Restructuring. Strategy. Results.

Metis Strategic Advisors is a specialist advisory firm focused on helping businesses navigate strategic, financial and operational challenges. 
We work hands-on with underperforming companies or companies facing distress to stabilise, restructure and reposition for growth. Drawing on decades of experience across sectors and borders, our multi-disciplinary team delivers tailored, practical solutions that unlock value and restore confidence.

Explore Our Services
Meet Our Team
Read Our Case Studies

About Metis

Metis Strategic Advisors was founded as a restructuring and turnaround advisory firm in 2016 by Dave Lake, Trevor Murgatroyd, and Peter van den Steen. The firm was established to pool their diverse skills and deep experience in restructuring, banking, and corporate finance.



Today, the Metis team includes over 20 professionals across South Africa with various backgrounds/credentials enabling Metis to deliver tailored solutions to clients requiring restructuring or experiencing financial distress. We support our clients through complexity with structured, practical, and results-driven advice.
Why Choose Metis

Our Services

  • Banks & lenders seeking independent validation of borrower viability and/or risk optimisation
  • Boards & management navigating uncertainty and seeking a corrective road map
  • Shareholders to support restructuring objectives
  • Pre-business rescue impact analysis
  • Liquidation analysis and estimates
  • Debt restructuring & refinancing
  • Covenant analysis & negotiation
  • Liquidity management & cash forecasting
  • Capital structure optimisation
  • Revenue optimisation
  • Margin & cost improvement
  • Working capital optimisation
  • Supplier management & contract renegotiation
  • Interim C-suite support
  • Chief Restructuring Advisor - CRA
  • Chief Restructuring Officer - CRO
  • Pre-business rescue impact analysis
  • Taking on appointments as business rescue practitioners (BRPs)
  • Advising companies exposed to entities in business rescue
  • Business rescue planning and implementation
  • Managing distressed M&A transactions
  • Liquidation analysis and estimates
  • Claims management
  • Managing M&A transactions
  • Funding and capital raising
  • Strategic advisory services

Meet Our Team

Our Valued Clients

We have worked with or for many of South Africa’s largest and most respected organisations, including those noted below

Case Studies

Explore our portfolio to see how we have helped businesses overcome challenges.

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Tongaat Hulett Limited & other THL group companies

Tongaat Hulett is a leading agri-business in sugar and animal feeds with a significant asset base and footprint in…
Business Rescue
Download Case Study

The Co-op

The Co-Op is a provider of expert services, products and associated financing to its members and farmers within the Agricultural sector…
Business Restructuring
Download Case Study

Stefanutti Stocks Holdings

StefStocks is one of the largest multi-disciplinary construction businesses in Southern Africa with annual revenues of c.R10bn…
Business Restructuring
Download Case Study

Group Five Limited & Group Five Construction

Group Five was one of the largest, multi-disciplinary construction, manufacturing and infrastructure businesses in Africa with annual revenues of c.R15bn…
Business Rescue
Download Case Study
View More Case Studies

News

Reach Out

info@metis.co.za

Jindal Africa Building, 22 Kildoon Rd, Bryanston, Johannesburg, 2191

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Why Choose Metis

Reputation for Results
Our track record, reputation, and industry awards speak for themselves. We are known 
for our integrity, impact, and successful outcomes in complex restructuring mandates.


Execution Focussed
We roll up our sleeves and work side-by-side with management to deliver real, measurable results—not just reports.


Multidisciplinary Expertise
Restructuring demands diverse skills. Metis deploys senior professionals with backgrounds in finance, accounting, operations, strategy, M&A, law, and more.


Senior-Led Engagements
Every mandate is led by our senior team. We take a hands-on approach and bring deep expertise to the table from day one.


Tailored Solutions
No two situations are the same. We craft bespoke strategies that suit the specific challenges and objectives of each engagement.


Cross-Sector Experience
Our team has advised across a wide range of industries, including Construction, Manufacturing, Financial Services, FMCG, Agriculture, Retail, Renewable Energy, and Mining.

Dave Lake, Director

Dave is a co-founder of Metis with over 30 years of experience in investment banking, corporate finance, and restructuring. He holds an Honours degree in Business Science (Finance) and was formerly Managing Director at NM Rothschild.  Over his investment banking career Dave led many award winning/landmark transactions (M&A, stock 
exchange listings, debt and equity raisings, valuations, and strategic transactions) for 
locally and internationally listed clients.

