Steve Sutton

My focus is on scaling the business profitably, optimising the Order-to-Cash process, and strengthening commercial discipline to turn growth into sustainable returns. In this capacity I partner closely with finance and strategy teams to sharpen our KPIs, drive margin improvement, and enhance cash-flow conversion—recognising that strong revenue growth must be backed by strong financial discipline. At E7 Group we’re committed to delivering value to shareholders not just through topline expansion, but through consistent margin discipline, targeted cost control, and disciplined capital allocation (including our commitment to a minimum dividend threshold through 2027) I bring to the role a mindset of commercial rigour, financial accountability and customer-centric innovation—ensuring that every deal, channel and contract contributes not just to growth, but to returns.

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) function at Link Africa Holdings (LAH) is a pivotal driver of digital transformation, operational efficiency, and technological advancement. Over the past financial year, the CIO’s office has successfully executed key initiatives aimed at system integration, network optimization, cybersecurity, and IT-driven cost savings. 1. Key Achievements & Strategic IT Initiatives. Below are the core initiatives completed in FY25: 1.1 System Integration & IT Optimization Enterprise-Wide IT Consolidation: Successfully integrated IT systems, enabling a seamless transition and centralized data architecture for enhanced operational efficiency. Customer Database Centralization: Unified customer data platforms across subsidiaries to eliminate redundancy, improve data accuracy, and facilitate predictive analytics for churn management. BSS Implementation: Streamlined workflow automation and ticketing systems, significantly reducing service response times and operational bottlenecks. IT Infrastructure Rationalization: Transitioned legacy systems to cloud-based and cost-efficient infrastructures, reducing long-term IT expenses while improving system reliability. Service Reliability Optimization: Enhanced network monitoring and service automation to ensure 99.99% uptime, mitigating disruptions caused by external factors such as load shedding. 1.2 IT-Driven Cost Optimization & Financial Impact Strategic Cost Reduction: Implemented IT-driven cost reduction strategies, contributing to ZAR 32.3 million in operational savings across LAH. Automated Billing & Financial Efficiency: Shifted IT systems to support advance billing, improving cash flow liquidity and reducing debtor days. 1.3 Business Intelligence & Data-Driven Decision Making Automation & AI-Driven Support: Deployed chatbots and AI-based process automation to handle service requests, accelerating issue resolution and reducing service desk loads.

Scaling artificial intelligence can create a huge competitive advantage, but it’s not enough to invest in technologies and algorithms. We need to rewire decision-making and operations to extract measurable value and then invest in human capabilities to make it work

Specific Responsibilities Include: • Development, review and refinement of the Company’s business strategy, and execution of that strategy to obtain a leading position in the local and African marketplace. • Ensure revenue growth is achieved in a responsible and profitable manner; expanding franchise territories and ensuring profitability of franchisees.

Instrumental in driving Company Growth of: • Revenue growth 23% Year-on-Year • EBITDA doubled Year-on-Year • PBT (Profit before Tax) positive for financial year 2013-14 • Business customers grew 28% • Executive Board member Corporate Strategy Responsibilities As head of strategy I look for signals both inside and outside the company that could indicate threats to continued success or opportunities to grow the business and increase market share. I make projections based on current trends and future expectations, and set the strategic goals for the company. Working with the rest of the management team, I ensure action and resource requirements are properly aligned to allow for those goals to be met, and then inspire the workforce to achieve them. This role continuously monitors company and market performance to determine if strategies need to be adjusted or new strategies needs to be introduced.

Achievements: • Successful Transformation of PMO into a Strategic P3O • Successful Completion of 6 key strategic growth initiatives Focus Area As GM SP3O I ensure all of Company’s major projects are planned, approved, and implemented to meet Company’s Risk Review requirements from the start. This includes delivery of pre-engineered, engineered and special purpose products and management of large commercial contracts. This role ensures sustained P3RM across Operations, drive continuous improvement and leverage Project Management Best Practices.

Achievements: • Established company's first IS department • Developed company's first integrated BSS system • Instrumental in achieving 5000km fiber roll-out • Managing/Tracking of first CDMA network roll-out • Successful establishment of NBSS Support the CNO with respect to Enablement as pertaining to the Networks division through performance management of Network and Service departments ensuring maximum efficiencies.

Manage national end to end service delivery chain ensuring both delivery expectations and revenue targets are met for Neotel as a group.

Establish IS department and develop all mission critical systems and reporting platforms.

Support Managing Executive by ensuring all Business and Strategic objectives through the establishment of NBSS (Neotel Business Support Services). Manage and direct GM team in line with operational/financial objectives.

VB, SQL and C# development. Scenario modeling including Remuneration and Performance management systems design. Product and service development.

Manage, create, produce, and maintain all reports and its production in CTO environment. This also includes administration of various databases and mechanisms of report production and presentation. The job also ensured quality production, development of intranet applications, and provision of training to users.

Software Development Modules plus Additional: Network+ Preparation, iNet+ Preparation, Administering Linux, Security+ Preparation