VICUS BURGER
Strategic Transformation Executive & C-Suite Advisor
20+ Years Executive Leadership | $2B+ Combined Client/Employer Revenue | Multi-Sector Transformation
Strategic transformation executive and C-suite advisor with over two decades of experience architecting enterprise-wide change programs and shaping commercial strategy across telecommunications, financial services, and manufacturing. Grounded in an engineering mindset, applying first-principles thinking, systems design, and analytical rigor to translate complex data ecosystems and AI-driven intelligence into actionable boardroom strategy with measurable commercial impact. Trusted partner to CEOs and boards, leading high-stakes negotiations, designing resilient operating models, and institutionalizing data-led decision frameworks that sustain competitive advantage.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Executive Director, Business Rescue Leader
Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW)
Apr 2025 – Current
Johannesburg, South Africa
- • Led strategic turnaround of 75-year-old national institute through informal business rescue process, driving systemic change across finance, operations, and governance
- • Secured 6-month operational buffer to execute transformation without disruption, aligning with international turnaround standards
- • Delivered candid operational reviews enabling informed, fact-based strategic decisions by leadership
- • Negotiated and managed complex relationships with regulators, industry partners, and internal stakeholders during transition
Director of Reporting (BPO)
Tyme Global (Remote, USA Client)
May 2023 – Jan 2025
$50M Turnover
- • AI-Powered BPO Reporting (400 hotels): Integrated AI into all reporting functions to deliver 10X+ performance capability, consolidating complex multi-system data feeds into best-in-class reporting platform
- • Reporting Ecosystem Transformation: Spearheaded full-scale migration from Excel to advanced BI ecosystem using Apache Iceberg, Apache Spark, and Power BI, eliminating month-end invoicing delays and reducing manual reporting time by 70%
- • Data Governance & Scalability: Established Centre of Excellence for Business Reporting with robust data governance protocols ensuring metric consistency and security across global reporting structures
Founder, SVP Big Data Engineering, Business Intelligence & Analytics
SR71 Consult
Mar 2020 – Apr 2025
Strategic Advisory
Provided strategic advisory to C-suite executives on data-driven strategies to enhance operational efficiency and drive revenue growth. Built advanced, executive-level reporting that directly supports boardroom decision-making.
Blue Label Telecoms ($1.5B USD Turnover)
- • Developed advanced insights for boardroom decision-making, including financial modelling, product-mix analysis, and business portfolio optimisation
- • Performed financial modelling of new micro lending sales channel for investment and go-live decision scenarios
- • Business Intelligence Transformation: Developed custom BI frameworks that streamlined reporting processes, reduced time-to-insight by 50% and improved data processing speeds by 90%
Large Insurance Business ($1.3B USD Turnover)
- • Developed internal staff fraud detection system with integrated CI/CD for one of largest insurance houses in South Africa
- • Automated Power BI Complaints tracking with integration to ombud
- • Business Process Mapping for systems integration
SA Mint ($0.2B USD Turnover)
- • Automated Power BI Supply Chain reporting from SAP
Executive Leadership Roles
Cell C ($0.8B Turnover)
Executive Head of Product Management | Executive Head of Strategic Operations
Jan 2015 – Feb 2020
Johannesburg, South Africa
- • Business Turnaround & Operating Model: Facilitated development of new Business Operating Model for Cell C, instrumental in saving the business through advanced business and financial modelling
- • AI-Driven Network & Revenue Optimisation: Built Big Data/Big Processor Lab, applying AI/ML to optimise network performance, forecast revenue, and generate strategic insights with daily business reporting
- • Strategic Outsourcing ($1.3B USD project): Led conceptualization of new network model to outsource Cell C network. Head negotiator of high-stakes negotiations with MTN
- • Regional Leadership: Executive head in charge of all 7 Cell C regions, led turnaround of Western Cape region
Manufacturing Director, Africa
Reckitt
Feb 2013 – Dec 2014
- • Reduced conversion costs by 30% and improved service levels from 85% to 97% in 4 months
Manufacturing Director
PepsiCo Southern Africa
Sep 2011 – Jan 2013
- • Led commissioning of new $50M high-tech manufacturing facility on budget
Customer Services & Logistics Director
Mondelez International
Apr 2008 – Sep 2011
- • Led integration of Kraft and Cadbury supply chains in South Africa
Plant Manager
Mondelez International
2005 – 2008
- • Awarded 2 EMEA President's Awards for outstanding leadership
Group Engineering & Production Manager
SAB (now AB InBev)
2000 – 2005
Engineer
Unilever
1996 – 2000
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
B.Eng, Mechanical Engineering
Stellenbosch University, 1993
MSc, Packaging Technology
Brunel University, London, 2005 (dissertation incomplete)
Certified Data Scientist in R
Datacamp, 2019
Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Certified
Management Development Program (MDP)
UCT, 2005
Global Advanced Emotional Intelligence & MBTI
Vienna, 2007
Packaging Management Development Program
SA Breweries, 2003
Packaging Management Development Program
SA Breweries, 2003
Government Certificate of Competency (Factories)
1998
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Data Engineering & Cloud
Apache IcebergApache SparkAWSSnowflakeAzureData LakesETL PipelinesKafkaAirflowSQLPythonR
Business Intelligence & AI
Power BITableauLookerAdvanced DAXReal-time DashboardsMachine LearningAI/MLPredictive AnalyticsNLPTime-Series ForecastingData Storytelling
Leadership & Strategy
Lean Six SigmaAgile Project ManagementBusiness Process Re-engineeringKPI StandardizationData GovernanceChange ManagementStrategic PlanningBusiness RescueTurnarounds
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- ▸Led $1.3B network outsourcing negotiation as head negotiator for Cell C-MTN strategic partnership
- ▸Integrated AI into 400-hotel BPO reporting system, delivering 10X+ performance capability and eliminating month-end delays
- ▸Developed custom BI frameworks reducing time-to-insight by 50% and improving data processing speeds by 90%
- ▸Reduced manufacturing conversion costs by 30% and improved service levels from 85% to 97% in 4 months at Reckitt
- ▸Led commissioning of $50M high-tech manufacturing facility on budget at PepsiCo
- ▸Awarded 2 EMEA President's Awards for outstanding leadership at Mondelez International
- ▸Successfully led business rescue and transformation of 75-year-old SAIW institute