Over the past decade, Dave has focused on restructuring and turnarounds, guiding numerous large and well-known companies through operational and financial challenges. He was recognised as South Africa’s ‘Dealmaker of the Year’ in 2010 and received the DealMakers ‘Business Rescue Transaction of the Year’ award in 2021.

Trevor Murgatroyd, Director

Trevor is a co-founder of Metis with extensive experience in restructuring and turnarounds. His B.Com and LLB degrees were followed by 25 years in corporate and investment banking at Standard Bank and Absa Bank, where he was instrumental in many successful corporate restructurings: as a General Manager at Absa Capital he established a Workout and Recovery unit and then headed up the Business Rescue & Recoveries division for Absa’s Wholesale Banking division (i.e. Corporate and Investment Banking as well as Business Banking). Trevor also formed part of the banking industry task group that contributed to the business rescue legislation contained in the Companies Act of 2008. Trevor draws on deep expertise in credit risk, dispute resolution, settlement negotiation, and capital raising to help companies navigate complex challenges. In 2024, he was recognised by the Turnaround Management Association as ‘Business Rescue Practitioner of the Year’.

Peter van dan Steen, Director

Peter is a co-founder of Metis and a specialist in corporate restructuring and turnarounds. With a background in Chemical Engineering and an Executive MBA, he has extensive experience across mining, agriculture, construction, energy, retail, and technology. Peter focuses on practical solutions that combine financial and operational restructuring with leadership support, strategy, and stakeholder engagement. He has led numerous complex and high-profile assignments, and has twice received the DealMakers ‘Business Rescue Transaction of the Year’ award (2021 and 2022), as well as the Turnaround Management Association’s ‘Business Rescue Practitioner of the Year’ award in 2024.

Gerhard Albertyn, Partner

Gerhard is a Partner at Metis with extensive experience in restructuring, turnarounds, and financial advisory. A Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) and CFA charterholder with further studies in insolvency law, he has worked across auditing, banking, fund management, and advisory roles in multiple international jurisdictions. Gerhard has held senior positions in big-four consultancies, South African banks, and investment funds, and has advised on complex mandates spanning diverse sectors. He combines technical expertise with a collaborative approach to help businesses navigate challenges, implement strategic change, and achieve sustainable outcomes. In 2024, he was recognised by the Turnaround Management Association as ‘Business Rescue Practitioner of the Year’.

Denis Chifunyise, Partner

Denis is a Partner at Metis and a restructuring and turnaround specialist with extensive experience working alongside shareholders, board of directors, executive and senior management. He holds an MBA from GIBS and a B.Com Hons degree in Management from Rhodes University. Denis is known for his approachable style and ability to build strong relationships, enabling him to work effectively with people at all levels to drive change. Through combining strategic insight with practical execution across a range of industries, he has advised organisations from SMEs to multinationals in sectors including banking, finance, ICT, construction, and FMCG, across South Africa and multiple African markets.

Ashleigh Cohen, Partner

Ashleigh is a Partner at Metis with expertise in restructuring, strategy, and financial advisory. A Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) with a Master’s in Commerce (Taxation), she brings analytical rigour and practical insight to complex business challenges. Ashleigh has advised on high-profile restructuring and turnaround projects across multiple industries, drawing on experience from banking, academia, and advisory roles. Known for her problem-solving skills and advanced financial modelling, she works closely with clients and stakeholders to develop solutions that deliver measurable results.

Josh Cunliffe, Partner

Josh is a Partner at Metis, specialising in corporate restructuring and turnaround. With a Master of Finance from the University of Cambridge and an undergraduate B.Sc degree in Biochemistry, he brings both analytical rigour and practical insight to his work. Josh has extensive cross-sector experience across South Africa and other African jurisdictions, focusing on operational improvements that deliver measurable results. He has led large-scale and high-profile restructuring assignments, working closely with boards, shareholders, and executive teams to resolve complex challenges. Known for his pragmatic, commercially minded approach, Josh has guided businesses through financial distress and operational transformation. In a former life, he also competed internationally as a professional golfer.

