Tue 6th Jan 2009
Africa Activities

People

Roger O’Callaghan
Chief Executive Officer - Babcock Africa


Roger’s experience includes management positions at Heraeus Electro-Nite, the world's largest producer of molten metal sensors to the iron and steel industry. In the early 90’s he was Managing Director of Chubb Fire, Africa's leading portable fire fighting equipment manufacturer/distributor. Prior to joining Babcock Africa in 2001, he held various executive positions in the UK and South Africa within the Siebe/Invensys group of companies, global leaders in automation and control.


Wilna Steyn
Financial Director - Babcock Africa


Wilna  is  responsible for the Finances within Babcock Africa, covering the provision  of  finance,  tax,  commercial  and  legal  support  across  the business.

 

Wilna  completed  her  BCom  (Hons)  degree  and  qualified  as a Chartered Accountant  after  completing  her  articles  at Fisher Hoffman (PKF).  She joined  Babcock  in 1996 as a financial controller. She subsequently filled various  financial  positions  at  Babcock Africa and was appointed finance director of Babcock Africa in April 2000.


Mark Hughes
Chief Operating Officer - Brands


Qualified as a Mechanical Engineer in 1990.  Before joining Babcock in October 1999, Mark was involved in the defence, mining and trading industries.  Currently CEO of Babcock Brands, which includes the Equipment, Rentals, Industrial and Aviation divisions. Mark is also a director on the Babcock Africa Board and COO of the Babcock Africa Group.  Keen aviator and the holder of a current fixed wing pilot's license.


Ferdi Rocha
Managing Director – Babcock Equipment


Fernando ‘Ferdi’ Rocha was appointed to the position of Managing Director of the Equipment Division in June 2007.

Rocha was previously the Managing Director of MAN Truck and Bus South Africa. He spent some time in private practice before joining Babcock Equipment. Prior to his tenure with MAN, he also spent time with both Nissan SA and Mercedes Benz SA. He is married to Donné and has two sons and a daughter."


Michael de Weijer
Chief Operating Officer - Babcock Central Flying Academy


Michael de Weijer is the Chief Operating Officer of BabcockCentralFlyingAcademy. He joined Babcock CFA in January 2007 and is responsible for this division of Babcock Brands. He is a keen aviator and has been flying in a personal capacity since 1988.

 

By formal education a Mechanical Engineer, he holds a degree from the University of Pretoria and an Honours degree in Computational Fluid Dynamics.  He furthered his interest in financial management with a certificate programme in Financial Analysis at the University of the Witwatersrand Business School.

 

Prior to joining Babcock CFA, his career has spanned 18 years in several engineering and financial managerial positions.

 


Ian Kendrick
Managing Director – Babcock Rentals


Ian is fully accountable for Babcock Plant and Babcock TCM Botswana as the Babcock Rentals MD.

 

Ian joined Babcock Plant in the capacity of Plant Services Manager in 1994 after being in the crane and rigging industry since 1976. Promoted to Marketing Manager, he expanded the external plant hire business and thereafter was tasked as Operations Manager, to further expand the business. Ian was then made Regional Manager, where he was responsible for successfully opening regional branches. After that he was promoted to General Manager, then Managing Director of Babcock Rentals – a Brands sub-division. Ian is married to Carole and has 3 sons and 2 1/2 grandchildren.


David Crombie
Managing Director – Babcock Industrial


Following completion of his apprenticeship with Babcock Power in Scotland in 1971 and completion of his advanced diploma in Welding from the UK Welding Institute, David held various positions within the Industrial Engineering Division before moving to the Nuclear Quality Assurance Division becoming involved in both civil and military nuclear applications.

 

David emigrated to South Africa in 1982 and held various management positions within the Quality, Welding and Projects Divisions prior to joining Babcock Welding as General Manager in 2000.

 

In 2006 he was appointed to his current position as Managing Director Babcock Industrial and spearheaded the division’s diversification into the Power Generator Business.


Robert Hillcoat
Managing Director – Babcock Fabrication


Bob completed his apprenticeship in Boilermaking and Welding with Babcock & Wilcox in Scotland from 1957 to 1964. Winning Apprentice of theYear award in 1961. Bob held various positions at Babcock until 1969 when he emigrated to South Africa and joined ICAL where in the beginning of 1992 he was promoted to Director of their Manufacturing Division.

In November 1993 he joined Babcock Construction Contractors as a General Manager where he initiated and established the Babcock Fabrication Division. In 1993 he was appointed to his current position of Divisional Director – Fabrication. Bob is also a Director of Babcock Technology.


Neil Penson
MD Babcock Engineering


Neil graduated as a civil engineer in 1977, and worked on several major civil projects ( including the construction of Ellis Park rugby stadium) for Grinaker Construction until 1982 when he joined Eskom as Civil Project Manager for Matimba Power Station Project . Neil worked at Eskom for 19 years in various senior project management positions and was overall project manager for both Majuba and Kendal Power Station Projects. In 2001 Neil joined Babcock Africa Services as Operations Director and was promoted to Managing Director -Babcock Engineering in 2004. Neil is a director of the professional project management association PMSA, and deputy chairman of the Construction Engineering Association, the industry federation association for the Metal Industries construction sector in South Africa.


Kevin Kane
MD - Babcock Ntuthuko Powerlines


Kevin Kane began his career designing switchgear for the then GEC Power Distribution. He moved on to Consol Glass where he was responsible for the design and devlopment of special purpose automated machinery associated with the glass industry. Thereafter, he moved into Management at Anglo American's Boart  International where he headed up the Projects, Industrial Engineering and Estimating departments.

 

Kevin then joined Barlows Appliance Company where, over a ten year period, he held the postions of Operations Manager, Engineering Director and General Manager. For the last ten years, he has held various Executive positions from General Manager to Managing Director, until joining Babcock Ntuthuko Powerlines in April 2006 in the capacity of Managing Director.


Tim Ward
Financial Director - Babcock Brands


Tim graduated as a Mechanical Engineer in 1983 in the UK. In 1987 he joined the Vickers organisation as an Accountant progressing to Financial Manager by 1989.  In 1991 he joined Blackwood Hodge as the Financial Director.  In 1993 he joined the Howden Group and held the position of Financial Director of the packaging companies until 1997 when he transferred and emigrated to Howden Group South Africa as Group Financial Controller.

Tim joined Babcock Africa in 2002.  He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and holds an MBA and Engineering Degree.