Sun International COO Rob Collins on how South Africa hosted the world's most successful CEO SleepOut™
After partnering up to ensure that South Africa showcased the most successful event of this kind in the world, COO of Sun International Rob Collins is proud to return to be a part of The Sun International CEO SleepOut™ showcased by Jacaranda FM.
With R26 million raised in 2015, The Sun International CEO SleepOut™ was not only the most successful event of it's kind in the world in Dollar terms (beating out Canada, Australia, the UK and other countries), but is also the single biggest charity drive in South Africa's history.
“We had an opportunity to do it last year and it was a tremendous success. We reveled in the excitement and enthusiasm and ultimately, it was also for such a good cause. So it would have been remiss of us not to do something similar this year, so we’re really excited about it," says Sun International COO, Rob Collins.
This year’s beneficiaries include the Asha Trust, the Steve Biko Foundation and Columba Leadership, with the target being R40 million from 250 CEOs: “I think the beauty of this is as opposed to just philanthropically cashing a cheque like most companies may have done in the past, this was a collaborative effort. So everyone gathers and you meet, greet, reminisce, talk about sport and talk about important social issues and the ultimately, there’s an air of introspection over why we are there and as the night got colder and deeper, things started changing quite dramatically, with introspection around the fire on the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’.”
Rob matriculated at Parktown Boy’s High School in 1979 and attended Wits University thereafter where he studied to be a lawyer and read for a BCom (legal). In 1985 two years of military conscription took him to the Navy. After serving 3 months basic training at Saldhana Bay he was sent to the Receiver of Revenue where he was appointed as Legal Advisor where he served for 4 years completing his national service and camps (rolled up into one). Whilst there he studied further and completed an honours degree – in Marketing and Business Economics and assisted in writing the VAT Act. He thereafter completed a post LLB, HDip Tax Law and later an HDip Co Law at Wits.
On completing his national service at 27, Rob was offered an associate directorship at Deloitte and Touche in the tax department. It was at this stage that he started giving something back to his Alma Mater and lectured for eight years to the full time and part time final year Chartered Accountant students at Wits.
In late 1999, Rob was headhunted and eventually took up the challenge of joining (in 2000) and managing one of South Africa’s largest black empowerment companies, Tsogo Sun, and was appointed Chief Executive Officer of MGM Grand SA – who had the management contract to run the Tsogo Sun Casinos. He reported into the MGM Mirage Group in Las Vegas.
In August 2013 he left Tsogo sun and had a sabbatical until the end of the year. Therafter, he joined Sun International in January 2014 and currently holds the position of Chief Operating Officer.
Rob has challenged Cell C CEO, Jose Dos Santos, Chairman of Telkom, Jabu Mabuza and Transnet Group CEO, Siyabonga Gama to join the #4Leaders4Change movement at The Sun International CEO SleepOut™ 2016.