Board & management
Adam Fleming, Chairman
Non Executive
Adam Fleming has a track record of creating shareholder value in the South African gold mining industry. He was appointed chairman of the Harmony Group in 1999 and remained in this position during the metamorphosis of the Harmony Group from a single mine operation into the fifth-largest gold mining company in the world. He resigned as chairman of Harmony in 2003 and initiated the formation of Wits Gold. In January 2009, he was appointed chairman of Fleming Family & Partners.
Taole Mokoena, Deputy chairman
Non Executive
Taole Mokoena is the head of department of surgery at Kalafong Hospital and the University of Pretoria. From 2002 to 2005, he acted as the chairman of Eyesizwe Coal (now part of Exxaro Resources Limited) and has also had considerable experience as a director of a number of public and unlisted companies at different times. He represents Continental Africa Gold Resources Consortium, a broad-based group of black shareholders, with just over 14% shareholding in Wits Gold. He is the chairperson of the Wits Gold remuneration and nomination committee and a member of the audit and risk committee.
Philip Kotze, Chief Executive Officer
In 1981 Philip began his career with Anglovaal Mining Corporation and has since accumulated 28 years’ experience in the mining industry, having held positions at AngloGold Ashanti, Kalahari Goldridge Mining, Harmony, and Deloitte & Touche. He has served on the executive level of mining companies since 1996 and has distinguished himself as a turn-around specialist. In early 2007, Philip initiated the formulation of a mining advisory service with Deloitte South Africa.
Philip joined Anooraq Resources Corporation, a public company listed on TSX Venture Exchange, AMEX and the JSE, on 1 June 2008 as President and Chief Executive Officer, a position he held until March 2011. He took up the position as Chief Executive Officer of Wits Gold on 1 August 2011. Apart from his executive functions with Wits Gold, he also serves on the board of Great Basin Gold.
Humphrey Mathe, Director
Non Executive
Humphrey Mathe has a PhD in geology from the University of Natal. He is the CEO of Tranter Exploration (Pty) Limited, a BEE company which focuses on exploration for mineral deposits in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa and geological consulting services. He represents Tranter Kismet Investments, a group of South African black professionals that currently owns just under 8% shareholding in Wits Gold. He is a member of the Company’s audit and risk committee as well as the remuneration and nomination committee.
Gayle Wilson, Director
Non Executive
Gayle Wilson is a Chartered Accountant (SA) and was a partner at Ernst & Young where she was intimately involved with the South African mining industry for 24 years. During this time she was responsible for the audits of many major mining companies such as Avmin (now African Rainbow Minerals), Northam Platinum, Aquarius Platinum and certain of the Anglo Platinum operations. She was also involved in AngloGold’s listing on the NYSE and in 2001 took over as the lead engagement partner of their global audit until her retirement in June 2005. Gayle Wilson joined the Wits Gold board in September 2006 and is chairman of the Company’s audit and risk committee as well as a member of the remuneration and nomination committee. Gayle is a non-executive director of Gold Fields.
Derek Urquhart, Financial director
Executive
Derek Urquhart qualified as a Chartered Accountant (SA) in 1980 after studying at the University of the Witwatersrand. Subsequent to graduating, he established his own auditing practice. He was then instrumental in the formation and management of Tyco Truck Manufacturers, where he served as vice chairman of the board of directors until his resignation in 2001 to follow his private business interests. He joined Wits Gold in March 2005 as financial director and is a member of the Company’s executive committee.
Hethen Hira, Executive: Investor Relations
Hethen Hira obtained his MSc (Economic Geology) from Rhodes University in 1997 whilst employed at the Council for Geoscience. He then joined West Rand Consolidated Mines which subsequently merged with Harmony Gold in 1999. Here, he was involved with managing the Mineral Rights of the exploration division. This was followed by a secondment to the new business division, where he evaluated growth and acquisition opportunities. He joined Wits Gold in January 2005 and is a member of the Company’s executive committee.
Dirk Muntingh, Executive: Reserves and Resources
Dirk Muntingh has an MSc in geology from the University of Johannesburg. He previously worked at the Council for Geoscience before joining the gold division of Anglo American Corporation in 1987. At Anglo American he worked at Elandsrand Gold Mine and two years later transferred to the new projects development unit, providing specialist input to both gold mining and exploration ventures. In 1997 he was transferred to the new mining business division, where he was appointed exploration manager for Ghana before joining AngloGold Ashanti in Australia. He joined Wits Gold in March 2006 and is a member of the Company’s executive committee.