virna alexander

Bio Summary

Virna is an independent advisor, she is a former Partner with PwC. Virna is a proven leader in Financial Services and Pharmaceutical industries and is continually intrigued by how strategy and operations come together in business management. More than 20 years’ experience working in organisational design, model implementation, business analysis and strategic development, honing skills and focusing on defusing risks that threaten business operations today. Possesses expertise across geographies, and business sectors. Exceptional with team building, collaboration and cultivating internal and external relationships

Employment History

Partner

PwC

May 2016 - June 2020

Johannesburg, South Africa

Design and implement business unit strategy which focused on financial services across SADC. Assist East and West African practices to source and secure projects. Responsible for building and managing the team Responsible for ...see more

Consultant

Absa Group

March 2014 - May 2016

Johannesburg, South Africa

Africa Programme Lead for Barclays Africa FinCrime

Pharmaceutical Business Unit Manager

Bausch + Lomb

January 2013 - October 2013

Johannesburg, South Africa

Appointed as the Country Manager successor while setting up the Pharmaceutical Division and transforming the organization's existing business into a high-performing business unit that would ramp revenue, market share and prof ...see more

General Manager Pharmaceuticals Unicore

Unicore

October 2010 - December 2012

Johannesburg, South Africa

Founding partner of the Pharmaceutical Division of Unicore, a healthcare company with specific expertise in medical devices and capital equipment. We delivered over R50 million of revenue per annum through strategic partnersh ...see more

Operations Strategist

Rand Merchant Bank

July 2008 - September 2010

Johannesburg, South Africa

Appointed to ensure all business strategy had the necessary operational implementation for growth and profitability. Reported to the Operations and Executive Boards. I was instrumental in the design of an operational blueprin ...see more

Independent Consultant

October 2007 - June 2008

Cape Town, South Africa

Project: Sanlam / Santam Integration • Performed a detailed analysis of Sanlam and Santam's support areas, to understand the alignment of the organisation and potential synergies. Identified key opportunities for integra ...see more

Sales Representative

Pfizer

June 1998 - December 2003

Cape Town, South Africa

Senior Sales representative in the CNS division Responsible for all Academic institutes in the Western Cape Product launches of 3 block buster products Deliver training and guidance to junior sales representatives Responsibl ...see more

Selected Project Experience

Project Description:

Lead negotiations with regards to identifying investee companies leading to the signing of equity purchase agreements. Critically assessed financial models resulting to a 40% saving on the valuation of a target opportunity. Participated in strategy and expansion meetings highlighting risks in engagements while providing remedial actions to aid operational efficiency

Industry: Financial Services

Topic(s): Strategy & Planning

Project Description:

Coached the leadership team to enable them to be better positioned for expansion of the business Leadership development Facilitation of meetings with potential funders, highlighting risk and benefits.

Industry: Financial Services

Topic(s): Executive Coaching

Project Description:

Review and refine the digital payments strategy. Review policies that client is governed by to identify potential policy changes required Review and design social welfare payments process which is customer centric, leverages financial services rails already in place Recommend process and system design

Industry: Public Sector

Topic(s): Project & Program Management

Project Description:

Design and create the implementation plan for the financial crime unit for the group. Drafted requirements for a transaction monitoring tool that looked at social networks as well as risk. Guided the selection of the transaction monitoring tool

Industry: Financial Services

Topic(s): Project & Program Management

Project Description:

Analysis and design of a new operating model for the corporate real estate division. Best practice analysis including in/outsourcing models. Review capacity and developed capacity management and plan for the new model Assess vendors and suggest new requirements during contract negotiations

Industry: Real Estate & Construction

Topic(s): Operations

Project Description:

Develop strategy to meet regulatory requirements across the group, design the process and ensure digitisation. Program consisted of multiple projects across the financial crime landscape across the Group of company's geographical footprint.

Industry: Financial Services

Topic(s): Operations

Education

Master's in Business Administration/Management

University of Stellenbosch Business School

2006

Bachelor's in Microbiology

University of the Western Cape

1997

Associate's in Marketing

University of South Africa

2003

Language Skills

English

Country Experience

Botswana Kenya Lesotho Nigeria South Africa United Kingdom

Skills

Finance

Cost Management,

Portfolio Management

Business

Business Unit Strategy,

Strategic Planning,

Service Operations,

Business Case,

Business Planning,

Corporate Strategy,

Strategic Management,

Project Management,

Business Process Management,

Business Process Outsourcing,

Capacity Management & Planning,

Digitizing Operations,

Support Functions

Human Resources

Leadership Development

Education and Training

Program Management

Industry Experience

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Products

Biopharma

Education

K-12