Stephen Stewart

Senior Consultant with 30+ years of experience

Stephen is a senior consultant with a focus on Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity and sustainable business development in the voluntary carbon market space, with a 30-year plus successful track record.

He is a technology specialist in the smart card, mobile telecoms (including eSIM), IoT/M2M, biometrics, fintech (PAYGO & electronic payments) and digital security industries and has international experience in the UK, Europe and Africa.

He has occupied leadership roles in the start-up and management of several subsidiaries for large multi-national companies and has wide-ranging commercial, sales & marketing and project management skills, with an excellent understanding of cash-flow management, cost containment and sustainable development requirements. 

Stephen Stewart CV

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Consultant - IoT

4R Digital/Cavex - Reading            April 2024 - present

Carbon Value Exchange (Cavex) is a climate finance company with integrity, innovation and impact. It uses digital finance and innovative technologies to
drive environmental and socioeconomic benefits for the people and communities most in need. I was brought onboard to develop its IoT strategy, specifically focusing on automating and improving d-MRV data quality and provenance, to ultimately reduce costs and achieve higher carbon credit value for the project owners in the voluntary carbon markets. 

SVP - Customer Success 

Eseye Ltd – Guildford                January 2020 to March 2024 

Eseye is a technology specialist in the Internet of Things (IoT/M2M) market. The company has c150 employees and revenue of around £24K per annum. Since January 2020, I headed up the Eseye Customer Success function with a responsibility for the company’s top 40 customer and around 67% of the company’s monthly recurring revenue (MRR).

Regional Director - Africa  

Eseye Ltd – Guildford              January 2014 to December 2019 

With extensive experience of conducting business in Africa, I was responsible for developing Eseye’s fledgling business on the African continent. In this role I focused on: 

  • Setting up Eseye subsidiaries in South Africa and Kenya 
  • Negotiating mobile inter-connects with African mobile network operators such as Etisalat, Vodacom SA and the MTN Group 
  • Establishing partner programs in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Botswana 
  • Developing business funnels in various African countries and market sectors such as solar, banking, asset tracking, and more 

Managing Director - UK 

Morpho Cards UK Ltd.         September 2008 – December 2013 

Morpho Cards (now Idemia) is one of the pioneers & world leaders in the smart card sector. In this role I led the strategic direction of the North Europe telecoms sales team within the broader confines of the EMEA sales strategy. I concluded supply agreements with new customers (VGE (Vodafone) UK, Telenor Norway, Tele2 Sweden, Elisa Finland) and extended supply agreements with existing customers (EE, TeliaSonera and KPN/E-Plus).

Furthermore, I set pricing structures which maintained group sales margins in a very price competitive market and achieved and exceeded sales and EBIT targets and grew the turnover by 8% CARG in very tough economic and market conditions (during the global financial crash of 2008). I also, managed all company financial and HR related matters to Group. This included implementing new benefits, pension and salary sacrifice schemes and strategically directed the company in all its business facets. 

Managing Director - South Africa 

Sagem Orga SA (Pty) Ltd.                                    2004 – 2008 

In 2004 I started Sagem Orga’s first subsidiary in Africa (Johannesburg, South Africa) and built the subsidiary to a profitable €12 million turnover company with 34% CARG in the last 3 years involved in the business. This secured MTN Group with 23 MNOs throughout MEA and the Airtel Group with 21 MNOs throughout MEA, as new customers.

During this time, I also project managed the successful commissioning of a card production facility in Lagos, Nigeria after successfully bidding for a license to manufacture from the NCC (Nigeria Communications Commission). 

Director – South Africa 

Bluefish Technologies (Pty) Ltd.                         2001 – 2004 

Started-up and managed the African subsidiary to a profitable entity within 2 years of start-up in the highly competitive GSM market.

Business Unit Manager - Healthcare 

Namitech (Pty) Ltd.                                              1997 – 2001 

As part of the company’s senior management team, developed new customer business (Anglo American Health) and managed customer accounts (MTN SA) in the smart card market. 

Business Analyst - Team Leader 

IDC of SA Limited                                                  1992 – 1995 

At the IDC I assessed debt financing applications by SMEs in the SA manufacturing industry. The loan amounts varied between US$40K and US$30 million. 

Project Manager – Telecoms 

Houwhoek Technologies Limited                      1990 – 1992 

At Houwtech I project managed and system engineered the telecommunication sub-system (US$4 million annual budget) of the main Observation Satellite project.

SKILLS 

  • Full P&L responsibility and balance sheet control of cash & capital 
  • General Management expertise in multinational environment 
  • Combination of technical and commercial insight 
  • Sustainable business development 
  • Focus on driving results through leadership and planned implementation 
  • Building and leading performing teams 
  • Structured approach to developing opportunities and turning them into business 
  • All levels of Stakeholder management 
  • Ability to identify key business drivers in the industry 
  • Employee training and development 

HIGHLIGHTS  

Started up 4 subsidiaries in South Africa and Nigeria for various multi-national companies (Bluefish Technologies, Sagem ORGA, Morpho Cards and Eseye) 

Built Bluefish Technologies SA into a profitable business within 2 years and Morpho Cards SA into a €12 million turnover business within 4 years 

Managed the UK subsidiary of the billion Euro Morpho Group (now Idemia) 

Board experience in private companies and wholly owned subsidiaries of public listed companies 

EMEA business experience having managed businesses in South Africa and the UK; with Africa, Benelux, Germany, and North Europe (Scandinavia and Baltics) responsibilities

EDUCATION 

University of Stellenbosch                            completed   1989

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Electronic)

University of Cape Town                                completed   1996

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Note: from January 1983 to December 1984 I completed 2-year compulsory (conscription) military service in the South African Infantry Corps

Board Experience

  • Bluefish Technologies (SA) – Private
  • Sagem Orga (SA) – wholly owned by the Sagem Group
  • Morpho Cards (UK) – wholly owned by the CAC40 listed SAFRAN Group

 

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