Orion Minerals Ltd (ASX:ORN, JSE:ORN) has appointed experienced corporate finance executive Peet van Coller to lead the company’s financial operations in South Africa, effective from April 1 next year.
Gearing up to operate
Van Coller’s appointment as South African-based chief financial officer forms part of a series of recent and planned appointments to Orion’s leadership team in South Africa, as it gears up for operational readiness at its flagship Prieska Copper-Zinc Project and Okiep Copper Project, in the Northern Cape Province.
He will succeed Orion’s long-serving CFO Martin Bouwmeester, who will remain as Orion’s company secretary and as a corporate consultant on a part-time basis, ensuring that Orion will continue to benefit from Martin’s valuable corporate experience and financial and strategic capabilities.
Van Coller is a chartered accountant who served his articles of clerkship at Ernst & Young before embarking on a 23-year career, predominantly in the mining and manufacturing sectors, including various senior finance and commercial positions at Jubilee Group Metals, Murray & Roberts, Master Drilling, Samancor Chrome, Anglo Platinum and ARM-Norilsk JV and Nkomati Nickel Mines.
Comprehensive search
Van Coller’s appointment follows a comprehensive executive search process that was aimed at recruiting a South African-based CFO to support Orion’s near-term transition to development and production in South Africa.
Orion managing director and CEO Errol Smart said: “With definitive agreements now in place for an US$87 million funding package with Triple Flag Precious Metals (TSX:TFPM), and with the expectation that we’ll also execute final agreements with the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited for a ZAR250 million Convertible Loan in the coming weeks, we are now forging ahead with pre-development activities at our flagship Prieska Copper-Zinc Mine in the Northern Cape.
“With the company’s transition to mine development and production underway, we are delighted to have further strengthened our team in South Africa with someone of Peet’s calibre.
"Peet has outstanding credentials as a finance executive in South Africa and brings valuable skill sets to our finance team, with experience spanning both the mining and contracting sides of the industry.
The time is right
“I would also like to pay tribute to our outgoing CFO Martin Bouwmeester who has played a pivotal role in leading Orion to its current position.
"Martin and his team have helped Orion, as an Australian company, to thrive in the South African operating environment, including delivering a very successful secondary listing of Orion’s shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
“As Orion continues its transition towards development and mining, the timing is now right to bring more intense local financial management to our operations, which are clearly concentrated in South Africa.
“We are absolutely delighted that Martin will continue to contribute his extensive knowledge to Orion under a consultancy agreement.”