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Sustained Results through Applied Wisdom
Short Resume for Leon Pieter Swart
April 2016
Sapient : With Great Wisdom and Discernment
1. Introducing Leon Swart
Recent surveys in the USA and Europe have shown that business transformation is number one on the
corporate agenda of many top companies in the world. This is due to the confluence of several
important triggers, including a tipping point in globalisation, a major slowdown in Western Economies,
significant shifts in technology and energy costs, and the challenge of regulatory compliance.
The USA survey conducted with 900 senior executives from the Top 500 companies in the USA shows
that ninety tree percent of US based multinational companies are in some phase of changing their
business models. The majority of these companies take a strategic approach to business transformation
by continually aligning their business models with strategy.
It is against this back drop that Leon Swart is positioned to assist multinationals with their business
transformation agenda.
Leon Swart is a driven entrepreneurial business transformation leader with strong emphasis on
execution.
Leon believes that successful business solutions are realised by harnessing competent implementation
team members through good leadership. For the past 36 years it has been Leon’s passion to empower
people by unlocking their true intrinsic value and harness that uniqueness with other team members
into a cohesive team with a clear strong vision to pull the team to excel above expectation. He believes
a common value system and a culture of high performance will allow people to achieve their own
personal objectives and ultimately will allow everyone on the team to achieve the outcomes that is
required for the client
Leon believes today's business calls for an integrated approach to business solutions. Clients require
trusted advisors with solid business leadership experience and the knowledge how technology, people
and processes are integrated to transform a client’s business. This allows for the business solutions to
be matched with the ever changing demands and needs of a client.
For the past 36 years as CEO, Executive Director, program director, project manager and program office
manager for many large scale business solutions, transformation programs, start-up operations and
operational excellence projects it is his passion to lead a team of business professionals to achieve
business results for a client
Leon has applied business transformation, program and project management principles in different
industries. An excellent strategic focus combined with an ability to translate strategy into executable
project plans has made him an effective transformation executive and program director.
According to the business transformation surveys the right strategic vision, being able to anticipate
what your customer is going to want in the future, and leveraging new and disruptive technologies is
some of the key success factors that allows for successful business results. Most companies get the
vision right, but the execution is the hard part: more than half of companies undertaking
transformation fail to achieve the desired business results
Leon has worked with large ICT divisions of companies to interpret the business strategies and design IT
strategies that would align and strengthen the business value and growth. Leon spent much time to
coach and mentor business solution architects within these IT divisions to craft the business solutions.
This called for a major mind shift of the solution architects to become transformation leaders and
change agents
Some of the company results where Leon has been involved in shows; South African Automotive
Manufactures have been awarded the best export plants in the world. Petro chemical and Mining
Groups have experienced improved production, quality, safety and profitability. Major utility
companies have experienced a remarkable improvement in client services and reduction of losses.
Banking and service companies have showed improved productivity and increase in margins
2. Summary
For the past 36 years as CEO, Business Transformation Executive, Program Director, Project Manager and Program Office Manager for many large scale business solutions, transformation programs, start-up operations and operational excellence projects it has been my passion to lead teams of business professionals to achieve business results for many high profile clients.
I have applied strategic planning, program and project management principles to manage business transformation in different industries. An excellent strategic focus combined with an ability to translate strategy into executable project plans has made me an effective transformation executive and program director.
3. Business Transformation Programs and Projects for the period 1989 - 2016
List of major business transformation programs and projects that I have managed during the past 27 years
ClientDuration of Programs
Period 1989 - 2016Description Role
Eskom Protection Telecoms & Maintenance(Electricity Utility)
18 Months
Re define business strategy. Re-engineer business processes and implement integrated protection telecoms & maintenance management system through business transformation methodologies
Transformation Executive &
Program Director
BMW SA 48 Months
Build capacity in SA plant to deliver on international mandate. Coordinating several large transformation projects with the establishment of the new plant in SA including: Program Office, SAP implementation, New Paint Shop, enhanced Trim Shop, launching new model, etc.
