Vincent Ssebbaale Sseremba (MBA, MSc, BSc)
Tel: +256 703 759924 | Address: P.O. Box 10679 Kampala, Uganda |Email: vincent.sseremba@gmail.com
PROFILE
- A seasoned entrepreneur with extensive experience of over 13 years working as a team leader of multicultural and cross-functional teams in North America and Africa.
- A results and data-driven Business Leader with Engineering, Operations, Sales &Marketing and Finance training and experience.
- Experience working across a wide range of industries (Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Mining, Financial Services, Renewable Energy, Agriculture Equipment and Power Generation).
- Proven track record of establishing successful new operations in new markets (Uganda & Botswana).
- Demonstrated ability to improve performance and profitability across well-established organizations, as well as, start-ups.
- Strategic business optimization leader through implementation of OKRs, KPIs, cost re-engineering, continuous process improvement, organizational growth and improvement of overall organizational profitability.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
COUNTRY DIRECTOR TULIMA SOLAR LIMITED, KAMPALA, UGANDA JULY 2019 –PRESENT
Tulima Solar (sister company to SIMUSOLAR in TZ est. 2014) is a Productive Use Renewable Energy company working with smallholder, medium and large size farmers to finance energy efficient equipment designed to utilize solar power (climate resilient) for off-grid business in Uganda. Tulima Solar currently sells, installs and services Solar Water Powered Irrigation Systems, Solar Security Lights and Water Dispensing units through flexible payment options.
Specific Duties:
- Lead in-country company setup, hiring of key staff and regulatory compliancy through acquisition of the right business permits.
- Oversee company launch, growth and scaling strategies; manage partner acquisition, acquisition of assets, marketing strategies, adoption of governing policies; co-development of roll-out timeline and sales strategies.
- Lead and set the evolution of the Ugandan operations and commercial scaling strategies through market and customer learnings and deployment of Simusolar’s business model.
- Participate in long-term business planning at the managerial, executive and board level.
- Engage with stakeholders in the Ugandan market (agricultural organizations, livelihood NGOs and farmer groups, government, agro-input companies and off-takers) and the regions where we operate (municipal, regional);
- Provide leadership to staff, including opportunities for coaching, training and development, to maximize work output and work quality.
- Ensure that staff and ultimately departments, meet their objectives by monitoring progress, coordinating departments, and ensuring any obstacles are addressed by the appropriate people;
Key Achievements
- Successfully launched Tulima Solar in Uganda by establishing seven (7) functional departments with a lean staff of 35 staff with seven (7) direct reports, acquired the right business permits, and deployed efficient operational procedures, set up company systems to manage inventory and our Finances.
- Steered new product development for three (3) main products, developed marketing plans and scaling strategies with the Commercial Team; on boarded over 30 farmer lead generation partners in the horticulture, livestock, coffee and dairy value chains with over 80,000 farmer members contributing to over 450 off-grid solar water powered irrigation system installations with revenues of over USD 1.2M in 3 years since company launch.
- Achieved a total credit portfolio of over 200 customers with PAR30 under 15%, a default rate of under 5% and NPS score of over 60 since launch.
- Led negotiations of B2B Solar Water Pump component contracts worth over USD 2.5M for 2022 to 2024.
- Spearheaded grant writing and Monitoring & Evaluation exercises for four (4) RBF grants worth over EUR 500,000 since company inception.
- Accountable for the full Business Operations budget of Uganda; led the bottoms up forecasting and budgets process, innovated around cost containment strategies, reduced CAC and increased resource utilization during very challenging Covid-19 years.
- Successfully deployed staff training, Performance Management Systems (PMS) and development programs for staff to maximize work output, collaboration and work quality.
COUNTRY MANAGER POTENZA MUHENDISLIK SANAYI V.T.A.S., KAMPALA, UGANDA AUGUST 2017 – JULY 2019
Potenza Muhendislik Sanayi V.T.A.S (Trading as Potenza Lubricants (U) Ltd in Uganda) is a Turkish multinational automobile and industrial lubricants manufacturing and equipment distribution company.
Specific Duties:
- Led in-country company setup and product launch in collaboration with the Turkish team to ensure a solid foundation to grow from.
- Managed risk and opportunities for the company by spearheading the budgeting, forecasting, reporting and reconciliation of company revenues and expenses.
- Improved customer experience through customer engagements and training; established price matrices based on product offering taking into consideration the cost, market and/or competitor dynamics.
- Led the recruitment and regular training of staff to improve performance.
- Established in-country reorder levels of lubricants and other products and managed stock movement in Uganda.
Key Achievements
- Successfully set up the company with the right documentation, systems, procedures and a well-trained staff.
- Sold over 100,000 liters of lubricants within a space of 8 months after initial product launch in Uganda by setting up and maintaining robust B2B and B2C distribution channel partners.
- Achieved high performing blend of motor and industrial oil suited for the operating conditions East African.
- Completed statistical based regional competition studies and analyses, identification and definition of market segments and segment penetration strategies for motor and industrial lubricants in Uganda.
