay, Namibia, where he
has worked for the past 17 years. Phillip says he was
working for Premier Group when he was required to
start up and head the Etosha Fishing cannery. Five
years later Oceana Group bought Premier Fishing’s
shares in Etosha and took over the cannery in 1999
and, according to him, it is now "one of the best
canneries in the world".
Being in Namibia, Phillip says he had to make many independent
decisions and was the driver of operations of the cannery. He clearly
sees the value in team work and, as a manager, prioritises the development
of a strong and efficient team. His aim is to create teams out
of the employees working on the operations side of the business. He
is confident that with strong teams, his expertise, knowledge and
experience, he will take the St Helena Bay cannery and Fishmeal Plant
to the same standard as the one in Walvis Bay.
With regard to the fishmeal plant in Hout Bay, Phillip says he is
excited about working together with Wilhelm van Zyl to improve
to do better. Prior to joining Oceana in December, I
was constantly travelling for many years and I now
look forward to being a more present and successful
husband and dad.
How would you describe your managing style?
Even though I believe in challenging people with
stretching goals and focusing on output, combining it
with a healthy dose of having some fun along the
way is very important. Further than that I would like
to think I am very open-minded and approachable.
Holding the role of Managing director at CCS is another checkpoint
in your career. What has your professional journey been
like thus far? I qualified as a cost accountant, but that career lasted
about 3 months – way too exciting! From there I survived a few years
as a Financial Manager, before I took over the bulk cold storage operations
for I&J for their local and export markets. Thereafter, I assumed
the role at Vector Logistics as national operations manager and finally
ended my previous employment as first supply chain director, and
then customer director for what has become the market leader in the
SA frozen logistics market.
What are your personal interests and passions? I love mountain
biking and have been known to crash several times! Once a year my
wife and I also like to go skiing in Europe. The remainder of my free
time now belongs mainly to my kids, with our late arrival keeping us
on the run. One day I will learn to play the guitar, cook, kite surf, fish...
Where do you see yourself in the next ten years? The dreaded
question! Hopefully, I will be creating a legacy of making an increasingly
positive impact on people’s lives.
PHILLIP CONRADIE TAKES OVER THE REINS AS
OCEANA BRANDS’ NEW OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
operations and business at the Hout Bay plant,
especially considering their combined management
skills, technical and operational expertise, and vast
experience in the fishing industry. He is up to the
challenge of turning the fishmeal operation around
following disappointing results last year.
He describes himself as being a "hands-on”
manager, a view supported by OB's Global Head of
Sales and Marketing, Andrew Plastow, who says
Phillip does not mind "getting his hands dirty" with
employees on the ground. It is for this reason that
Phillip has garnered himself a reputation as an accessible
manager, who has worked hard to get to where
he is today. Phillip explained that he started his career
doing maintenance work on fishing vessels.
On a personal front, Phillip and his partner Sanel with her daughter
Selené have set up home in Langebaan. He says his family loves the
move and enjoys the different environment. From a small private
school with about 100 learners, Selené is now adapting to a school in
Langebaan with close to 800 learners! Phillip says his partner of the
past eight years has been his strength and support during this period.
Coincidentally, she has also been in the fishing industry for many
years. Phillip was born in Cape Town and spent his childhood in
Saldanha on the Cape west coast.