Pieter Fourie (CEO)
BCom (Accounting) (University of Pretoria), Executive Development Program (PRISM) for Global Leaders (Switzerland)

Pieter has extensive experience in the cement industry, having been the marketing director of Blue Circle (subsequently acquired by Lafarge SA), the managing director of the cement business unit of Lafarge SA and the strategic development director in Africa for Lafarge France.

Pieter’s role at Blue Circle included sales, distribution and marketing and he was primarily responsible for leading Blue Circle from a legal cartel into a competitive environment. In 1999 he was promoted to managing director of the cement business unit of Lafarge SA, at that time a company producing 1.7 million tons of cement per annum.

Pieter subsequently accepted an assignment at Lafarge’s head office, to integrate newly acquired businesses in Africa into Lafarge’s portfolio and identify new business opportunities.

Duncan Leith (Commercial Manager )
BCom (University of South Africa), Young Managers Program (INSEAD, France), MBA (GIBS)

Duncan has extensive experience in all commercial aspects of the cement industry, having worked for Lafarge SA (formerly Blue Circle) for 10 years. Duncan’s role at Blue Circle was to establish a fully integrated logistics process after the disbanding of the cartel in 1994.

After the acquisition of Blue Circle by Lafarge, Duncan was promoted to distribution manager, responsible for logistics as well as all distribution depots. He was later promoted to commercial manager with total responsibility for marketing, sales, distribution and logistics.

Before joining Sephaku Cement, Duncan spent 3 years with the Imperial Group managing their Renault trucks franchise. Currently Duncan is responsible for marketing, sales and distribution.

Duan Claassen (Cement Operations Manager)
BEng (Metallurgical Engineering) (University of Pretoria - cum laude), MDP (Duke University, USA)

Duan has 10 years experience in cement production , having worked for Lafarge and PPC as operations manager of Lichtenburg Works and Dwaalboom respectively. His principal duties included plant performance and reliability, people management, production planning, product quality, safety and cost control.

Gay De Witt (CFO)
B Com (Hons) (University of Pretoria), CTA (University of South Africa), CA (SA) (SAICA)

Gay has comprehensive experience in fields ranging from finance and operations to risk.

Gay joined DANONE - Clover as finance controller where she gained valuable experience in the FMCG market. From there she moved into a business control role where she broadened her general business experience. Gay was instrumental in establishing the Sub–Saharan Africa expansion plan with exports to Angola.

To gain wider experience she joined Murray & Roberts in a risk executive capacity, responsible for managing the steel cluster’s risk in Africa and Middle East.

Puseletso Makhubo (Organisational Performance Manager)
BA Admin Hons (Industrial Psychology) (University of Durban Westwille), MDP (University of Durban Westwille),
MBL (University of South Africa)

Puseletso Makhubo has extensive generalist experience in human resources management particularly in the banking sector and manufacturing industry.

She held various key positions in the HR field, while working for Nedcor Electronic Banking, Development Bank of Southern Africa and Lafarge Gypsum, where she was the human resources director for the Business Unit.

Her responsibilities have ranged from developing and aligning HR strategies and systems to implementing business strategy.

Heinrich de Beer (Engineering Projects Manager)
BEng Mechanical (PU for CHE), MDP (PU for CHE), LDP (GIBS)

Heinrich started his career as Project Engineer and Maintenance Manager at Mittal (Iscor), Vanderbijlpark Carbonization Plant. He joined Lafarge as Depot Manager for their Kaalfontein terminal.

From there he was promoted to Depot Operations Manager responsible for all Lafarge Cement’s distribution facilities as well as their Richards Bay Grinding Plant.

Heinrich was later promoted to Development Manager at the Lichtenburg Plant where he was responsible for major projects (including Lafarge’s recent new kiln line), Automation and IT, Quality and Environment

Wouter Loots (General Manager)
National Higher Diploma: Mechanical Engineering (Vaal Triangle Technikon), National Diploma: Mining Engineering (Technikon Witwatersrand)

Wouter has 11 years’ experience in cement sales and logistics. During his employment at Lafarge SA he held positions as accounts sales manager, logistics manager and distribution manager.

Wouter was responsible for conducting high level sales negotiations with major customers, logistics optimisation and planning (including imports) and for distribution depots.

Derick Fourie (Commercial Manager)
B Com (Financial Management) (University of Pretoria)

Derick spent 2 years at IDM Cement in sales and marketing. Prior to joining Sephaku, Derick managed his own transport company for 3 years.