“We’ve had lots of successes in past year – we have a clear roadmap of where to take the business over the next 18 to 24 months.”
ZAF MAHOMED – the TURNAROUND guy
Photos: Supplied & Patrick Furter
The CFO relishes a challenge, and he’s certainly found that at Cell C. This is how he’s approaching it. By Georgina Guedes
Z
af Mahomed relishes a challenge. He has previously held roles at Ellerines, Tongaat Hulett, Johnson & Johnson and McDonald’s. And now, he’s tackling the beleaguered Cell C. Did he know what he was getting into when he took on the role? Absolutely.
“It’s been a fantastic challenge. It’s a very complex environment and from my perspective, a real opportunity. I did my research before I joined to make sure I knew what needs to be done. So nothing was a sur-
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prise. I left a great job at McDonald’s, but part of my DNA is that I love the challenge. I love the opportunity this presents. Turnaround and M&A is what I do.” He adds that of course, it’s stressful, “but it’s a good kind of stress. It’s good to be outside of your comfort zone.” Over his 26-year career, Zaf has been in many industries, he says affably that he’s lost count, then tries – sugar, aluminium, textiles, medical devices, hospitality, property, mining equipment, furniture, retail,
