LONDON, UK, 2 Feb 2021 — Rainbird, the intelligent automation software company, has appointed Johan Neethling as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and member of the executive team. He most recently worked as CEO at a clean-tech startup before bringing his specialist tax and financial knowledge to Rainbird.
Johan spent four years at PwC, where he worked in the then-emerging “accelerated growth” business. He became an Associate Chartered Accountant and full member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) while at PwC.
Wanting to gain broader commercial experience, Johan joined FTSE-listed British American Tobacco Plc. He worked in the finance team, contributing to finance automation projects as part of a global technology infrastructure investment. He also joined the Chartered Institute of Taxation, qualifying as a Chartered Tax Advisor with a focus on corporation tax for large businesses and groups.
Johan says: “I have always had a significant and passionate interest in deep technology and am excited to join Rainbird, particularly as I believe that intelligent automation will be the catalyst for exponential growth in finance, commerce and beyond, especially in the post-COVID-19 world.
“I believe Rainbird is the key to unlocking significant efficiencies and opportunities for growth as businesses continue to evolve their digital strategies. The immediate impact on finance and tax transformation – in relation to risk management, governance and client services – will bring immediate and tangible benefits. I’m excited by the impact specialist knowledge can have, in humanitarian and global terms, when it is scaled exponentially.”
James Duez, Rainbird CEO, says: “I am delighted that Johan has joined our senior team. His experience as a seasoned CFO, as well as his deep interest in intelligent automation technology, makes him ideally placed to support our growth. We continue to work with a large number of professional services organisations, including most of the top global accounting firms. Johan will be using his considerable experience across finance and tax to help our clients create market-leading automation solutions.”