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Marian van der Walt

14th July 2017

By: Ilan Solomons

Creamer Media Staff Writer

     

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Full Name: Marian van der Walt

Position: Executive: corporate and investor relations, Harmony Gold

Main Activity of the Company: Harmony Gold is a world-class gold mining and exploration company with operations and assets in South Africa and Papua New Guinea (PNG). Harmony’s assets include an opencast mine and several exploration tenements in PNG, as well as nine underground mines and an opencast mine and several surface operations in South Africa. In addition, it owns 50% of the Golpu project in a joint venture in PNG

Date and Place of Birth: December 27, 1972, Alberton

Education: BCom (Law), LLB, higher diploma in tax, diplomas in corporate governance and insolvency law, certificates in business leadership, and international certificate in investor relations (UK). I am also an admitted lawyer and conveyancer

First Job: Articled clerk, Kilbourns Attorneys, 1995

Size of First Pay Packet: R1 000 a month as an articled clerk

Value of Assets under Your Control: Harmony’s current market capitalisation is about R15-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: Harmony employs close to 30 000 people, and I am one of 11 executive managers

Management Style: Strong, ethical leadership; being proactive; engaging; chasing results; keeping people informed; and doing things differently

Personal Best Achievement: Having a better understanding of shutting up and listening

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My husband

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Every single miner who works an underground shift every day

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Thuli Madonsela

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Many people have had an impact on how I approach business, including Patrice Motsepe, Peter Steenkamp, Fikile de Buck, Bernard Swanepoel, Frank Abbott, Charmane Russell and Cathie Markus – the list goes on!

Philosophy of Life: Do it afraid; trust

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Peter Steenkamp, our CEO – who now ranks as my career hero – offered me an opportunity to study overseas

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Mass psychology (people simply accepting the status quo from leaders rather than challenging it)

Hope for the Future: Harmony allows me to travel internationally. Each time I return to South Africa, I embrace the people, the culture and the weather. We should stop listening to the noise and intentionally seek the good. We should be part of creating the ‘good’ – educating people and helping them to help themselves

Favourite Reading: The Bible and any Nicholas Sparks book

Favourite TV Programme: House Hunters International

Favourite Food/Drink: Chips; champagne

Favourite Music: Everything, except country music – I am a big fan of JD McPherson (download his music!)

Favourite Sport: Spinning, walking

Hobbies: Writing, travelling, reading, mingling

Car: Lexus RX350

Pets: Two very naughty but adorable Labradors – Gus and Ruby

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Own agendas, people not speaking their minds, tripe

Married: To Eben, for 17 years, but we have been together for 21 years

Children: Many – just not our own

Organisation Memberships: Nonexecutive director of Rand Refinery, Gereformeerde Kerk Linden member, Chamber of Mines Communications Executive Committee

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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