A glimpse behind the scenes in Verimark South Africa! For more information regarding our board of directors, please direct any queries to media@verimark.co.za

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Michael J van Straaten (55)     Chief Executive Officer – BCom Hons, CA(SA)   Michael served his articles with Spencer Stuart before joining his brother at Verimark in 1981 as Financial Director.  Michael became joint Managing Director in 1992, and bought out his brother’s shares in 1993 to become the sole owner up to 2005 when Verimark was listed on the JSE.  He has twice been a finalist in South Africa’s Best Entrepreneur competition, and selected as one of South Africa’s Leading Managers by the Corporate Research Foundation.
Jeremy E Thomas (43)   Financial Director – B Com (Wits), B Compt (Hons)(Unisa), CA (SA)   Jeremy served articles with Ernst & Young before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. Post the completion of his articles he joined BMW SA in 1995 where he started off as plant accountant at Rosslyn before moving up the ranks, culminating in his appointment as Manager Corporate Accounting. In 2000 he joined Omigraphics (Pty) Ltd as Financial Director. By 2001 he had left Omnigraphics (Pty) Ltd to join the Cell C start up team, as Financial Director of the Service Provider, after the third network licence was awarded by the government in that year. During this time he developed his passion for Retail and Telecommunications. In 2004 he joined the CH Warman Pump group as CFO responsible for global finance operations across Africa and the Middle East. He was head hunted back into Retail in 2005 where he was appointed Divisional Financial Director for the Super Group Retail Supply Chain business which carried the Mica and Autozone brands in their stable. Here he assumed all financial and commercial responsibilities across both companies and honed his retail, M & A and financial skills further in this environment.  He joined Verimark Holdings in October 2009 as Financial Director and brings with a wealth of financial, operational, M & A and retail skills to the organization.     INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
Dr James T Motlatsi (56)   Independent Non-executive Chairman – PhD Social Science   James is a founder member of the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the National Union of Mineworkers of South Africa, Deputy Chairman of AngloGold ASHANTI and a director of the Shanduka Group.  He is a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, and is a member of the South African Literacy Initiative and the South African International Marketing Council.  He was awarded the Order of Ramatseatsane by the King of Lesotho, as well as a Doctorate of Philosophy in Social Sciences (honoris causa) by the National University of Lesotho.  James is Chief Executive Officer of Teba Limited.	Johann M Pieterse (59)   Independent Non-executive Director – BCom CTA, MCompt, CA(SA)   Johan served his articles with Brink, Roos & Du Toit (now PWC) and became Managing Partner of their Bellville office in 1983.  He joined the Pepkor Group in 1985 and served as Financial Director of Pepkor from 1988 to 1990.  Johann headed up the turnaround of Van Schaiks from 1993 to 1995, and Teljoy from 1995 to 1997.  When Teljoy was sold to Vodacom in January 2001, he was appointed as Managing Director of the newly formed Vodacom Service Provider Company with responsibility to merge Teljoy, Vodac and GSM Cellular into one company.  After successful merger, he retired from Vodacom in August 2001.  He is currently Chairman of Strategy Partners, a turnaround specialist company.