Management
Dr Martyn Davies is Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Advisory (Pty) Ltd.
Dr Martyn Davies is Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Advisory (Pty) Ltd, South Africa’s leading research and strategy-consulting firm that specialises in emerging markets. He has provided business strategy solutions on behalf of listed and multinational clients in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. Martyn is the number one ranked analyst in South Africa in the “Other African Economies & Markets” category as awarded by the Financial Mail in its Annual Analysts of the Year awards in 2007.
Martyn is the Executive Director of the Centre for Chinese Studies (CCS) at Stellenbosch University that was established under the South Africa – China Bi national Commission at Vice President level. The CCS is the first academic institution dedicated to the study of China in the African continent. He is also a part-time faculty member at the University of Stellenbosch Business School.
Martyn is a Senior Lecturer at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), University of Pretoria, South Africa where he heads the Asia Business Centre and lectures on MBA, Executive and Company-Specific programs.
He has written over 200 articles in academia and the press and is a regular commentator for the SABC, BBC, CNBC, CCTV, Bloomberg and Al-Jezeera. He has published a number of book chapters in political-economic publications and is a regular presenter at local and international conferences that include Chatham House, the OECD, the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the European Commission, the School of Oriental & African Studies, the South African Parliament and the World Bank.
Martyn has chaired a private session at the World Economic Forum and participated as a panellist at numerous public forums at the WEF, both in Africa and China. In October 2008, he was appointed as an advisor to the OECD for its Global Development Outlook project.
Martyn holds a BA degree in Law, an Honours Degree in International Relations (cum laude), a Master’s Degree in International Relations (cum laude) (University of the Witwatersrand), a Diploma in Asian Studies (Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea), and a PhD in International Relations (University of the Witwatersrand) - completed at the age of twenty five. He also has a certificate from Harvard Business School for its “Making Markets Work” course.
He has lived, worked and studied in Asia for a period of fourteen years and is currently writing a book on China’s commercial engagement of Africa to be published shortly by Penguin Books.
Simon Freemantle is Senior Manager and Head of Africa Frontier Advisory
He is actively involved in research and strategy within the organisation. Simon is a regular commentator for CNBC Africa and SABC Africa on issues pertinent to African business. Simon is also a columnist for Business Day and a regular contributor to a variety of business publications.
Originally from South Africa, Simon was awarded a bursary to complete his MA in International Relations at the University of Amsterdam. He has also completed a BA Law, Honours in International Relations (cum laude) and Masters in International Studies at the University of Stellenbosch where he tutored Political Science in 2003. Simon completed the courses ‘Competitive Advantage through Management Innovation’ at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, as well as ‘New Trends in African Banking Consumer Strategy’ in 2007.
Simon has taught executive courses in Doing Business in Africa and traveled the continent extensively, commenting on political and economic developments. He has also presented to a variety of incoming business delegations on the opportunities available in the South African and Sub-Saharan African economies. Simon has also presented at Standard Bank’s Global Credit Conference on the topic ‘BRICs Commercial Engagement of Africa’.
Prior to joining Frontier Advisory, Simon worked for three years as a freelance journalist, commenting primarily on international political economy.
sfreemantle@frontier-advisory.com
Abdullah Verachia is Senior Manager and Head of India Frontier Advisory
In this position he is actively involved in research, strategy and business development within the organization.
Abdullah is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa and is also currently reading towards a Masters degree (LLM) in Corporate Law. Abdullah also holds a diploma in law from the University of Pretoria’s school of practical legal training.
Abdullah previously practised at the second oldest and one of the most established law firms in Pretoria, Macintosh, Cross and Farquharson. In this position he advised a number of clients on corporate, civil and criminal law matters and also gained extensive experience in commercial and civil litigation.
Abdullah heads up the India Frontier Advisory Division at Frontier Advisory. In this position he has advised numerous South African companies on their internationalisation strategies with the Indian economy. He has also advised and engaged with a number of Indian companies entering Africa. He has participated in numerous high profile India-Africa conferences and delegations, including the South African-India CEO’s Forum and the Brazil-India-South Africa (IBSA) heads of state summit. Abdullah is also a regular media commentator for a number of publications including CNBC Africa, SABC, Business Day and the Sunday Times. Abdullah has done work in various sectors on behalf of a number of clients in India and South East Asia.
Abdullah has been recognised as a visionary young leader who has played an active role in South African society for a number of years. He has been awarded a leadership travel scholarship from the University of Johannesburg and a merit bursary from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). Abdullah is also part of the Brightest Young Minds (BYM) in South Africa. Abdullah was also previously the Mpumalanga youth leader of the year and was also chosen as a finalist for the South African Youth leader of the year award.
