About us
Management team
Nico Schoeman (39)Interim CEO
B.Eng. Civil Engineering (University of Pretoria)
Project Management Professional (PMI);
Professional Construction Project Manager (SACPCMP)
Appointed: 17 March 2010
Nico is a qualified civil engineer who has managed large complex projects on behalf of a variety of engineering and consulting companies. Nico was seconded to Simmers by management consultants PSP Icon to assist the management team with the investigation intoheap leach opportunities in Mpumalanga, the rehabilitation of Buffelsfontein five shaft and to assess new business opportunities. He was invited to join Simmers on a full-time basis in 2008 as Group Business Development Executive. He was intimately involved in the restructuring of the company and was at the forefront of the acquisition of Tau Lekoa. Prior to being appointed interim CEO, he was Simmers’ lead agent in the integration of Tau Lekoa and was instrumental in defining Simmers’ role in the refinancing of First Uranium.
He is currently completing his MBA through the Gordon Institute of Business Science.
(Chief Financial Officer and Financial Director)
B.Acc and MBA (both PU for CHE): MDP (Unisa)
Date of appointment : 30 June 2009
Gerhard began his accounting career at Fisher Hoffman Stride in 1985. In 1990, he moved into mining where he fulfilled various management and consultancy positions. In 2002 Gerhard was appointed Financial and Administration Superintendent / Manager of the Placer Dome Western Areas Joint Venture where he assumed sole responsibility for the financial, information technology and commercial functions. He was seconded to Vancouver where he led the roll-out of the business improvement process and implementation of Sarbanes Oxley. He joined Simmers in November 2005 as Chief Financial Officer. Gerhard is a member of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants and an associate member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Roland Eric Freeman (47)
(Group Consulting Mechanical and Electrical Engineer)
Pr. Cert. Eng, PMP.Appointed August 2005.
Born on 10 January 1960, Roland has 28 years' experience in the mining industry. He has experience on gold, platinum and antimony mines as well as experience as a Project Manager, designing and constructing mines. Roland is a Professional Certificated Engineer and a Project Management Professional as awarded by the Project Management Institute of America as well as a registered member of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and the association of mine resident engineers (AMRE).
Herman Kruger (50)(General Manager: Buffelsfontein Gold Mine)
B-Tech (Wits) MMCC; MDP. Appointed July 2008
Herman obtained his Mine Managers Certificate at Randfontein Estates Goldmine in 1986 before joining Anglo Gold where he gained significant experience in deep level gold mining in the Free State goldfields at operations such as President Brand Mine, President Steyn Mine and Matjhabeng Mine. In 2003 Herman was promoted to production manager at Anglo Gold Ashanti’s Kapanang operation before being transferred three years later to Moab Khotshong Mine where he was responsible for the production build-up of a new shaft. He joined Simmers as a production manager at Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in July 2007 and was promoted to GM in July 2008.
(General Manager: TGME)
MMCC; MDP. (Unisa). Appointed February 2008.
Born on 10 May 1948, Danny started his mining career at Western Holdings Mine on South Africa’s Free State gold fields. From there he moved to President Steyn Mine in Welkom, where he was promoted from Production Manager to Assistant Mine Manager. In 1991 he took up the post of Assistant Mine Manager – Loss Control at Anglo American’s head office where he was responsible for managing the implementation of loss control on the group’s mines. In 1999, Danny joined DRDGold and was appointed General Manager of Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in Stilfontein, a post he held until 2001. During this time, he achieved success in improving production levels, extending the life of mine and improving productivity by reducing the cost per kilogram of gold produced.
Chris Vermeulen (47)Chief Operating Officer
MMC; Pr Cert Eng
Formerly General Manager of Mining Operations at Impala Platinum, Chris has extensive deep-level mining experience, having held senior management positions at Randfontein Estates, DRDGold’s Blyvooruitzicht Mine and Buffelsfontein Gold Mine. He was appointed COO of Simmers in April 2009.
GM: Tau Lekoa
MMC; DPLR: MDP
Appointed in August 2009, Chris has over 29 years experience in the gold and platinum industry, having held senior positions at AngloGold Ashanti, Goldfields and Impala Platinum. Prior to joining the team, Chris was senior mine manager at Impala Platinum’s Marula Mine.
Human Resources Executive
BPL (Baccalaureus Personnel Management), DPLR, MDP, SMP (Henley)
Vic was appointed Human Resources Executive at Simmers in June 2008, having acted as a consultant to the company since 2005. Former Human Resources Director of Durban Roodepoort Deep, Vic started his career in 1982 as a Human Resources Trainee with Anglo American Corporation and worked his way up to the position of Manager Manpower Resources for Freegold.
IR executive
Pr Eng and a BSc Eng (Rand) Engineering
Nick Goodwin was appointed Investor Relations Executive in April 2009. A well-known gold analyst whose opinion on the gold price is frequently sought by the financial and mining media, Nick has over 30 years experience as a fund and portfolio manager and holds a Pr Eng and a BSc Eng(Rand) Engineering and served on the board of DRDGold for six years.