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Management Team

John du Plessis

Chairman of Booker Tate and Chief Executive Officer of Tsb Sugar

(BSc in Agriculture, Natal University)

Derek_van_Niekerk

Having gained a BSc in Agriculture in 1980 at Natal University, John started working life as a Graduate Trainee at Illovo and stayed with them for 7 years ending up as a Field Manager responsible for all the estates. In 1987 John moved to RSSC in Swaziland in the position of Agriculture Manager until 1992 when Booker Tate offered him the position of Agriculture Manager at RAMU in Papua New Guinea. John moved to Zambia Sugar in 1996 as Assistant General Manager Agriculture and was involved in the privatisation of the company. He then returned to RSSC in Swaziland in 1998 where he stayed until 2009, working through the positions of Operations Manager, General Manager Agriculture and finally Managing Director. John took up the position of CEO of Tsb Sugar in May 2009.

Telephone: + 27 13 7911111

Email: john@tsb.co.za

Derek van Niekerk

GM : Investments & Services

(Master of Business Leadership, UNISA. B.Com Hons)

Derek_van_Niekerk

Derek has 20 years experience of financial, commercial and general management in an agro-industrial environment. He was involved in the establishment of Komati Mill, RSA, and its expansion thereafter and he also spearheaded the implementation of the SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) project within TSB. As Operations Director, Derek holds a broad knowledge of global sugar dynamics and operations, and brings a wealth of experience to Booker Tate and its clients particularly in the areas of standards setting, continuous improvement, sugar marketing and business process re-engineering.

Telephone: + 44 (0) 1844 251000

Email: derek.van-niekerk@booker-tate.co.uk

Luke Brouckaert

Technical Director

 

Derek_van_Niekerk

Luke is an Engineer with over 25 years' experience in factory and engineering management in the manufacture of raw, refined and speciality sugars and all associated services. His experience extends to the provision of technical support for sugar factories and more recently, support for the agricultural operations as well. He had operated mainly in Southern Africa before joining Booker Tate 5 years ago in Swaziland before moving to Malelane as Technical GM for TsbSI.  Luke has now been appointed as Booker Tate's Technical Director.

Telephone: + 44 (0) 1844 251000

Email: luke.brouckaert@booker-tate.co.uk

Gary Clayton

Director : Finance and Commercial

(ACMA)

Gary_Clayton

Gary has over 27 years experience in accounting and finance across several manufacturing sectors. Having joined Booker Tate in 1988, he has worked in a number of roles in client finance departments across the world. Gary has led the development of Booker Tate's codified suite of finance and risk management systems and processes which Booker Tate seeks to introduce in all client businesses to ensure a vigorous and robust approach to financial management. In line with the development of strategic management and corporate governance issues, in 2002 Gary's role as Finance Director was expanded to that of Commercial Director.

Telephone: +44 (0) 1844 251000

Email: gclayton@booker-tate.co.uk

Paul Nicholas

Director : Human Resources

(B.Sc)

Paul_Nicholas

Paul has over 25 years experience in the human resources function, the majority of which has been working with Booker Tate and its predecessor company, Booker Agriculture International. During his career with the company, Paul has worked in HR management roles overseas in Africa and Asia and has undertaken a number of visiting assignments in Africa, the Far East and the Caribbean. His experience has encompassed all aspects of the HR function including compensation and benefits; development of policies and procedures; computerisation of HR systems and planning models; job evaluation; pensions management; manpower planning; recruitment and selection; employment legislation; organisation design and development; employee relations and communication; staff training and development. Paul has a degree in Environmental Sciences and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Telephone: + 44 (0) 1844 251000

Email: pnicholas@booker-tate.co.uk

Roger Speddy

Director: Asia/Pacific/Caribbean/SA

(ACA/M.Sc)

Roger_Speddy

Roger joined Booker Tate in July 1994. He has an M.Sc. in Food Science and is a Chartered Accountant. Having qualified with KPMG, he has spent over 20 years working overseas in Papua New Guinea, Australia, Philippines, Uganda, China and Indonesia. Roger brings extensive overseas experience in Operational Management having held roles as Finance Director and Chief Executive Officer not just in the sugar industry but also the mining and industrial sectors.

Telephone: + 44 (0) 1844 251000

Email: rspeddy@booker-tate.co.uk

Brian L Webb

Director : Africa & Belize

(B.Com Diploma Sugar Technology)

Brian_L_Webb

Brian is a process technologist with over 30 years' management experience in sugar estate operations both in the factory and in agriculture. Extensive management and leadership experience has been acquired in raw and refined sugar, packaging, warehousing, laboratory, effluent treatment, cattle feed and alcohol (distillery) production. Within the sugar industry Brian has held roles as Chief Executive in Guyana, Operations and Factory Manager in Swaziland and various process technology roles in RSA.

Telephone: + 22 13 7911006

Email: webbB@tsb.co.za