Leadership

Leadership

Meet the Team

Metair’s Board of Directors comprise a diverse blend of relevant industry, investment and financial skills. The subsidiary managing directors have significant experience in the automotive and manufacturing industries, with an average tenure at Metair of some 25 years. Recent appointments to the team have strengthened capacity and expertise, and the team steering the ‘Reset and Growth, African Mobility Strategy’ combines deep company knowledge with fresh perspectives and new skills.

Click on the images to view the Leadership biographies

Appointed to the Board: 2018 Qualification: BSc (Eng) Electrical, GCC, PMD, ADP Other directorships: Impala Platinum Holdings, Exxaro Resources Limited Over 20 years’ experience in mining and 6 years in automotive 

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Billy Mawasha

Lead independent non-executive director

Appointed to the Board: 2016 Qualification: MA (Clinical Psychology) Other directorships: Zimplats, Jojose Investments and Differential Capital (Pty) Limited Over 20 years’ experience in automotive and logistics, 6 years in investments and over 10 years in health services      Chair and Independent non-executive director MA Clinical Psychology   Ms Mgoduso started her career as a clinical psychologist, during which time she lectured at universities and practiced both in South Africa and abroad. She served as group HR executive at Transnet SOC Ltd and then as Chief Executive Officer of Freight Dynamics. She later joined Imperial Logistics as Group Transformation Executive. She left Imperial Logistics to serve as Managing Director of Ayavuna Women’s Investments. After her time at Ayavuna, she spent time in strategic consulting and infrastructural development and HR. She is currently a Trustee of Ayavuna Trust, a board member at Zimplats, where she chairs the remuneration committee. She is the chairman of Jojose Investments. She chairs the remuneration committee at the Competition Commission.   Ms Mgoduso was appointed to the Metair board on 1 March 2016 and serves as member of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee. She was appointed as Chairperson of the Board on 16 February 2023.
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Thandeka Mgoduso

Chair and Independent non-executive director

Thandeka Mgoduso

Chair and Independent Non-executive Director

Manfred Muell

Independent Non-executive Director

Alupheli Sithebe

Independent Non-executive Director

George Ashford

George Ashford

Independent Non-executive Director

Noluvuyo Mkhondo

Independent Non-executive Director

Ndumi Ketwa

Independent Non-executive Director

Peter Giliam

Independent Non-executive Director

Paul O’Flaherty

Chief Executive Officer

Alastair Walker

Chief Financial Officer

Paul O’Flaherty

Chief Executive Officer

Alastair Walker

Chief Financial Officer

Johan Mouton

Chief Operating Officer

Sekhwela Mokgala

Chief Data and Digital Officer

Lauren Otto

HR Executive

Sanet Vermaak

Company Secretary

Glen Slow

Chief Information Officer

Seama Govender

Group Legal Executive

Selvin Konar

Smiths Manufacturing

Damien Harris

MD Supreme Spring

Yesigan Chinapen

Unitrade

Brent Latter

Automould

Alin Loanes

Rombat

Alex Holmes

Hesto

Jaco du Plessis

Lumotech

Charles van Aswegen

Metair Battery Manufacturing - Director

Michael da Paixao

AutoZone - Divisional Executive

Strategy
Metair at a Glance
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Thandeka Mgoduso - Chair and Independent Non-executive Director

Age: 67

Appointed to the Board: 2016

Qualification: MA (Clinical Psychology)

Other directorships: Zimplats, Jojose Investments and Differential Capital (Pty) Limited

 

Over 20 years’ experience in automotive and logistics, 6 years in investments and over 10 years in health services

Ms Mgoduso started her career as a clinical psychologist, during which time she lectured at universities and practiced both in South Africa and abroad. She served as group HR executive at Transnet SOC Ltd and then as Chief Executive Officer of Freight Dynamics. She later joined Imperial Logistics as Group Transformation Executive. She left Imperial Logistics to serve as Managing Director of Ayavuna Women’s Investments. After her time at Ayavuna, she spent time in strategic consulting and infrastructural development and HR. She is currently a Trustee of Ayavuna Trust and a board member at Zimplats, where she chairs the remuneration committee. She is the chairman of Jojose Investments. She chairs the remuneration committee at the Competition Commission.

 

Ms Mgoduso was appointed to the Metair Board on 1 March 2016 and serves as a member of the remuneration and nominations committee. She was appointed as Chairperson of the Board on 16 February 2023.

