Leading the group
Eugene Yazbek
Non-Executive Chairman, Farmsecure
Eugene Yazbek is a Non-Executive Chairman whose business career spans several decades. He has a B.Comp. degree and has worked in various positions, including audit, financial accounting and management, investment management, corporate structuring and company re-engineering. He has held the positions of Managing Director and Chief Executive.
Jerome Yazbek
CEO, Farmsecure
Jerome Yazbek is the CEO and Founder of the Farmsecure Group and started his career in insurance, working for 15 years in the (insurance) sectors of industry, specialist engineering divisions, construction, risk management and specialist products. He has written several manuals on personal motivation, entrepreneurial skills development and building small-medium enterprises and has spent 20 years working with the development of small-medium enterprises businesses.
Sameer Merali
Non-Executive Director, Farmsecure
Sameer Merali is a Director with a M.Sc. in banking and international finance. He has served as an Executive Director and held the Chairmanship of several companies. Among other things, he has specialised in evaluating the day-to-day functions of various companies and implementing projects and products.
Martin Ernest
Non-Executive Director, Farmsecure
Martin Ernest is a Director and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). He has worked across several disciplines, including audit, corporate finance, insolvency services and as a Senior Manager responsible for risk management services.
Akif Butt
Non-Executive Director, Farmsecure
Akif Butt is a Director with almost 30 years experience in financial management, corporate planning and strategic management. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Schalk Lubbe
CEO, Farmsecure Technologies
Schalk Lubbe is CEO of Farmsecure Technologies and holds a masters degree in chemical engineering and an MBA. He has 20 years of experience in the industrial, agricultural and real estate sectors, including a corporate career as Divisional Managing Director at a top 50 listed group.
Johnny Maass
CEO, Farmsecure Farming Operations
Johnny Maass is CEO of Farmsecure Fruit with 16 years of experience in all facets of the agricultural industry, including the management of structured finance products and farming operations. Prior to joining the agricultural world, he had a distinguished military background, including at Officer level.
Erick de Klerk
Executive Director, Farmsecure Global Markets
Erick de Klerk is Executive Director of Farmsecure Global Markets with 17 years of experience, 3 of them with an agricultural co-op as an Agricultural Economist and 9 as an Agricultural Credit Manager and Trader. He has a B.Sc. Agric. (Hons) degree and his current areas of expertise include trade and finance.
Rudi Kriese
Director, Farmsecure Technologies
Rudi Kriese is a Managing Director with a 20-year background in management. He has a B.Comm. degree and is also a Mechanical Engineer. He is a specialist in the field of renewable energy and has extensive experience in the fertilizer industry as well.
Gordon Hesom
CEO, Kynoch
Gordon Hesom is a CEO with 20 years experience in the fertilizer division of a top 50 listed group in South Africa, operating as an Agronomist as well as in planning and logistics, international marketing and many more. He has a B.Sc. Agric. degree.
Erik de Vries
COO, Farmsecure Farming Operations
Erik de Vries is an Agronomist with approximately 7 years experience in the fruit and fertilizer industries in South Africa and beyond. He has a B.Sc. Agric. (Hons) degree, has extensive precision farming experience and has worked as a Technical Consultant and Director. In 2006 he received the Best Agronomist Award in the Western Cape.
Jan Wolmarans
Managing Director, Farmsecure Grains
Jan Wolmarans is a Managing Director with 26 years of experience. He has a B. Ing. degree and MBA qualification as well as vast general management experience, including marketing, financial and HR. He is also a qualified Industrial Engineer, although he worked as a Mechanical Engineer in the early part of his career.
Ben Engelbrecht
Chief Financial Manager, Farmsecure
Ben Engelbrecht is a General Manager, Finance, with 18 years experience in the financial accounting world. As a Professional Accountant, he combines various areas of expertise, including accounting, auditing, business development, financial management, taxation and corporate governance.