Consumer Goods Council is taking stock
Mar 18 2010
Retail Wrap >>

Either you shape up or you ship out as the Consumer Goods Council of SA (CGCSA) redefines its purpose in the industry and meets strategic objectives. 

When Mncane Mthunzi was appointed CEO of the council in June last year he was asked to oversee a complete turnaround of the organisation, whose presence had in recent years started fizzling out. The council is a section 21 company representing more than 11000 member companies involved in the retailing, wholesaling and manufacture of consumer goods. It offers services such as food safety initiatives, economic and legislative advice, crime prevention and product data catalogues.

A number of people whom Mthunzi felt were not stepping up to the plate had to be laid off. “I’m at a stage where I’m building my own team, to ensure that I execute on the mandate and strategic objective of the CGCSA.” Mthunzi took over from Michael Broughton, who was temporarily holding the reins — the council was previously headed by August Lwanski, who resigned in 2008.

The 37-year-old started his career as a business analyst at Accenture in 1996 and went on to join PricewaterhouseCoopers as a senior manager in IT. Mthunzi was a strategic consultant for Microsoft in 2003 before joining the Black Management Forum as MD in 2006. He says he was persuaded to take up the position at the forum because of a need to professionalise the organisation and improve its financial position. Perhaps that explains why he was approached to join the Consumer Goods Council. He says the council’s board also wanted someone who was not contaminated by industry issues.

And contaminated he is not. He is one of a few that can dine with the likes of Whitey Basson and Nick Badminton without getting caught up in their fight over market share. “I think we have made huge progress and have worked hard in making sure that this organisation becomes relevant and adds value to its members,” says Mthunzi. “Our next phase is to elevate the profile of our organisation to reflect the contribution it makes to gross domestic product and employment levels as an industry.” Plans include the council launching a retail-specific body — the South African Retail Council — at the end of the month. This will be a direct response to retailers’ needs and will focus on their interests.

He says some of the challenges facing the retail industry have led to the formation of this council, include a fragmented retail representation of key stakeholders and duplication of efforts and costs.

Adapted from Source: www.businessday.co.za, 16 March 2010