Samancor - About Us - Leadership Team

Chief Executive Officer - J�rgen Schalamon

J�rgen started his career in Germany as a Mechanical Engineer in 1985. Four years later he joined Elektrowerk Weisweiler (EWW) as an engineer on furnaces. He later progressed to the position of plant manager. In 1998, he became the Managing Director of EWW and still holds this position. Because of EWW�s good fit with Kermas� portfolio, and his keenness to accept new challenges, J�rgen joined Danko Konchar and the Kermas Group in 2004 to take on the additional role of Technical Director. In doing so, he found himself in a streamlined organisation marked by quick decision-making and exceptional entrepreneurial and strategic thinking. In total, he has 16 years� experience in the ferrochrome industry. In November 2009 he was also appointed as the COO of International Mineral Resources, a duty he fulfills in addition to his role as CEO of Samancor Chrome Limited.

Head of Mineral Resources, Business Information Systems, Projects and Technology - Bertus van der Merwe

Bertus holds a degree in Metallurgical Engineering and is currently completing an MBA. After 18 months with Gold Fields early in his career, Bertus moved to Samancor and started at Samancor Meyerton (Manganese) in 1996 as production engineer at North Plant. He was promoted to Production Superintendent at North Plant in May of 1998. In August 2001, Bertus joined Samancor Chrome as Plant Manager MTC where he stayed until November 2004. Thereafter he moved to Ferrometals as Operations Manager Furnaces until June 2005. On 1 July 2005, Bertus took up his current position.

Head of Finance - Wessel Erasmus

Wessel is a qualified chartered accountant who started his career as an Article Clerk at Deloitte Haskins and Sells (now Deloitte) in the Johannesburg office from where he was recruited into Samancor during the latter part of 1995. During the period he has taken on several leading roles and responsibilities, including the positions as Divisional Financial Manager of Chrome in 1998 and later as the Finance Manager for Samancor Chrome in 2001. During his tenure in Chrome he has been a key member of the teams involved in the setting up the chrome joint ventures, the de-listing of Samancor Limited from the local stock exchange and subsequent restructure of Samancor Limited into the Chrome and Manganese operating divisions, as well as working with the team responsible for listing Billiton on the LSE. During the last two years Wessel was involved with the split of Samancor Limited into two separate legal entities and the sale of the Chrome assets to Kermas.

Head of Human Resources - Deidre Roos-Korf

Deidre holds a Doctoral Degree in Industrial and Organisational Psychology. Deidre is registered as an industrial psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Deidre was an HR Practitioner at Anglogold between 1997 and 1999. Thereafter she worked as a performance management consultant in her own consultancy, Rubicon. For most of 2000, Deidre was a management consultant with Deloitte and Touche Human Capital. Between August 2000 and March 2002, Deidre was the human resources superintendent for Samancor Chrome Ferrometals. Between April and December 2002, she served as HR project leader for Samancor Chrome HR. She then took up the post of Human Capital Manager for Samancor Chrome Tubatse Ferrochrome. Deidre took up her current position in 2004.

General Manager Western Chrome Mines - Andr� Opperman

Andr� holds a National Higher Diploma in Metalliferous Mining, as well as a Mine Overseer's and Mine Manager's Certificate. He is a Professional Certificated Engineer (ECSA) and also completed the Management Development Programme through the WITS University Business School. His past working experience includes being an Operations Manager as well as the Section Manager at RPM Amandelbult before joining Samancor Chrome at Western Chrome Mines as Mining Manager in 2005. Andr� has been in his current position since 1 February 2009.

General Manager, Eastern Chrome Mines - Emile Britz

Emile holds a National higher diploma in Metalliferous Mines, a Mine Manager�s certificate of competency and a MDP from Stellenbosch University. His previous working experience includes 25 years of experience at JCI after which he joined Xstrata in 2002 and became the General Manager of Eastern Mines in June 2005. Before he joined Samancor Chrome, Emile was employed as the General Manager (SHEQT) at Redpath Mining. He has been in his current position since March 2010.

General Manager, Ferrometals and Ferroveld � Brian Gibson

Brian holds a qualification in Extraction Metallurgy. His career began with Rand Mines in 1978 as a Learner Official. He later joined Palmiet Ferrochrome in 1980 where he was instrumental in the DC arc plasma furnace. In 1991 Brian transferred to the Middelburg Ferrochrome site as CDR Manager. During this period he installed the world�s largest plasma furnace on chromite smelting. In 1999, Brian was transferred to Middelburg Technochrome as Plant Manager. In January 2000, Brian was promoted to General Manager, Middelburg Ferrochrome and Middelburg Technochrome (Low Carbon Plants). In February 2005 moved to the Ferrometals Site as General Manager of Ferroveld and Ferrometals.

General Manager, Tubatse Ferrochrome - Desmond McManus

Desmond holds a Bachelor in Engineering (Extractive Metallurgy). He is currently studying towards his MBL (Masters in Business Leadership) Degree at UNISA. His past working experience includes being a Production Superintendent at Assmang Manganese � Cato Ridge Works, before joining Samancor Chrome as a Production Superintendent at Tubatse Ferrochrome in 2002. In 2005, he was promoted to the position of Operations Manager of Tubatse Ferrochrome. Desmond has been in his current position since 1 January 2008.

Head of SHEQ - John Botha

John holds a B-Tech Degree in Safety Management and started his career as an Artisan at Anglo American in 1978 after which he joined the safety fraternity in 1988. He joined AVGOLD in 1999 as part of the project�s SHEQ team at Target Division until the initiation of production in 2001. He spent two years at the Pechiney � ALCAN Silicon Smelter�s SHEQ Department in Polokwane after which he joined Samancor Chrome�s Tubatse Ferrochrome operation as the SHEQ Manager. John was promoted to his current position in 2007.

Group Transformation Manager - Archie Palane

Until recently, Archie was the Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), a position that he held from June 1998 after joining NUM in 1986. Archie was also appointed Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development Chairperson for Southern Africa in 2001 and was elected General Secretary of the Southern African Miners� Federation in 1995 to coordinate mining unions across Southern Africa. He has led negotiations towards the establishment of a Mining Industry Bargaining Council and has represented labour forces at the National Manpower Commission and the National Economic Development and Labour Council which he helped establish. Before he joined Samancor Chrome, he was the Excecutive Chairman at the Siyakhula Sonke Empowerment Corporation (SSC), and a director of Redpath and Sekgwa Mining Services. Archie has been in his current position from 1 January 2008.

Group Procurement Manager - Stuart Reneke

Stuart holds a Bsc Chemical Engineering Degree,as well as an MBA. His career began in 1987 with De Beers (Finsch Mine) as an Assistant Plant Superintendent - Operations and Projects/R&D, after which he joined BHP Billiton�s Hillside Aluminium Smelter as an Operations Superintendent (Carbon and Reduction Plants) later on becoming the Continuous Business Improvement Superintendent. In 2004 he joined Samancor Chrome as the Manager for Logistics Management and Pelletizing Operations at Ferrometals after which he was promoted to his current position at Group Procurement Services in 2007.