(BORN 1970)

Executive Director

Dipl.Ing (FH) University of Applied Science Mannheim Global Management Certificate (INSEAD) Akzo Nobel MDP Hult International Business School (UK)

Holger was appointed AECI Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director with effect from 1 May 2023. He also serves in the acting capacity of CEO of AECI Mining post the resignation of Mark Kathan from 31 October 2023.

Holger has held many executive and senior management positions in leading companies across Germany, the USA, Switzerland, the Netherlands and has extensive expertise in the mining, chemicals, agricultural and manufacturing sectors. These include global vice president and senior management roles at Bunge Lodgers Croklaan, BASF, Frutarom and AkzoNobel. His most recent role was as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of the K+S Group AG (Germany).

(BORN 1980)

Group Chief Financial Officer

Chartered Accountant (SA) and holds a B.Comm Degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting

Rochelle has over 15 years senior finance experience and has held various executive roles, including CFO positions at multinational companies. She brings a depth of leadership experience and skills in navigating complex operating environments as well as driving finance transformation.

(BORN 1975)

Group Chief Operations Officer

MBB Lean Six Sigma (Jpn), Advanced Diploma Mechatronics and Robotics (Aus), Diploma Explosives Engineering (UP), GEDP (GIBS and Oxford), Diploma Business Management (RSA), Diploma Supply Chain and Procurement (RSA), SMDP (GIBS) and CISCP (USA)

Denvor brings over 28 years of extensive expertise in global supply chain, manufacturing operations and commercial management across FMCG, automotive, chemicals and mining sectors. With a robust background encompassing leadership roles in renowned multinational corporations, he has spearheaded transformative strategies driving revenue growth, cost reduction and profitability enhancement while instilling operational excellence as core to growth. His leadership spans various senior management and executive positions, orchestrating operational turnarounds and fostering a culture of high performance. With a footprint across more than 54 countries, Denvor has effectively led diverse teams in dynamic environments.

(BORN 1969)

Executive Vice President for AECI Chemicals

Group Executive responsible for AECI Agri Health and AECI Chemicals until 31 December 2023

National Diploma in Chemical Engineering Global Executive Development Programme (GIBS)

Dean has extensive experience within AECI and the chemicals industry.

Dean is an AECI stalwart, celebrating his 18-year anniversary with the company this year. Dean has a National Diploma in Chemical Engineering and has completed the Global Executive Development Programme at GIBS. His extensive experience within the Company and chemicals industry, leadership skills and passion, places Dean ideally to drive the AgriChem business into the next era.

(BORN 1972)

Group Chief Transformation Officer

Acting Group Chief Financial Officer

Chartered Accountant (SA) with a B.Com Honours degree in Accounting, ACMA qualification from CIMA, Strategic Financial Leadership Programme (Stanford University)

Rafael has held the position of Acting Group CFO since May 2023, and has been Finance Executive for AECI Mining since 2015. He knows our business, its customers and leadership well, and is best placed for this role. In his current role of Group Transformation Officer, he will be responsible for the roll out of the approved Group strategy, across all businesses.

(BORN 1968)

Group Chief People Officer

BA, a postgraduate qualification in Industrial Relations and various leadership development programmes

Khabonina is a seasoned human capital executive with 30 years relevant experience, 15 of which were at executive leadership level. Her wealth of experience in human capital as well as the mining chemicals industry, places Khabonina in the ideal position to drive the strategic focus of the Group from a people perspective.

(BORN 1977)

Group Company Secretary and General Counsel

Cheryl holds B.Proc and LLB degrees Master of Business Administration (GIBS)

Cheryl is an admitted attorney and GIBS MBA alumna with over 15 years’ experience as a Company Secretary, including the legal, compliance and risk management disciplines. Cheryl started her career at a leading law firm and went on to work at various listed and unlisted companies in a number of sectors. She is also a certified Ethics Practitioner with the Ethics Institute of Southern Africa. Cheryl joined the Board on 1 September 2021.