Abdullah has also led numerous South African delegations to the United Nations in New York, Vienna as well as Cornell and Yale University. In 2006 Abdullah headed the South African delegation that was awarded the outstanding delegation award, from over 130 delegations, at the Yale International Model United Nations and in 2007 Abdullah headed the South African delegation that was awarded the best delegation award at the Cornell International Model United Nations.He has chaired numerous sessions of the Model United Nations program both locally and internationally.
Abdullah has been awarded numerous accolades for public speaking and debating and has represented South Africa both locally and internationally on various platforms in this regard. Abdullah speaks Zulu and Gujerati and reads Arabic.
averachia@frontier-advisory.com
Hannah Edinger is Senior Manager: Research
Hannah Edinger is Senior Manager of Research at Frontier Advisory (Pty) Ltd. Ensuring high quality research and strategy solutions Hannah oversees all research and bespoke research products of the company. Hannah has also headed a number of projects and research on China and China in Africa.
Hannah holds a BComm degree, majoring in Economics and Statistics, a BComm Honours degree in Economics (cum laude), and MComm in Economics (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. In her Master’s dissertation Hannah focused on the growing global imbalances and the net deflationary bias in the international financial system with specific focus on the United States and China.
Hannah has previously lectured to junior students at the University of Stellenbosch and has also participated in research, prepared briefings as well as given a number of presentations and interviews on China’s economic role in Africa.
Hannah also holds the position of Economist at the Centre for Chinese Studies (CCS) at Stellenbosch University. The Centre is the first institution in sub-Saharan Africa dedicated to researching China’s role in Africa. At the CCS Hannah has formed part of a number of research teams and recently was involved in research projects prepared for the Department for International Development UK (China office), the African Economic Research Consortium (Kenya), and the Nordic Africa Institute (Sweden).
More recently Hannah completed a one-month academic exchange programme at the Institute for West Asian and African Studies in Beijing. Hannah is currently studying Mandarin and is fluent in English, German and Afrikaans.
hedinger@frontier-advisory.com
Tebogo Lefifi is Manager: Greater China for China Frontier Advisory, a division of Frontier Advisory (Pty) Ltd.
She is actively involved in the Group’s strategy and business development in China and her role includes marketing, research for market intelligence and liasising with Chinese, African and international firms and organizations doing international business in Sino-Africa. In this position Tebogo participates in conferences and seminars, managing and hosting visiting delegations from South Africa.
Tebogo holds a B.Comm degree, with a focus in Business Economics and Economics from University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. She has a post graduate diploma in Financial Management and Investments from the University of South Africa. She has completed a programme on Finance and attended an International Relations course at the London School of Economics. Tebogo is currently studying towards a Masters in Business Leadership (MBL).
Tebogo is a seasoned professional with over 10 years of wide ranging business experience, primarily in areas of business development, strategy and economic development. She has held management positions for a leading development finance institute, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). She was actively involved in the economic development strategy and led the formulation of the empowerment financing policy. Tebogo has also worked in the UK for an international organisation advising on international business strategy and developing market opportunities.
Tebogo has had a pioneering career, effectively managing start up projects and business operations, researching and establishing business operations from zero base. She was instrumental in the formulation of IDC’s BEE policy and regional development financing policy and business units. She headed the establishment of regional development financing following a bench mark study she conducted in France and the United Kingdom. Her research and strategic recommendation directed the establishment of KRYTERION’s International Business Unit in London, where she worked as an International Business Development Consultant.
Tebogo has been a guest speaker for a number of municipalities and government agencies in South Africa. She is also the past Director of Young Business South Africa and Azimayi Investment. She has participated as a mentor for 8 years in an international programme -SSP (Student Sponsorship Programme) and CIDA University.
Tebogo speaks basic Portuguese and Mandarin, and she is currently studying Mandarin in Beijing . She is also a keen golfer.
PY Raman is Chief Representative - India Frontier Advisory, a division of Frontier Advisory (Pty) Ltd.
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Y Raman heads the Frontier Advisory representative office in India. His work experience spans 34 years with a strong banking and financial background. He is currently based in Chennai, southern India.
He has worked for 22 years in the banking industry, 13 of which were spent with the State Bank of India. In his 9 years with the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, he was posted in Hong Kong, London and Abu Dhabi and was responsible for managing credit risk in Bangladesh, India and Latin America.
Mr Raman also has extensive experience in financial consulting. He was Partner in a financial consultancy firm in India for 9 years that specialised in advising clients on all aspects of funding for their existing or new projects and consulting on the preparation of project reports and financial projections required by lenders.
Mr Raman represents Frontier Advisory in India, working on assignments that involve research, strategic analysis and hosting South African companies in India. He has an in-depth knowledge of India and its markets, people and diverse cultures. His understanding of the potential risk factors that can influence investment decisions is a great asset to FA.
Mr Raman holds a BA in Economics and Statistics form Kerala University and a MA in Economics from Delhi School of Economics. He is fluent in English and three Indian languages – Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam.