Practice Management: Marketing & HR

Bio Dr. Ivor Blumenthal

Ivor Blumenthal graduated with degrees in Law and Psychology and Business from Wits University, an Honors Degree in Clinical and Counselling Psychology from RAU University, a PDM from Wits Business School between 1981 and 1991. He obtained his Doctorate – Phd. in Innovation and Technology from Da Vinci University, in 2010.
He worked in the Human Resources Industry, the Banking Sector and the FMCG sector until being appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Furniture Industries Training Board, in South Africa from 1991 until 1996.
He also served as the chief Project Officer, and the first CEO for the establishment of the Universitarios Estudios De Marbella, a Business School established in Marbella, Spain, initially with one faculty, in Hotel School Management, as a footprint and the first external branch of the Le Roches Hotel School in Switzerland, which now has four footprints around the World. Subsequently the Hotel School campus moved to a large campus and expanded to four additional Business School faculties.
On returning to South Africa, he served as CEO of the Association of Personnel Service Organisations (APSO) from 1996 until 2000.
In 1998 he was appointed as Chairperson of the Services SETA and at the same time was also appointed as a member of the National Skills Authority, which is an advisory body to the Minister of Labour and was responsible for developing the Skills Development Act, the Skills Development Funding Act and the South African Qualifications Act.
He grew the Services SETA to a R1 billion levy income organisation by April 2011.
During his time as head of the SSETA he shepherded in 48 Learnerships registered through the South African Qualifications Authority.
The Services SETA had contracted 45 000 learners into these qualifications on average, a year by 2011.
He worked on various International Bodies representing the Services SETA and South Africa including Worldkills, the European Marketing Association, various Global Hairdressing and Beauty Associations, the Social Dialogues for Personnel Care at the European Union, the International Labour Organisation and was one of those instrumental in creating the International Professional Standards Network (IPSN). Together with Mark Agterdenbosch of the South African Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, Dr Blumenthal was involved in establishing a particularly successful number of inward and outward-bound Trade Visits between Dutch and South African companies.
In his role as CEO of the Services SETA, he was responsible for establishing a number of Global Reciprocity deals with countries such as Holland, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Russia. Included in this activity was working with DTI on facilitating numerous outward and inward-bound Trade Visits, for eight of the 35 Industries included within the scope of the Services SETA. These included the Call Centre, Hairdressing, Personal Care, Project Management Services, Manufacturing, Hospitality and Marketing Services Industries.
In his role with the South African Qualifications Authority and as head of the SSETA Education, Training Qualifications Authority, with the establishment of Professional Bodies, Dr Blumenthal was engaged through NEPAD, in creating continental-wide African reciprocal relationships for the recognition and ongoing development of Professionals in many of the 35 Industries covered within the scope of the Services SETA.
In 2011, after a decade of service at the Services SETA Dr Blumenthal left that organization to establish a Consulting Practice named ArkKonsult specializing in servicing Business Associations and Professional Bodies, and in-particular in establishing BBBEE Strategies for Private Sector Businesses.
Pursuing his hobby which is Radio, he has hosted the following shows: The Afternoon Drive Show on Chai FM for two years, Contemporary Business on Radio Today for 5 years, and ss host of the Contemporary Business Podcast Channel he has conducted 952 interviews with local guests on Academic, Legal, Business, Social and Political subjects.
In 2014 he published a book entitled “50 Shades of Greed – The Services SETA, Warts and All”.
He completed the Unisa Management Development Program in BBBEE for purposes of a SANAS Accreditation as a BBBEE Verification Agency.
In 1994 he became a City Councillor for Johannesburg serving as an Independent Johannesburg City Councillor until 2000.
He also served as Vice Chairman of Our Parents Home, an Old Age Home in Johannesburg and he has taught as a part-time lecturer in Marketing, Strategy and HR at the University of Johannesburg in Johannesburg for 10 years.
He is married to Robyn a Speech Therapist and they have three children, Natalia 25, Aylit 20 and Adiv 15.