Martin Liebenberg, Partner

Martin is a Partner at Metis with over 20 years of experience in banking and advisory roles. As a B.Com graduate, he began his career in international banking with JP Morgan and BNY Mellon before moving into restructuring and turnaround advisory in South Africa. Martin has led or consulted on assignments in construction, mining, agri-processing, and retail, often on complex, high-profile mandates. He takes a hands-on approach, quickly immersing himself in the details of a business and working closely with stakeholders to deliver practical, results-driven solutions. In 2022, he received the DealMakers ‘Business Rescue Transaction of the Year’ award and, in 2024, the Turnaround Management Association ‘Decade of Distinction’ award.

Kevin Loader, Associate

Kevin is a Chartered Accountant with a Master of Business Leadership and nearly 40 years of business and consulting experience. He specialises in helping organisations solve complex challenges through effective strategy implementation and future-focused insights. Highly detail-oriented, Kevin combines analytical expertise with a practical approach to drive meaningful change, often simplifying complex issues through decision-focused models. He has advised clients across diverse industries, working with organisations such as Nedbank, FNB, RCL Foods, and Education Africa. Outside of work, Kevin is a classic car enthusiast and the resident team photographer.

Hester Lombard, Associate

Hester brings nearly 30 years of diverse experience in administrative, coordination, and support roles, making her an integral part of the Metis team. Since entering the restructuring and turnaround space in 2021, she has applied her strong organisational skills, problem-solving mindset, and adaptability to support complex client engagements. A natural doer, Hester gets things done and ensures that work is executed efficiently, deadlines are met, and stakeholders remain aligned — all of which contribute directly to achieving successful outcomes for clients.

Guy Mottram, Associate

Guy has 25 years of experience at the helm of organisations in the construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors. A B.Com and LLB graduate, he has a track record of driving strategic growth, leading mergers and acquisitions, and improving business performance across multiple geographies. Guy has extensive expertise in dispute resolution, litigation, and contract management, alongside governance, risk management, compliance, and SHEQ. Known for his collaborative leadership style, he builds trust and alignment to deliver sustainable results. Outside of work, Guy is a marine sports enthusiast, avid surfer, and holds records for several national swimming titles in the 50 plus age group.

Kerrin Kuhn, Associate

Kerrin is a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) with over 20 years of experience across industries including retail, healthcare, FMCG, IT, construction, property, financial services, agriculture, and wholesale. She holds BCom Accounting Science degrees from the University of Pretoria and a Higher Diploma in Taxation from the University of Johannesburg. Kerrin brings extensive financial and compliance expertise to restructuring and turnaround engagements, helping clients strengthen operations, improve controls, and deliver sustainable results. She is skilled at developing and implementing strategic financial procedures and systems, as well as establishing effective operational processes and structures to drive business performance.

Wilhelm Jonker, Associate

Wilhelm is a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) with extensive experience in financial management, restructuring, and turnaround advisory. Formerly an Associate Director in the Turnaround & Restructuring practice at EY-Parthenon, he’s advised over 25 companies and lenders—conducting business reviews, structuring debt, leading refinancing and capital raising efforts, and delivering innovative financial solutions to SME and mid-market clients across Africa. Having run his own businesses, Wilhelm combines his experience in audit, tax, consulting, private debt & equity, and small business ownership with a creative, solution-oriented mindset. His blend of technical expertise and entrepreneurial insight enables Metis to deliver sharp, effective outcomes for clients.

Warren Watkins, Associate

Warren is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of experience in corporate investments, transactions, and restructurings. He has held senior leadership roles at KPMG, including Partner in Corporate Finance and Inorganic Growth, and chaired the firm’s investment committee. Warren has led significant projects such as demutualisations, listings, M&A transactions, valuations, and forensic investigations. His expertise extends to BEE structuring, IPOs, property management, and due diligence. Drawing on this breadth of experience, he helps clients unlock value, navigate complex transactions, and deliver sustainable outcomes. Warren has also previously served as a board member of the Turnaround Management Association of South Africa.

Sandra le Blanc, Associate

Sandra acts as Executive Assistant to the Metis team, providing dedicated support across a wide range of activities. She combines strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, ensuring the team stays on track with all things admin, including regulatory licensing requirements and ongoing professional development. Sandra also oversees general administration and coordinates the planning and execution of client events. Her background spans advertising, public relations, and primary education, giving her a unique blend of communication, coordination, and people skills that contribute to the smooth running of Metis’s operations.