(BORN 1955)
CHAIRMAN OF BOARD

Independent Non-executive Director

BSc (Agriculture), MSc (Food Science), PhD (Microbiology)

Appointed: to Board 2016, as Chairman 2017

Khotso joined the Board in 2016 and took up his position as Chairman a year later. He is also Chairman of the Nomination, Governance and Directors’ Affairs Committee, and the Investment, Innovation and Technology Committee. In addition, he is a member of the Remuneration and Human Capital Committee, and the Social, Ethics and Sustainability Committee. Khotso is the lead independent Nonexecutive Director at the MTN Group, Non-executive Director at Seasoned Capital and Hans Merensky Holdings and president of the Hans Merensky Foundation, he is also the chairman of Westfalia Fruit International, a subsidiary of Hans Merensky Holdings.

(BORN 1961)
Non-executive Director

Sam joined the Board in 2022. He is a member of the Investment, Innovation and Technology Committee as well as the Safety, Health and Environment Committee. He is a global mining executive with over 30 years’ international experience, operating in Canada, the USA, South America, Australia, Tanzania, Fiji and South Africa. Sam has held numerous senior leadership positions at international companies including Harte Gold Corp., Golden Star Resources, Kinross Gold, Xstrata and Placer Dome/Barrick and brings extensive global knowledge of underground and open-pit mining operations.

(BORN 1964)
Independent Non-executive Director

BSc (Hons), MBA, Australian Institute of Company Directors

Appointed: 2020

Steve joined the Board in 2020. He chairs the Safety, Health and Environment Committee and is a member of the Risk Committee and Investment, Innovation and Technology Committee. In his career Steve has fulfilled senior global roles at Dyno Nobel and Incitec Pivot across sales, operations, safety and risk related to explosives and fertilisers. He is currently CEO of Nomad Breads Proprietary Limited.

(BORN 1960)
Independent Non-executive Director

BA Economics and Accounting, FCCA (UK)

Appointed: 2019

Fikile joined the AECI Board in 2019. She chairs the Social, Ethics and Sustainability Committee, and is a member of the Audit Committee and the Remuneration and Human Capital Committee. She is an Independent Non-executive Director on the Board of Mercedes-Benz South Africa, where she chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Social, Ethics and Sustainability Committee. Fikile is also an Independent Non-exective Director on the Board of Attacq Limited, where she is a member of the Audit Committee. Fikile has more than 23 years’ financial experience in an executive capacity and was, among others, COO/CFO at The Council for Medical Schemes and Treasurer at BDC in Botswana. Fikile is the founding President of the South Africa Chapter of the Global Forum of Women Entrepreneurs. She is also a member of Women in Mining South Africa.

(BORN 1962)
Independent Non-executive Director

MEng (Industrial)

Appointed: 2020

Walter joined the Board in 2020. He is the Chairman of the Risk Committee and a member of the Investment, Innovation and Technology Committee, and the Safety, Health and Environment Committee. Walter is an independent Non-executive Director at several international companies in Brazil. He served as CEO of Votorantim Cimentos S.A. and prior to that he held senior positions at BASF in South America and globally.

(BORN 1967)
Independent Non-executive Director

CA(SA)

Appointed: 2020

Marna joined the Board in 2020. She chairs the Remuneration and Human Capital Committee, and is a member of the Audit, and the Social, Ethics and Sustainability Committees. Marna is also a member of the AECI Captive Insurance Financial Review and Risk Committee. Marna has extensive experience in business, financial services, banking, corporate finance and auditing. She has served as an executive at major banking groups on the African continent. Marna is an Independent Non-executive Director of Zeda Limited and a Nonexecutive Director and shareholder of No More Plastic, a company that manufactures biodegradable products.

(BORN 1977)
Independent Non-executive Director

CA(SA)

Appointed: 2018

Philisiwe was appointed to the Board in 2018. She chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Risk Committee and Nomination, Governance and Directors’ Affairs Committee. Other directorships include the Investec Group and GoldFields. She is also CEO and Chair of the Shingai Group, the investment holding company she founded. Philisiwe was formerly CFO at MTN South Africa and CEO at MTN Cameroon.

(BORN 1965)
Independent Non-executive Director

BSBA Industrial Marketing, MBA

Appointed: 2021

Patty joined the AECI Board in 2021. She is a member of the Social, Ethics and Sustainability, the Risk and the Safety, Health and Environment Committees.

Patty serves as Chief Commercial Officer at UBQ Materials. Her experience in the chemicals and advanced materials industry includes her time as Chief Commercial Officer at CoorsTek, as Chief Marketing Officer at A. Schulan (now part of LyondellBasell) and as Global Director of Marketing Excellence at Dow Inc. She also serves on an advisory board in Europe.