Gert Mentz

Experience

• 

  Coopers & Lybrand

  Jan 1991 - Jan 1998

  Computer Assurance Services Wide spectrum of customers from large corporates, e.g. SASKO, co-operatives, legal practices, farmers and individuals

  • Manager

    Jan 1996 - Jan 1998

  • Audit Manager

    Jan 1991 - Jan 1996
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  PwC UK

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2000

  Manager

  Global Risk Management Services

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  EY

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2001

  Senior Manager

  Quality assured large technology implementation projects, specific focus on SAPSpecialised in large SAP installations in South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Saudi ArabiaManaged Enterprise Resource Planning services for SAP R/3 in Southern Africa and the Middle EastMentored and developed staff

• 

  The Shoprite Group of Companies

  Jan 2001 - Aug 2016

  Because of my expertise, I was requested to act as the Corporate Executive in solving the constraint of space across the Supply Chain, maintaining a focus on the new digital environment and its impact as a business disruptor. During my time in this position, I negotiated corporate deals required to execute Software, Cloud and Strategic Consulting. I also recruited Category Managers and re-skilled current staff members while working closely with the Enterprise Architect regarding corporate processes and coordinating with cross departmental collaboration including Merchandising, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing, and Technology. My key achievements include: developing a multi-year roadmap with a focus on merchandise planning, category strategies and tactics, macro space management, micro floor planning, assortment optimization, single view of demand, promotion and planograms which facilitated a rollout across all retail departments; successfully implemented Enterprise Planning in General Merchandise, achieving business targets in 2015 and continuing rollouts across all Food departments; initialised the implementation of Category Management and Tactics, successfully implementing a single view of Demand in 2015 which is now rolling out across the company; and introducing the Marketing Division to the retail customer journey and its impact on Category Management strategies and tactics. Show less As the IT Director, I utilized a key focus area in strategy, verifying executive decisions, providing assurance on business decisions, advising corporate executives on technological solution, performing vendor evaluations, and making technology decisions. I was able to renegotiate payment switching services, terminals and alternative service providers. I acted as a member of the Shoprite Marketing team developing Shoprite’s Digital Strategy. I also operated full time research responsibilities concerning technology matters influencing retail through working with large international research companies, focusing on: leading trends, the customer journey, future retail store, internet of things, mobility, digital disrupters, space awareness in supply chain, and cognitive computing. In order to increase efficiency, I built IT strategies for affiliates using creative business models for unstructured, decentralised, informal working environments. I then evaluated and recommended Pension Pay-outs through Shoprite stores, resulting in the company becoming the largest distributor of SASSA payments in 2015. I also established and renegotiated new large vendor contracts for Shoprite Group including Master Service and Product Agreements and Schedules. Show less In this position, I managed a large, diverse group of over 300 specialists, providing technology services across the company including 17 countries and 1,220 stores with a 47.6 billion turnover in June 2008. I was responsible for managing Internal Software Development, IT Services, and the Data Centre, re-establishing the Data Centre in post mainframe environment and switching off legacy ICL mainframe in ten months when the industry expectation is 3 years. I continued to apply Best of Breed Technology, facilitating the proper Technology Architecture applicable to retail and low cost retail leadership.My key achievements include the implementation of a number of strategic improvements and programs such as: vendor independent Integration Platforms and Enterprise Service Bus (which utilised core strengths of industry leading technology vendors); IT governance and assurance such as COBIT, ITIL, and King Report compliant; project cost accounting and time management; VoIP and MPLS network to all stores (backed up by mobile); the consolidation of the scanning point of sale to all stores internationally; staff appraisal system to support career development and employee development and business solutions that increased functionality and consolidated all business demand through one point of entry. In order to increase efficiency, I executed strong financial management strategies to the department as a cost centre, rebuilding a very unstable department from scratch, implemented consistent processes and measurements. I also created and implemented world class business intelligence solutions (chronicled in the Microsoft White Papers in 2005), growing the bottom line growth over six years from 1.7% to 4.4% (and 5.8% in 2014) which was directly attributable to better business decisions based on accurate data. Additionally, I consolidated Banking solution to own hosted switch with Shoprite owned till access point independent of South African banks. Show less

  • IT Director: Strategy

    Jan 2011 - Aug 2016

  • IT Director: Strategy

    Jan 2008 - Jan 2011

  • IT Director / CIO

    Jan 2001 - Jan 2008
• 

  Private company

  Jun 2021 - now

  Survival Instructor
• 

  EY

  Jun 2021 - now

  Humorous to identify a closing date!! Especially when you have a grade 4 Glioblastoma!! Nothing stop this!! Cheers my friends and colleagues!!

  • Associate Director

    Oct 2018 - now

  • Retired

    Jun 2021 - Jan 2023