Transformation Executive &
Program Director
Ford Motor Company 48 Months
Build capacity in SA plant to deliver on international mandate. Create capacity to Implement the Ford Production System and several other key projects including establishing a Program Office
Transformation Executive &
Program Director
Eskom Distribution(Electricity Utility) 36 Months
Re define business strategy. Establish capacity to manage capital projects and implement leadership framework and systems. Build cohesive leadership teams to deliver on mandates
Program Director/ Coach
Eskom ITD/ arivia.com/T Systems(Merger of IT Divisions of three public enterprises)
60 Months
Re define business strategy. Establish capacity for the design and implementation of large scale computer systems in their client base namely: Eskom, Transnet and Defense Force agencies. Provide integration framework to merge the three different entities into one cohesive delivery structure
Program Director / Coach
Several Government Departments ± 60 Months
Establish capacity to implement business improvement & transformation projects in central, provincial and local government institutions
Program Director / Coach
Sasol Synfuels & Mining 36 Months
Business improvement & transformation programs to achieve increased production through people behavior modification
Program Director / Coach
Anglo Gold Ashanti 18 Months
Re define business strategy. Business improvement & transformation programs to achieve increased production through people behavior modification. Establish a high performance business culture
Program Director / Coach
Continental Coal 12 Months Manage the integration of two mining Program Director /
Australia companies and transform them to new business culture Coach
Seri Mining Philippines 24 Months Establish & Run Program Office for start-up coal mining company in the Philippines
Program Office Manager
BIDVEST 2 Months Business Transformation Program. Build high performance leadership team Project Manager
Palabora Mining 2 Months Business Transformation Program. Build high performance leadership team Project Manager
South African Bureau of Standards 6 Months
Establish Project Office and Project Management best practice and process for delivery of projects within the enterprise
Program Manager
SA Reserve Bank 6 Months Business Transformation Program Program Manager
4. Business Transformation Programs and Projects for the period 1979 – 1988
List of major business transformation programs and projects that I managed during the first 11 years of my career
ClientDuration of
Projects Period 1979 - 1988
Description Role
South African Government:
GOVNET
72 months
South African government first implementation of a Public IT Network. Manage the design, development and implementation of all elements to make the network operational for all government departments and public enterprises in SA
Transformation Executive & Program
Director
South African Government Departments
72 months
Manage the design, development and implementation of Large Scale Computer Systems for most government departments and public enterprises in SA
Transformation Executive & Program
Director
Telkom 72 months
Manage the design, development and implementation of Large Scale Computer Systems for Telkom the public telecommunication provider in SA
Transformation Executive & Program
Director
Transnet 60 months
Manage the design, development and implementation of Large Scale Computer Systems for Transnet the public transport utility in SA
Transformation Executive & Program
Director
SA Air Force, SA Police Services, Infoplan (agency that coordinated defence force ICT projects)
36 monthsManage the design, development and implementation of the First Office Automation Systems for the mentioned agencies
Transformation Executive & Program
Director
Government Intelligence Community and other Strategic Installations
60 months
Manage the design, development and implementation of Large Scale Computer Systems for intelligence entities and strategic installations in SA
Transformation Executive & Program
Director
5. Career history
a. ITCORP (Pty) Ltd now t/a Sapient 3D (Pty) Ltd – (Jan 1989 – Present) 27 years
As CEO, transformation projects have been conducted by me as transformation executive, program director,
project manager or program office manager for companies like BMW SA, Ford Motor Company, Sasol Group,
Eskom, Anglo Gold Ashanti, Continental Coal Australia, Seri Mining Philippines, BIDVEST, South African Bureau of
Standards and SA Reserve Bank.
