People
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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, |
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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. |
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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. |
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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." |
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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.
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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. |
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David Crombie Managing Director – Babcock Industrial Following completion of his apprenticeship with Babcock Power in
David emigrated to
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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |










