About Pathfinders

Our vision is to enable business owners and leaders to grow and succeed, ensuring that we all benefit, including our families and our country​.

Ross Smith

Ethos

The role of an advisor or mentor is an extremely precious responsibility which we take with extreme care and humility

Partners

We are in it together, side by side, for as long as it takes! You fall, we fall. You hurt, we hurt. You win, we win and we all smile !

Integrity

As Partners, we are in a relationship where mutual Trust is paramount!

Respect

We are all human beings with different personalities and emotions. We will ensure we emphasize dignity and respect at all times! Your career or your business are jewels which will be treated with the utmost care!

Transformation

Knowledge transfer and continuous learning are key to equalisation and growth of our society.

Focus | 3 Key Areas

Business Advisory & Mentorship​

  • Business
  • Strategy
  • Brand
  • Financial
  • Governance
  • Retail & Franchise Networks
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Capital

(Mergers / Acquisitions / Funding)

  • Valuations
  • Partner sourcing & vetting
  • Deal making
  • Contract support
  • Post deal & transition support
  • Capital & Fund raising
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Transformation
(B-BBEE)

  • Scorecard assessment & strategy
  • Ownership strategy & implementation
  • Partner sourcing & vetting
  • Preferential procurement assessment, strategy & implementation
  • Supplier & Enterprise development strategy & implementation
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Founder | Ross Smith

Pathfinders is a young boutique advisory business, led by a highly experienced business founder and leader.

Ross Smith

B. Com (Hons)
Chartered Accountant CA (SA)

Accomplished business executive with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, B-BBEE transformation, business development strategy, new business development and coordinating/managing start-ups and restructures.

Highly skilled in business advisory and consulting within small to medium enterprises, developing and implementing new business strategy and objectives, financial planning and forecasting, marketing, brand and product strategy and development.

Strong track record of providing leadership, management, coaching and mentorship of executive teams and large project teams across multiple functions/geographies.

Highly knowledgeable and skilled in the B-BBEE Act and Codes, creating an integrated strategy covering all aspects of the scorecard to optimise outcomes and in leading internal and external business partners through the transition and implementation processes.

27 year work/life experience at 3 major multi-national corporations in SA/SSA at senior levels – Novo Nordisk, Nike and Goodyear and 5 years in start-up/entrepreneurial businesses.

  • Born in Livingstone, Zambia (Dr. Livingstone was my Pathfinder!).
  • Educated in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa
  • Husband (1 wife), Father (3 men), Pet Owner (3 dogs)
  • Hobbies – Sport, Nature, Outdoor stuff, whisky/wine
  • Ambition – to help as many people as possible be successful in whatever they choose to do!
  • Elected Chairman of South African Sporting Goods Association (SASGAM 4 years)
  • Member of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM 2 years)
  • Vice Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce Transformation Forum (1 year)
  • Member of 20 Group and Subsidiary Boards for Goodyear across South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa

Achieved significant growth at Nike SA from start-up to > ZAR 1 billion by developing a strategic roadmap and leading the implementation thereof. Formalised new structures and procedures and led the executive teams through this transition.

Led Ukusa Brandhouse from a start-up to achieve a revenue of ZAR30 million within its first year. Negotiated distribution contracts in South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa including own manufacture under licence and the development of International and local supply chains. Persuaded RMB to provide venture capital stake in the business.

Successfully completed 10 merger and acquisition transactions in South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa for Goodyear, including managing multiple bid processes, preparing Confidential Information Memorandums and negotiating final contract agreements.

  • Business Leadership/Mentorship
    • As MD & FD – managed executive teams and senior management teams often between 10-25 people at any one time, mentoring key staff/execs
    • BOD/Trustee for various group companies (up to 20+ at any one time)
    • Senior Leader at Nike (R1.3bn 2006) and Goodyear (>R6.0bn in 2019)
    • Managed teams across several geographies – SA, SSA
    • Elected to various other Boards – AMCHAM and SASGAM
    • Project Manager/Leader – Cross Functional teams, across multiple geographies – up to 40 people

 

  • Strategist and Advisor
    • As Senior Leader Nike, Goodyear, Ukusa – led 5yr strategic plans
    • Nike – Football success through clear strategy -Sports Marketing association with Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns
    • Goodyear – Developed ‘Go to market’ strategy for Consumer and Commercial Tyre businesses in SA, created group transformation/B-BBEE strategy

 

  • Dealmaker
    • Completed 10 M&A deals for Goodyear in SA and SSA (plus many others that did not conclude)
    • Completed Long Terms sports marketing associations with SA Rugby, Kaizer Chiefs, Sundowns
    • Concluded countless customer/supplier and distribution contracts
    • Concluded many hostile union negotiations

 

  • Transformation & B-BBEE Expert
    • Developed 5 yr strategy for the Goodyear group to 2022, including Ownership Structure and created detailed scorecard improvement plans by element, including detailed Import Substitution plan and Umthombo Enterprise and Development plan for small black owned businesses
    • Introduced YES programme in 2019, repeating it in 2020

Testimonials | Valued Client Feedback

“Ross’ strategy, business, financial and brand acumen, plus leadership skills enabled Nike to establish itself as market leader in South Africa”
Jenene Cronning Former Retail Director, Nike South Africa
“Ross’ business savvy, brand/retail knowledge and leadership makes him an ideal partner for any business looking to win in the market. His ability to build strategy whilst keeping an eye on the details makes him special and a genuine asset in business advisory and leadership/mentorship of business leaders.”
Sgwili Gumede Sports Marketing Guru and Writer
“I worked with Ross for the last three years whilst we transformed the Sub Saharan business model from an equity owned to a licence network. During this time, he proved his in-depth business knowledge together with retail understanding ensuring a successful transformation. I am more than happy to recommend him to lead any business transformation project.”
Darren Hayes-Powell Former Group Managing Director, Goodyear South Africa and Sub Saharan
“I have known Ross for many years. We first met as co-directors of the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa where Ross was a valued Board member and contributed greatly to the vision and work of the Chamber. Ross left the Chamber after he parted ways with Nike, but we remained friends. Ross then joined Goodyear, a client of my law firm and our friendship and professional relationship continued. The area that we have worked closely together is in the field of Board Governance primarily aligning to integrity, respect, trust, ethics and the importance of being a conscious leader. In all of my dealings with Ross I have found him to be a man of integrity and vision and a conscious and ethical leader.”
Michael JudinPartner, Judin Combrinck Incorporated, Johannesburg
“Ross’ assisted me to build a 5 year strategy to grow our Franchise brand and network by 50% in this time frame. He understands brands and retail networks and is a great partner to work with”
Sean Harrison Hi-Q Franchisor Managing Director
“Ross’ insights and knowledge of athletic/fashion brands distribution and retail in South Africa helped us acquire a significant stake in a company with distribution rights for Under Armour, Crocks and Birkenstock!”
Nick Hudson Sanas Partners and Investors - Managing Director
"Ross’ negotiated several sports marketing agreements for major South African sports teams for Nike and also distribution rights for major sportswear/apparel brands in South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa”
Sgwili Gumede Sports Marketing Guru, Sports writer and Business Owner
“Ross’ negotiated the sale of several businesses and business operations in South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa for Goodyear. This was a ‘beginning to end process’ from preparation of business valuations and marketing documents to sourcing and negotiating with multiple potential buyers and ultimately concluding deals and legal agreements in very complex markets”
B. Ryckaert General Counsel
My first interaction with Ross was back in 1996. I was just finished university and was interviewed for an amazing opportunity for a dream brand, Nike. As the company Financial Director, Ross connected well with a young inexperienced candidate. The interview revolved around character and who I was as an individual. No typical finance related questions or checks to see if I understood a debit from a credit. I could immediately see Ross was a people’s person and was more interested in developing and refining talent than seeking ‘out the box’ skills. After being offered the role, I will never forget the investment that Ross took to coach and mentor me. Each week I sat in his office, spending hours upon hours as I shadowed and learnt from him. This task wasn’t given to a Financial Manager or any other senior individual in the finance department. It was Ross, the extremely busy Financial Director of a rapidly growing international brand, who took this upon himself to do. I’m forever grateful for the vested interest that Ross provided me in my early career days. Not hand holding, but coaching, training and then setting me off to perform tasks. Reviewing those tasks and giving continual guidance, and so the cycle continued. It wasn’t long before I had many growth and career opportunities within the company. Still to this day, I’m reminded and inspired to follow many of his leadership styles that I learnt so many years ago. When I heard that Ross was venturing into his own business and focusing on leadership, coaching, mentoring and business advisory services, I could only but smile. Knowing his passion to grow individuals and make an impact in many lives is something I always knew Ross would be doing throughout his career.
Justin MaierVice President Sub-Saharan Africa, TNS Mobile International Oy, Branch in South Africa
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The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Nelson Mandela
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