Ray Weekes

Lived Experience:

• CEO and Executive Director of multinational FMCG companies (Rothmans Holdings Limited, Castlemaine Perkins Ltd) with responsibility for operations across Australia, NZ, Indonesia, Philippines, PNG, Fiji, and the South Pacific. Led one of the most significant change programs in Australian corporate history – drove rapid transformation at Castlemaine Perkins within a highly unionised workforce by building trust, engaging directly with employees to understand their perspective, and executing change decisively to avoid “death by a thousand cuts,” then rebuilding commitment, loyalty, and morale after the transformation.
  
  
• Strategic planning and corporate development leadership at global pharmaceutical company, Ciba Geigy and senior executive roles including Director Corporate Planning and Development at top 20 ASX listed company – Tooth & Co.
  
  
• Chairman and Director of listed public companies (Breakfree Ltd, Voxson Ltd), Chairman of Brisbane Institute, and extensive board directorships and advisory roles in private companies plus board and other areas of involvement in charitable, academic and government organisations

Success factors:

• Ethical leadership
• Trust and openness
• Dispersed decision-making
• Being curious
• Asking the right questions
• Focus, focus, focus
• Peer groups accelerating learning

Core values:

• Openness
• Courage
• Curiosity
• Trust
• Confidence
• Authenticity
• Integrity
• Ethical behaviours
• Communication

Knowledge:

• Leadership – courage in leadership, executive mentoring, organisational reviews, major change management in unionised and complex environments, and the application of Stoic philosophy and historical management thinking to modern leadership.
  
  
• Strategic planning, corporate governance, and organisational restructuring.
  
  
• FMCG and branded consumer products management, multi-national operations, and board directorship

Career highlights:

• Chief Executive Officer of Rothmans Holdings Limited, responsible for Group Operations across 8 countries with over 5,000 personnel
  
  
• Managing Director of Castlemaine Perkins Ltd (makers of XXXX) and Chief Executive of Rothmans New Zealand
  
  
• Chairman of listed public companies Breakfree Ltd and Voxson Ltd; Chairman of Brisbane Institute for ten years; Doctor of the University (QUT); member of Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Governing Committee

Best advice received:

• Surround yourself with the best people, make your expectations clear, and then constantly demonstrate your trust and confidence in their capacity to deliver.

Favourite business model:

• Vertical Integration (control the value chain)
• Integrated Ecosystem – Hybrid
• Business Model on a Page

Book recommendation:

The Leadership Challenge (7th Edition): How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations - James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner