Carrick is delighted to welcome aboard Bradd Bendall, who will take up his new appointment as group sales director at the Carrick Group, effective 1 July, 2020. Set to bring the proverbial “fresh set of eyes” to the task of significantly growing the company’s sales team, Bendall says he is ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work.

Fresh from his position as general manager: operations at Pam Golding Properties, the Cape Town father of three describes himself as servant leader by nature, who puts the needs of his team ahead of his own. It’s a trait he credits for his history of building exceptional, high-performance sales teams. With a diverse background that saw him part study civil engineering before building a business in logistics, followed by a stint at African Life Assurance and then 14 years at the Ooba Group prior to his move to Pam Golding Properties, Bendall has fine-tuned his ability to spot new opportunities.

He was particularly drawn to Carrick, he explains. Not only is he excited by the expert vision of chief executive officer Craig Featherby and the Exco team, but also the chance to work alongside a talented senior management team and for a company he says has really shown its mettle during the unprecedented times of COVID-19 – and in which he sees enormous growth potential.

“The fact that Carrick has managed to efficiently and effectively trade its way through this extremely difficult period speaks volumes about the business, its agility and the solid foundation on which it has been built,” Bendall says. Addressing the specific challenges present in the sales environment, Bendall’s view is that the basics remain the same, regardless of the global “new normal” that is putting pressure on economies across the world. His five-point strategy for success includes:Recruit the right people, and do it as quickly as possible.Limit staff churn.

Ensure your product range is relevant and exciting.Ensure clients are serviced effectively and efficiently.Remain sufficiently agile so that we can capitalize on future opportunities. “If you get that right, it makes for a really prosperous business.” At African Life, Bendall helped grow a successful sales team in the Western Cape.

At Ooba he had a hand in building a sales team that was one of the biggest in South Africa at the time with 320 consultants, while his most recent role saw him take responsibility for 2500 agents and 300 offices in South Africa and further afield on the continent. It is this unique skillset, honed by decades of on-the-ground experience, that made Bendall an easy choice for the position of group sales director of the company, says Featherby, who is also the founder of the Carrick Group. “He has significant experience in what it takes to build and manage big teams, combined with a people-focused leadership style. We are extremely excited to see Bradd get to work seeking out new opportunities and capitalising on those for the ultimate good of the business,” he says.

Bendall agrees: “Our discussions have revealed a clear need to grow the sales teams both onshore and offshore. Given the fact that Carrick is diversifying into property, there will be new opportunities in that arena too. While it’s too early to be specific, what I do know is that it will be my task to look at every possible opportunity to grow Carrick’s existing reputation for offering vastly superior products, along with delivering significantly better yields.” Looking forward, he has high hopes for the future of South Africa, and its Millennials who he says are really beginning to show their hand in terms of their ability to take their place in the business world.

“I’m both delighted and humbled to get this opportunity to play a role in this new world, being part of a company committed to giving South Africans the choice of investing prudently both locally and abroad, effectively future-proofing our clients’ tomorrows,” Bendall says.