PPC/PLANT MANAGER STEEL & TUBE INDUSTRIES, KAMPALA, UGANDA JANUARY 2016 – JULY 2017 Steel & Tube is a leading integrated manufacturer of a wide range of steel products headquartered in Kampala, Uganda.
Specific Duties:
- Oversaw production processes and product targets across all production sections in the company.
- Recruited, trained and led a team of over 600 production staff through 7 direct senior level reports.
- Key member of Steel & Tube leadership steering committee to help drive organizational growth and efficiency.
- Coordinated production material requirements with other teams in the organization (Operations and Procurement) ensuring adequate inventory of raw materials, consumables and packaging components.
- Led the optimization of each production line to ensure optimal results.
Key Achievements
- Improved production from 15,500 tons to 18,000 tons per month of Nails, hollow sections, TMT bars, Wire mesh, plates, expanded metal, iron sheets and Galvanized wire across three plants.
- Developed a robust employee management system with concrete annual KPIs tied to company growth targets; monitored and improved KPIs through continuous improvement strategies.
- Provided pivotal evidence based insights to the Steel & Tube Industries leadership committee, streamlined departmental budget and production targets.
- Led the statistical analysis of each production line to determine optimal production cost; resolved raw and Work In Process material lead time issues minimizing downtime and operational delays.
CO-FOUNDER & MD EVENPATH INVESTMENTS, GABORONE, BOTSWANA DECEMBER 2013 – DECEMBER 2015
Evenpath Investments is a local Botswanan company that distributes, pumps and valves to mines and utility companies.
Specific Duties:
- Co-founder of business focused on supplying lubricating oils, pumps and valves to mines, retail spare shops, garages and B2B partners.
- Responsible for the top-down formation and strategic direction of the company; product development, operations and logistics, sales, systems and company procedures.
- Accountable for managing key principle and client relationships across the company.
- Advised plant and mining engineers on lubricating requirements for their specific machines.
- Provided mechanical engineering training and guidance to employees, as well as, clients.
Key Achievements
- Sold over USD 100,000 worth of products in the initial year alone.
- Drove company revenues by over 100% Year Over Year working with motivated channel managers.
- Successfully trained 3 channel managers to help drive sales.
FINANCE MANAGER AMERICAN EXPRESS CO., NEW YORK, NY – USA AUGUST 2011 – DECEMBER 2013
American Express Co., is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in New York, NY (USA). The company is best known for its charge cards, credit cards and traveler’s cheque businesses.
Specific Duties:
- Developed 2012 and 2013 revenue forecasts for prepaid, travel and travel cheque product portfolios.
- Provided analysis and support for over $50M in prepaid spend deals for the client management team.
- Responsible for managing company marketing expenditure by working with Relationship Managers and Marketing Managers in the consumer card business.
- Developed forecasting statistical models to predict and explain American Express technology expenditures.
- Guided the financial due diligence process on Technology contracts for software, hardware and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
Key Achievements
- Successfully managed $2Billion American Express marketing expenditure by working with Relationship Managers and Marketing Managers in the consumer card business.
- Successfully developed forecasting statistical models that improved prediction and explanation of technology cost variances reducing planning and forecasting process from months to weeks.
- Performed financial due diligence process on Technology contracts/deals of over 50 transactions worth $176 million resulting in $9 million in saves.
SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER CUMMINS INC., MINNEAPOLIS, MN – USA OCTOBER 2006 – OCTOBER 2009
Cummins Inc., is an American Fortune 500 corporation headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (USA) that designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, filtration, and power generation products across the globe.
Specific Duties:
- Managed a $640K budget and led a cross-functional team of 25 during a test cell upgrade.
- Responsible for identifying margin improvement opportunities on Cummins’ products.
- Oversaw engine and alternator development for a new low-cost generator set for the rural East African market.
Key Achievements:
- Saved $80K on test cell upgrade by applying cost-effective solutions.
- Increased distributor margins by USD 40,000 through sourcing of better generator weather enclosures.
- Introduced a low-cost generator in the rural East African with reduced emissions and increased power quality.
EDUCATION
- 2009 – 2011 MBA, Finance & Strategic Business Management, University of Minnesota, MN-USA
- 2005 – 2006 Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, MN-USA
- 2001 – 2005 Physics, Minor in Mathematics, Macalester College, MN-USA
SKILLS & LANGUAGES
- Skills: Proven data analytics contributing to key decision making for existing businesses and startups, Business planning and strategy, Budgeting, Finance, Project Management, Operations (including freight forwarding and logistics), Product Development, and strong communication skills to favorably influence board-level decision making.
- Languages: English (Fluent), Luganda (Fluent),Setswana (Fluent), Kalanga (Fluent)
REFERENCE
Mr. Cody Albertus
Product Manager Commercial Generators – Cummins Power Generation
Email: albe0125@gmail.com
Mr. Chenard Cherilus
Director Strategic Finance – Comcast Cable; Former American Express Director
Email: Chenard_Cherilus@cable.comcast.com
Phone: +1 215 286 7196
Mr. Hakan Turkmen
Plant Manager, Steel & Tube Industries
Email: ahturk66@hotmail.com
Phone +256 751-769-629