Proven Performance
The success of a Business Rescue is not measured in filings, but in the restoration of a company as a sustainable going concern.
Why Experience Matters
Most Business Rescue Practitioners come from a legal or accounting background. Mike Benfield is different — he has led companies through South Africa's most volatile economic cycles as a CEO and CFO, giving him an operational perspective that is rare in the BRP profession.
The case studies below reflect the breadth of Mike's executive leadership experience across the South African industrial landscape — the same experience he now brings to every business rescue engagement.
Group CEO — Leading Steel Service Centre Group, South Africa
At the helm of South Africa's largest Steel Service Centre group, Mike navigated the intense volatility of the global steel market — one of the most capital-intensive and cyclical industries on the continent.
Managing a massive, capital-intensive operation with a diverse workforce and high exposure to fluctuating commodity prices, exchange rate risk, and shifting demand from the construction and manufacturing sectors.
Mike implemented a "discipline-first" leadership approach, breaking down internal silos and fostering a culture of accountability throughout the organisation. He focused on optimising the supply chain and managing relationships with thousands of small-to-large-scale customers across the SADC region.
This experience directly informs Mike's approach as a BRP — understanding supply chain dependencies, managing diverse creditor relationships, and maintaining operational continuity under extreme financial pressure.
Group CFO — Base Metal Miner, Southern Africa (Copper & Cobalt)
As CFO of a Base Metal Miner operating across multiple countries in Southern Africa, Mike was at the centre of a complex mining group with diverse copper and cobalt interests and significant cross-border financing arrangements.
The mining sector is frequently hit by liquidity crises due to high fixed costs and volatile commodity pricing. Managing cross-border debt structures, regulatory reporting obligations across multiple jurisdictions, and operational funding requirements required rigorous financial oversight.
Drawing on his technical background as a CA(SA), Mike managed the Group's budgeting and regulatory reporting with a focus on prudential limits and capital requirements — the same financial metrics that define a modern Business Rescue Plan.
Experience managing cross-border creditor relationships, complex debt structures, and volatile cash flows is directly applicable to Business Rescue proceedings — particularly in the mining, resources, and energy sectors.
Why broad sector experience matters in Business Rescue
Mike's experience spans Steel, Mining, Engineering, Aviation, Logistics, Entertainment and Banking. This broad exposure allows MJBusiness Rescue to handle atypical business rescues that other practitioners — with narrower backgrounds — lack the operational depth to manage effectively.
We apply professional and energetic rigour to every rescue, ensuring that all stakeholders are protected transparently — regardless of the industry or complexity of the case.
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