Profile - Tony Dearling
The Dealmaker Company Programmes - Head Facilitator
Accredited in the following programmes:
Tony Dearling is a member of the select team of Facilitators for The Dealmaker Company programmes. He is also the owner of a company that specialises in technical occupational work-wear. As an entrepreneur, he has established small businesses and negotiated their sale to listed corporates. His keen entrepreneurial spirit and expertise have enabled him to move between small enterprises and major executive portfolios in large organisations.
Tony started his career as a Town Planner but migrated to the business world after completing an MBA. He worked as an Industrial Engineer prior to his role as assistant to the Managing Director of a large, rapidly expanding retail operation. A need to understand retail at the "shop floor" level prompted more operational appointments.
Whilst on "sabbatical", fulfilling his sporting aspirations as an athlete, Tony purchased a specialist sports shoe store. Utilising his retail experience, he expanded the business from one store to a national chain. The enterprise was sold to a major hotel and leisure group six years later.
Tony then acquired an engineering business. He redefined its strategic capabilities and transformed it into a profitable business before selling it to a large engineering group.
Subsequently, Tony's love of retail saw him returning to South Africa's largest retail chain, Edcon. Twelve years later, he held the position of Merchandise Executive and managed a multi-billion rand portfolio of international brands, involving him in negotiations globally with companies such as Nike, Adidas, Estee Lauder and Clinique.
Tony later moved on to spearhead two medium sized businesses as Managing Director - first an upmarket retail shoe chain, then a large footwear and clothing distributor. He launched his work-wear company in 2009 and joined The Dealmaker Company as a facilitator in the same year. As a lover of the outdoors, Tony enjoys road and mountain biking as well as scuba-diving.
