Experience
Since 2020, The Strategy Advisory has been offering independent Strategy Development, Implementation and Transformation services
Client projects included:
- Transformation program across seven workstreams, overseeing $24m cost out, updated operating model, and rapid strategy implementation
- Due diligence for investor exploring the purchase of a port facility
- Portfolio assessment and optimisation strategy for board planning day
- COVID driven cost out program and development and implementation of the University’s 2030 Strategy, 3-year strategy and annual plan
- Industry / Government collaborative hub focused on health and nutritional food sectors – industry analysis and engagement and business case
Director - Ben Gray
Ben is a seasoned commercial and strategic executive with 15 years of experience helping large and complex organisations develop and implement Strategy. He has served clients in the Education, Logistics, Infrastructure, Retail, Building Materials and Fuel sectors. In addition to his consulting experience, Ben has also held influential Strategy and Corporate Development leadership roles within the Agri-food and University sectors.
Ben possesses a comprehensive skill set that covers strategy development, strategy implementation and transformation, facilitating the alignment between an organisation’s vision and the delivery of tangible results.
Ben holds a Bachelor of Engineering from The University of NSW and a Masters of Commerce from the University of Sydney. He is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ben's background
Ben was GM Strategy and M&A lead at GrainCorp, playing a key role growing the organisation from an EV of $600m to a $3.4B buyout offer
Projects included:
Responsible for the development of the Corporate Strategic Plan and Business Unit Strategies including Safety, IT, HR, Finance – working with leaders across the business and gaining approval from the Executive and Board
Served as a key member of the deal and then integration team in the successful acquisition of GrainCorp Malt and GrainCorp Oils and led smaller acquisitions
Facilitated various workshops to identify opportunities including non-grain diversification, and growth opportunities for acquired businesses
Author of business cases for organic growth projects including a two liquid terminal projects ($20m and $45m) and expansion of a US malt processing plant ($110m)
Led the integration and transformation of Grains and Oils business, including a Strategy Refresh, Operating Model Redesign, and a range of simplification initiatives
Ben trained at boutique management consulting
firm Port Jackson partners, which was led by 7 ex-McKinsey partners, and was later acquired by EY
Client projects included:
- Transformation programs including cost out, gross margin optimisation and property optimisation
- Development of a 5-year strategic plans
- Development of a 20 year wholesale cement market model
- Valuation of a SE Asia building products business
- Steel value chain analysis and opportunity assessment