The business transformation projects resulted in:
Automotive Manufacturer’s Subsidiaries to become the number one export plant in their company due to
high performance cultures, allowing for excellent quality, acceptable consistent production volumes,
competitive input cost, high productivity figures and continuous business process improvement
Petro Chemical and Mining Groups to increase their production, exceeding targets and sustain it over time,
create behavioural safety all-time records, ensure quality of local and export product, sustain accelerated
profit figures over time, establish organisation cultures that allow for ownership and accountability at every
level
Electricity Utility Company providing a better service to major clients, striving to connect more users to the
grid, containing losses on the network, ensuring debt is collected. This was done by creating high performance
teams working to achieve the output of the entire value chain
Banking and service companies have showed improved productivity and an increase in margins
b. Real Estate and Wild Life Estate Development – (Jan 2007 – Dec 2010) 3 Years
As Program Director of several development companies I was instrumental to obtain development rights and
establish the implementation plans for Real Estate Developments in the North West Province.
As co-owner of a game farm and Program Director for the development company of a Wildlife Estate in the
Limpopo Province I secured all the development rights and established the implementation plans for this
development.
I worked with Conservationists, Regional & Town Planners and a Professional Team to establish Wild Life
Conservatories within the North West and Limpopo Province. Liaison with property owners, obtaining of
development rights and the drafting of joint venture business plans and agreements were my main focus.
c. PC Software Academy (Pty) Ltd– ( Jan 1989 – Dec 2008) 20 years
As co- founder and CEO I established a network of computer training franchises in South Africa serving the
Corporate Sector. I specialised in the Government Departments and Utility companies in SA, to name but a few:
Department of Labour, Eskom, CSIR, South African Police Services and Transnet.
The rights to the intellectual property, designs and material were sold to what is today known as Price
Waterhouse Coopers SA.
d. CSC Computer Sciences Corporation – ( Jan 1983 – Dec 1988) 6 years
Regional Manager responsible for IT Sales, IT Development & IT Support on Desk Top, Networks and Mainframes,
Hardware and Software to all Government Institutions, Telkom, Eskom, Transnet, Armscor, Defence Force, and all
Public Enterprises in Southern Africa. I fulfilled the role of program director for many large projects:
GOVNET (South African government first implementation of a public IT network)
Large scale computer systems for several South African government departments
Several large scale computer systems for Telkom
Large scale computer systems for Transnet
First Office Automation Systems for SA Air Force, SA Police Services, Infoplan (agency that coordinated
defence force ITC projects)
Large scale computer systems for the Government Intelligence Community and other Strategic Installations
e. Burroughs Corporation – (Jan 1979 – Dec 1982) 4 years
As executive account manager I managed Hardware & Software Programming, Support and Sales of Desk Top,
Mainframe and Networking IT Equipment to Construction, Manufacturing, Attorneys, Accountants, Plant
Contractors, Retail, Wholesale and Banking.
f. University of Pretoria B.Com – (1974 – 1978)
Graduated at the University of Pretoria in B. Commerce with main subjects Accounting, Marketing Management,
Economics and Business Economics
6. Top Skills Profile
Core Skills Supporting Skills
Business Strategy (Strategic Planning) Strategic Leadership
Business Transformation Organisational Design
Portfolio, Program & Project Management Risk Management
High Performance Team Development Procurement & supply chain management
Cross Functional Team Development Legal & Contract Management
Client centric organisation cultures Facilities Management
Leadership Development Financial & Cost Accounting
Business Improvement Entrepreneurship
Business Process Re-engineering Emotional & Spiritual Intelligence
TOC, Cause & Effect, Flow Principles – Process
improvementInterpersonal & people skills
IT Strategy Counselling & Mediation
IT Service Management Microsoft Project
IT Solutions Architecture Microsoft Excel Dashboards
Executive Coach & Mentor Trainer Microsoft Word
Executive Coaching & Mentoring Microsoft PowerPoint
Business Coaching & MentoringPersonal & Business Assessment design and analysis
tools
Facilitation skills Real Estate Development