Andrew van Niekerk

8th August 2014

  

Font size: - +

Full Name: Andrew Alexander van Niekerk

Position: MD of Metix

Main Activity of the Company: Smelter engineering, construction and technology equipment

Date and Place of Birth: September 5, 1975, Somerset East, Eastern Cape

Education: BEng, University of Stellenbosch, 1997; BBA, University of South Africa, 2007

First Job: Plant metallurgist at Samancor (Mamatwan Manganese, Hotazel)

Career History Prior to Current Position: Metix, director: engineering, 2003 to 2013; Bateman Titaco, lead process engineer, 2000 to 2003; BHP Billiton and Samancor, progressed from metallurgist to plant superintendent, 1997 to 2000

Size of First Pay Packet: R70 000 a year

First Job with Present Group: Director: engineering

Value of Assets under Your Control: Very few assets, but projects with a total value of billions of rands

Number of People under Your Leadership: 110

Management Style: Enthusiastic, strategic and collaborative, with a focus on decision-making and goal orientation

Personal Best Achievement: My family and being MD of Metix

Professional Best Achievement: Starting and building Metix through excellent partnerships

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents, for teaching me the values of life and love, and for teaching me that one must work hard to achieve one’s dreams

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Reinier Meyjes, previous MD of Metix – a good friend, mentor and excellent business partner

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Felix Baumgartner (Red Bull Stratos)

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla Motors

Philosophy of Life: Give it everything

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Metix becoming part of the worldwide SMS Group

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Forgetting keeps us sane

Hope for the Future: That the South African industry survives the rocky road and challenges in the near future

Favourite Reading: Bicycling, Popular Mechanics and National Geographic

Favourite TV Programme: A good sci-fi movie/series

Favourite Food/Drink: Scallops/truffles/foie gras/good red wine

Favourite Music: South African bands, alternative rock, ambient

Favourite Sport: Mountain biking, snowboarding and swimming

Favourite Website: Any mountain biking, gadget or technology site

Hobbies: Movies, nature, RC planes and aspiring PPL pilot

Car: Land Rover Discovery 4

Pets: Schnauzer dogs

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Miscellaneous items

Favourite Other South African Company: AgriProtein

Favourite Foreign company: SMS Group

Married: To Jacquie Beneke, since March 18, 2006

Children: Lara, 6; Xander, 4

Clubs: None

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION