VP Strategy - Cirium at LexisNexis South Africa

As VP Strategy, you will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, accountable for shaping and driving the enterprise strategy of the business. Working closely with the CEO, SLT, and RELX partners, you will define the strategic choices, priorities, and investments that guide Cirium's next phase of growth and competitive advantage.
This is a high‑impact role at the centre of decision‑making in a globally recognised aviation data and analytics business at a moment of significant transformation.


Responsibilities:

Enterprise Strategy & Strategic Direction


Own the development and continuous refinement of Cirium's long‑term enterprise strategy, grounded in deep customer insight, rigorous market analysis, and data‑driven decision‑making
Define strategic priorities and investment theses across products, data assets, markets, and emerging digital ecosystems
Partner closely with the CEO and Leadership Team to ensure strategic coherence across the organisation


Strategic Planning & Portfolio Governance


Lead Cirium's annual strategy development and planning cycles, translating choices into executable roadmaps with clear KPIs and outcome ownership
Build and maintain a unified enterprise-wide view of market opportunities, product evolution, data asset priorities, and commercial focus areas
Establish governance mechanisms to track progress and ensure disciplined execution of strategic bets


Enterprise Initiatives & Cross‑Functional Leadership


Lead high‑impact, cross‑functional strategic programmes spanning new product innovation, pricing, customer segments, technology investment, and operational excellence
Bring structured evaluation and sizing to strategic opportunities, making recommendations grounded in commercial and operational feasibility


M&A, Ecosystem Strategy & Partnerships


Lead the development of Cirium's M&A strategy and pipeline, aligned to long‑term portfolio ambition
Partner closely with RELX Corporate Development across sourcing, diligence, business case creation, deal negotiation, and integration planning
Identify and evaluate new data partnerships, strategic alliances and ecosystem plays that strengthen Cirium's differentiated market position


Market Intelligence, Foresight & External Positioning


Provide a forward‑looking external perspective to Cirium—developing deep customer, competitor, and market understanding to help the business "see around corners"
Shape SLT and Board‑level decision‑making through insight, foresight, and clear strategic narratives
Act as a visible thought leader in aviation analytics and digital transformation, representing Cirium at industry forums and with strategic partners


Leadership & Organisational Influence


Build, develop, and lead Cirium's strategy capability that models analytical excellence, curiosity, and innovation
Influence and align senior stakeholders globally, ensuring strategy translates into clear decisions and measurable outcomes.


Requirements:

Strategic & Industry Expertise


Significant experience in senior strategy roles within data, technology, aviation, analytics, or related B2B information industries
A background in top-tier consulting (BCG, Bain, McKinsey) or equivalent strategy leadership experience strongly preferred


Analytical, Commercial & Strategic Judgement


Exceptional problem‑solving capability and comfort with ambiguity—able to bring structure, rigour, and insight to complex landscapes
Outstanding ability to synthesize, simplify, and communicate complex ideas in compelling ways.
Strong financial acumen with a proven track record of linking strategic decisions to commercial outcomes


Enterprise Leadership & Influence


Proven experience operating in a global, matrixed environment
Demonstrated ability to influence and align senior stakeholders, driving coherent decisions at scale
Strong storytelling, narrative, and external communication skills


M&A & Ecosystem Experience


Experience evaluating acquisitions, partnerships, market adjacencies, and ecosystem opportunities