Neville Read - Strategic Finance Excellence
DRIVING GROWTH THROUGH STRATEGIC TRANSFORMATION AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Neville Read is a highly accomplished CFO and transformation leader with over 15 years of executive experience across Australia and South Africa.
He specialises in scaling businesses, driving strategic value creation, and delivering strong financial governance in complex, investor‑backed and multinational environments. Neville thrives in roles that demand commercial acumen, organisational change, operational excellence, and enterprise‑wide transformation.
Areas of expertise
Strategic Finance & Leadership: Neville brings deep expertise in full P&L ownership, strategic planning, board reporting, investor relations (PE/Corporate), capital allocation, and M&A integration—most notably serving as a key executive through the acquisition and integration of Innovation Group Australia by Solvd (Allianz‑backed) from 2023–2025.
Commercial Finance & Business Partnering: He has a proven track record of partnering with Sales, Marketing, and Operations to drive commercial outcomes—playing a pivotal role in pricing strategy, contract negotiation, and customer profitability modelling that contributed to more than 50% revenue growth in a single year at Solvd Group.
Finance Transformation & Systems: Neville led an end‑to‑end finance systems migration (MYOB → Microsoft Dynamics 365), building a scalable finance/data infrastructure. He is highly experienced in process optimisation, implementing controls, and building finance teams to support high‑growth, complex environments.
Operational Scale & Business Growth: His background spans B2C retail, technology/SaaS, and insurance services. He previously scaled a retail chain from 3 to 15 stores and developed a direct‑to‑consumer e‑commerce channel while improving working capital, supply‑chain efficiency, and cost structures.
Governance, Audit & Risk Management: Neville has overseen audit, risk, compliance, and company secretarial functions, including leading the acquisition of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and ensuring adherence to strict regulatory standards.
Proven Track Record
Performance Improvement & Transformation: Across his career, Neville has delivered sustained performance uplift through transformation programs, commercial optimisation, cost reduction initiatives, and operational streamlining. His leadership has been instrumental in supporting organisations undergoing rapid expansion, restructuring, and investor‑driven change.
Customer‑Centric Growth: In both corporate finance roles and retail operations, Neville has consistently demonstrated the ability to enhance customer value through data‑driven strategies, pricing improvements, and operational enhancements.
Cross‑Functional Leadership: Neville is known for partnering effectively across all business functions—acting as a strategic advisor to CEOs, boards, and executive teams to align financial insight with organisational strategy, ensuring sustainable and profitable growth.
High-Performing Teams
Neville is passionate about building high‑performing teams that can operate with precision, accountability, and strategic clarity. He has developed finance teams during periods of intense growth, system transformation, and post‑acquisition integration. His leadership style emphasises empowerment, capability‑building, and embedding high‑performance culture across finance and operational functions.