Byron Nichles (CA(SA), ACMA)
CEO - ARB Holdings Limited
Byron was appointed CEO of ARB in February 2009, tasked with driving the group’s acquisitive growth strategy. He was previously the Group Chief Financial Officer of Amalgamated Appliance Holdings Limited and a founding shareholder and director of Bridge Capital Group Limited. Byron has fourteen years financial services and advisory experience with Deloitte & Touche and Bridge Capital. During his time at Bridge Capital, Byron advised ARB on its JSE listing in 2007.
Craig Robertson (B.Compt)
CEO - ARB Electrical Wholesalers (Pty) Limited
Craig joined ARB in 1992 after having completed articles with David Strachan and Tayler (PKF). He was appointed to the board in 1993 and as Managing Director in 1997. Craig is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business and has been a key contributor the national expansion of ARB.
Billy Neasham (CA(SA))
Financial Director
Billy qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1980 and has been involved with ARB Electrical Wholesalers since 1988 as the audit partner and professional advisor, initially with KPMG and then with Griffith & Aitken. Billy joined ARB Electrical Wholesalers in June 2000 as Financial Director responsible for the high level of financial discipline instilled throughout the group.
Non-Executive Directors
Alan Burke
Founder & Chairman
Alan trained as an apprentice electrician, which proved to be the springboard for his involvement in the electrical wholesale industry. He founded ARB in 1980 in Richards Bay and has been the driving force behind its success to date. Alan is integrally involved in formulating the strategic direction of the group.
Jacob Modise (CA(SA), MBA)
Jacob is the founder and Chairman of Batsomi Investment Holdings (Pty) Limited. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant and later supplemented this with an MBA. He then went on to complete Advanced Management Programmes at both Stanford and Harvard Business Schools. Jacob has filled many senior financial positions with several listed entities and parastatals including the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of Southern Africa, Deloitte & Touche and MTN Holdings Limited. Jacob has served on the boards of Allied Electronics Corporation Limited, Blue IQ Holdings Limited and Eskom Holdings Limited.
Independant Non-Executive Directors
Simon Downes (CA(SA)), FCMA, MBA)
Simon qualified as a Chartered Accountant and completed his articles at Pim Goldby (now Deloitte & Touche). In 1984 he achieved an MBA from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town. After having served as Financial Director of Shave & Gibson Group (Pty) Limited, an independent manufacturer of board packaging and the largest local manufacturer of cheques and other security printed products, Simon was appointed CEO and is currently the sole shareholder. He holds directorships in various investment companies and serves as a Director and Trustee of Clifton School, an association incorporated under Section 21.
Ralph Patmore (BCom, MBL)
Ralph holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of the Witwatersrand, a Master of Business Leadership from Unisa and has attended the Stanford Executive Programme at Stanford University, USA. Ralph is also an Accredited Associate of the Institute for Independent Business International. Ralph was a co-founder of Iliad Africa Limited and served as CEO from 1998 until his retirement in 2008.
Prior to joining Iliad, Ralph held various executive positions including as Managing Director of subsidiaries within the Unihold and Malbak Groups, and as a director of Everite Limited and later of Group Five Limited. Ralph currently serves on the boards of several companies including Mustek Limited, Calgro M3 Holdings Limited, PSV Holdings Limited and Accentuate Limited.
Gerrit "Boel" Pretorius (B.Sc, B.Eng, LLB, PMD)
Boel holds Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering and LLB degrees. Boel joined Fuchs Electronics as a development engineer in 1973. Fuchs Electronics was later acquired by the Barlow Rand Group out of which the Reunert Group was unbundled. Boel held many senior positions within the Reunert Group and was appointed to the Reunert board in 1991 and as CEO in 1997, a position he held until his retirement last year. Boel currently serves on the board of several companies including as a non-executive director of Digicore Holdings Limited, RECM & Calibre Limited and Hulamin Limited.
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