The Board of ArcelorMittal South Africa announced this week the appointment of Hendrik Jacobus “Kobus” Verster as CEO and Executive Director of ArcelorMittal South Africa.
Verster will join ArcelorMittal South Africa on Tuesday 2 January 2018, taking over from Wim de Klerk, and will officially assume his new position from 1 February.
The new company head served on the Board of Aveng Limited as CEO between February 2014 and September this year.
He holds a BCom degree from the University of Potchefstroom, a BCom Honours (Economics) degree from the University of Pretoria, a MBL from the University of South Africa (Unisa), and participated in an Executive Management Programme at the University of Virginia, USA.
Verster is no stranger to ArcelorMittal South Africa, having served on its board as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Executive Director between 2006 and 2010, playing a broader strategic role within the company. Before his appointment as CFO, he held various senior roles in financial management, including as General Manager, Corporate Finance & Treasury, from 1990.
Mpho Makwana, Chair of ArcelorMittal South Africa, said: “In our search for a CEO, we placed a high premium on a candidate with knowledge of, and experience in, the steel industry. In Kobus we believe we have found such a candidate, who will also provide much needed continuity with our strategic turnaround programme.”
The board expressed confidence in Verster’s qualifications, experience and understanding of the steel industry, to fulfil the role of CEO effectively.
