Michael Wyatt

Michael Wyatt is the former managing director of Bata South Africa and newly appointed as President of Bata Africa- Middle East and Bata Industrials.

Born in Pietermaritzburg, he grew up in the KZN Midlands where he attended Howick High School. After matriculating, Michael immediately entered the workforce.

“I took a slightly different approach, which is not for everybody, but it has worked out for me so far. I think my early experience enabled me to get a head start on my own business career,” he explained.

From a young age, Michael embraced a strong work ethic. Inspired by his father’s experience of growing up in Kenya, Michael took on various jobs throughout his teenage years.

A stint as a sign writer while working as a graphic designer, allowed him entry into the shoe industry just after the 2000s, when a company looking for a digital footwear designer took a chance on him. In this capacity, Michael designed footwear for two brands, Biotribe and Lizzard, which led him to the business side of the footwear industry, and eventually to Bata South Africa.

“I had always grown up with a passion for footwear. Even in my school days, I would sketch pictures of skateboard shoes among other things,” he recalls.

His career with Bata now extends close to 15 years. During 2014 to 2017, he worked for the Bata Group internationally – first in Australia and New Zealand, and subsequently in Central Europe in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. This exposure within a global company of 40,000+ employees, from over 75 countries, making shoes at 21 manufacturing sites and selling them through 5,300 retail outlets in more than 70 different countries, was invaluable for his career.

TOP PERFORMING TEAM
Towards the end of 2019, as Michael and his wife missed South Africa, he requested to return to the country. He felt he could bring back what he had learnt and, as it turns out, this optimism has been richly rewarded.

Over the years he has had many accomplishments, but one that stands out is his team’s efforts in South Africa. Last year, Bata South Africa closed as the top-performing Bata company globally, reporting double-digit growth, and received a number of awards. In addition, throughout the Covid period, Bata SA protected jobs, did not retrench anybody, and managed to grow.

“To be able to deal with all the external factors in South Africa over the last three years and still be the top-performing team within the group was a huge accomplishment. As a KZN-based business, Bata SA manufactures millions of pairs of shoes in the country, which are 95% locally made. Our strong partnerships with key retailers allow us to consistently deliver the very best to our customers, combining style and substance to make an impact that reaches far beyond our borders.”

Bata’s journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to quality, driven by its people and inspired leadership in regions like Africa which Michael oversees.

In August 2024, Michael was promoted into a new role as President of Bata Africa-Middle East and Bata Industrials, succeeded by seasoned fashion retail and wholesale professional, Lorraine Dyer, as Bata South Africa’s first-ever woman Country Manager.

His current purpose is to steer Bata’s Africa-Middle East region, particularly as it rolls out Bata’s global five-year strategy with a focus on expanding local business and increasing exports across the African market.

EMBRACING OPPORTUNITIES
Michael is a firm believer in saying yes to opportunities. At one point in his career, he was, at the age of 32, the youngest managing director within the group, which gave him the opportunity to grow outside of his comfort zone. “There are a handful of occasions in life where you have the ability to dramatically change the trajectory of your career, and the key is to identify those opportunities and take them on.”

Michael considers his biggest challenge to be the Bata Central Europe assignment, where he was tasked with returning the founding Bata country back to profitability. He explains, considering the region’s long history and thirty-year occupation, “As a foreigner, having to land and set out to right- size our Czech Republic and Slovakian operations, all while navigating a language barrier, was a monumental task. I’m incredibly proud to have achieved it. This assignment is a central part of my Bata story.”

INTERNAL DRIVE
Michael says he was fortunate that as a young man, he was often thrown into situations where he worked with gentlemen in their 50s,60s, or 70s who were seasoned leaders and who became his mentors. He also benefited from the guidance of a supportive Board of Directors and mentors in Australia and New Zealand, which were critical to his early career success.

His inspiration comes from those with internal drive and a go-getter attitude, who are determined to improve their own lives, regardless of the scale.

“Outside of that, I love a good corporate business autobiography. I love reading about people’s progression, their evolution, and overcoming all sorts of odds – rags to riches stories. I find that inspiring, whether it’s an entrepreneur setting up his own coffee shop or a business overcoming a huge corporate takeover.”

In addition, he believes it’s important not to put off things such as joining the gym, enrolling in a new course, or attempting a new business strategy.

OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD
Michael believes the next five years will be extraordinarily tough as there are many challenges that have to be overcome, however he is optimistic. “There are a lot of opportunities in South Africa and in Africa; we are the only continent with a growing population and have over a billion people on this continent. Despite the challenges, I think our job as business leaders is not to dwell on them but to overcome them and find opportunity.”