Winds of Change

Ian Paterson is one of South Africa’s leading strategic change specialists. He is the founder of the SMC.group a leading provider of strategy consulting, facilitation and Real Time research solutions to the public and private sectors.

Consulting Background

Ian specialises is working with leadership teams to develop innovative processes of strategic engagement designed to accelerate and sustain future success. These processes range from engagement around strategy crafting, large scale strategic alignment to the development of strategic change as a deep seated organisational capability. Insight Customer Solutions provides an integrated approach to the crafting, execution and long term innovation of Customer experiences incorporating brand – experience alignment and Real Time Research. Ian has lead many of the most comprehensive organisational transformation processes in both the South African public and private sectors.

Ian’s clients include the South African Revenue Service, National Treasury, DaimlerChrysler, CN Business Furniture, Southern Sun Hotels, Sun International, Oracle Applications, Metrofile, Hollard, Innovative Medicines, Woolworths Cafes and the Financial Services Board. In 2002, Ian was recognised by Fedhasa, the South Africa hospitality industry association as ‘Consultant / Service Provider of the year’ for ‘outstanding services to the hospitality industry.’.

Says Ian ‘I’ve always been fascinated about why some organisations are able to harness the collective wisdom and energy of their people, be sustained leaders in their marketplaces and others just seem to survive almost in spite of themselves. I’ve always been a practical ‘hands on’ consultant – I love getting to know what’s really happening in an organisation and its environment - then working with them to design the kind of processes that harnesses their latent strengths and bring out the best in their people. The energy, passion and success that result is the adrenaline I thrive on’