Ben Mwene profile

Ben Mwene

The pandemic has ushered in significant societal changes, prompting organizations to swiftly adapt to evolving customer needs and behaviors. This adaptive response is heavily influenced by insights derived from the vast pool of data that organizations gather, store, and oversee. Within this landscape, financial leaders play a pivotal role in maneuvering through intricate economic terrains, making strategic decisions based on informed analysis, and upholding financial stability.

This necessity for skilled financial professionals extends even to companies like iQBodygroup, where precision and efficiency are paramount. In an industry where innovation meets automotive craftsmanship, the role of a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) goes beyond balancing the books; they are instrumental in orchestrating financial strategies that support the company’s mission of providing cutting-edge solutions to automotive challenges. Amidst the intricate web of operational complexities, having a visionary CFO like Ben Mwene at the helm can make all the difference.

From the Scratch

Being the second of two children, Ben Mwene was born in Hwange, Zimbabwe surrounded by picturesque views, where adventure and thrill was just a step away. As a result, without his parents knowledge or permission, Mwene and his friends ventured deep into dangerous terrains playing games of dare, it left a lasting impression on him, which eventually translated to business curiosity and fearless risk-taking. “In my early teens, my parents decided to move to Australia. Having come from the melting pot that is Africa I fitted right in, determined to seize every opportunity”, Mwene exclaims. “My ambition finally found expression while watching a compelling History Channel docu series titled ‘The Men Who Built America’. It was then I decided that contributing to building new industries and advancing innovation was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life”, he continues.

He progressed with his life obtaining an education in the field of Accounting and Commerce at Deakin University., where he also took up volunteer roles on local boards and mentoring programs. Subsequently, having completed his degree enabled him to land a role in the Davidsons graduate program which paved the way into international professional services firms Mazars and RSM Global. Even though Mwene found relevance in academics and curriculum, where he actually found his edge was in practical knowledge, learning beyond the curriculum and being self-taught.

Journey Towards iQBodygroup

Approached by Sandra Noach, the Managing Director of iQBodygroup, an accomplished entrepreneur who had co-founded the business a decade prior, Ben Mwene found himself at a pivotal moment. At the time, iQBodygroup was in search of a young, talented financial controller who could be nurtured into a future CFO. With his sharp intellect and resolute personality, Mwene seemed tailor-made for the role, and since assuming the position of CFO, he has never looked back.

Carefully charting the future with his close collaborators within iQBodygroup including one Andrew Avro, a General Manager with 20 years experience in the automotive industry whom he credits as having enhanced his perspective, Mwene was amassing all the qualities of the complete CFO.

“Finance serves as the cornerstone of commerce and plays a pivotal role in decision-making. I was drawn to the field of Finance because I wanted to contribute to critical decisions when they mattered most,” Mwene reflects. iQBodygroup under his leadership boasted several new ventures with significant growth potential, among which AutoXCarCare stood out as the most promising—a cosmetic repair membership program poised for international expansion.

As the CFO

As the CFO, Ben along with his capable team involve themselves in strategic planning, working in-sync with advisors of the board, also ensuring right revenue growth and

diversification. He also actively leads in the initiation and driving of cost-effective pursuits, obtaining funds, reviewing mergers, and acquisitions.

Ben personally is very excited about AutoXCarCare, a subsidiary within the group experiencing double digit year on year growth, already the industry leader in cosmetic repairs, with untapped potential and will almost certainly be one of the automotive industry’s most profitable plays of the coming decade. Moreover, in the future, Mwene anticipates divesting interests in low-margin legacy auto body businesses. He plans to reinvest the proceeds into modern strategic enterprises, maximizing the potential for growth and profitability. Additionally, he intends to explore opportunities for obtaining equity funding to fully capitalize on the burgeoning potential of iQBodygroup’s emerging ventures.

Knowing Ben Mwene

Ben Mwene finds enjoyment in kayaking, sailing, and camping alongside friends and family. He also dedicates time to nurturing his Christian faith, sharing its values with like-minded friends. To unwind and recharge, Ben often finds relaxation in watching sports.