Manfred Muell - Independent non-executive director

Age : 63

Appointed to the Board: 2019

Qualification: Betriebswirt (BA)

Other directorships: Stracienta Africa (Pty) Limited and Scientrix Holdings Limited

Over 30 years’ experience in the automotive industry

Mr Muell holds a Diplom-Betriebswirt (BA) from Berufsakademie Stuttgart, Germany, equivalent to a Bachelor of Commerce. He has over 30 years of experience in the motor industry and is the co-founder and CEO of Scientrix Holdings Limited (Scientrix). Prior to Scientrix, Mr Muell was the President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Argentina S.A and held various other executive positions within the Daimler Group in Germany, Turkey, South Africa, Mexico and Argentina. He has multinational and broad cross functional management experience in the fields of finance and controlling, logistics, procurement, strategic planning, sustainability and stakeholder management.

 

Mr Muell was appointed chairman of the social and ethics committee on 17 February 2020. He is also a member of the remuneration and nominations committee.

Alupheli Sithebe - Independent non-executive director

Age: 41

Appointed to the Board: 2021

Qualification: BCom Acc (Hons), CA(SA), MBA

Other directorships: Dis-Chem Pharmacies Limited and Altron Limited

More than 18 years’ experience in financial services and 13 years in investments (industrial sector focus)

Ms Sithebe is a private equity practitioner with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions (‘M&A’) and corporate finance garnered from a wide range of businesses primarily in the industrials value chain. She began her career with EY where she trained to qualify as a CA(SA) after which she established an accounting and audit practice named Kamva Advisory & Associates Inc. between 2008 to 2011. Ms Sithebe later went on to join the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) where she was a Senior Dealmaker. Ms Sithebe later held the role of Principal at African Phoenix Investments Limited which was a JSE-listed mid-market focused private equity investment firm. Ms Sithebe is currently Managing Director of Kamva Investments, an investment holding entity with a focus on unlisted investments and M&A advisory. Ms Sithebe also serves on the boards of Altron Limited and Dis-Chem Pharmacies Limited. Ms Sithebe holds a BCom Acc (RAU) with Honours (UNISA) and an MBA from GIBS.

Ms Sithebe was appointed as an independent non-executive director and a member of the audit and risk committee with effect from 1 January 2021 and to the social and ethics committee with effect from 29 January 2021.

George Ashford - Independent Non-executive Director

Age: 58

Appointed: 2025

Qualification: BA Hons European Business Studies. Diplome Universitaire En Carriers Juridiques

Responsibilities: Investment Committee Chairman

George has 18 years experience as a member of the Inchcape Plc Global Executive. Inchcape is the world’s largest Automotive distribution and retail business. George led many of Inchcape’s business units including European Retail, Belgium and Luxembourg, Australasia and APAC Inchcape’s most profitable region. He also led the development of Inchcape’s Accelerate strategy in his role as Chief Transformation officer. George has a deep knowledge of the global automotive market and strong relations with automotive OEM’s. Prior to joining Inchcape George had senior roles with Yum restaurants. George is currently NED for the Institute of the Motor Industry in the UK and Driven a SAAS supplier to the automotive industry. 

 

George was appointed as a non executive independent director on 10 October 2025 and serves as chairman of the Investment Committee.

Noluvuyo Mkhondo - Independent non-executive director

Age: 40

Appointed to the Board: 2019

Qualification: BAcc, CA(SA), MBA

Other directorships: PPC Limited, Value Capital Partners

 

Over 15 years’ experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and investments

Ms Mkhondo is an investment director at Value Capital Partners Pty Limited (‘VCP’). Prior to joining VCP, Ms Mkhondo was a seasoned investment banking and corporate finance professional, having spent time at Goldman Sachs International Plc and Anglo-American Plc (both based in the United Kingdom) where she was responsible for mergers and acquisition execution, investment evaluation and strategic long-term financial planning. During her time at Goldman Sachs and Anglo American, Ms Mkhondo executed cross-border transactions in the consumer/retail, healthcare, real estate, and metals and mining sectors across the United Kingdom, Africa and the Americas. Ms Mkhondo is a Chartered Accountant (SA) by profession, having begun her career in the audit and advisory financial institutions services team at Deloitte & Touche, in Johannesburg. In addition, Ms Mkhondo has a Master of Business Administration from the London Business School, where she was a Mo Ibrahim Scholar.

 

Ms Mkhondo was appointed as an independent non-executive director of the company and as a member of the investment committee on 28 June 2019. On 3 August 2022, she was appointed as a member of the remuneration committee. She currently serves as the chair of the remuneration and nominations committee.

 

She also serves as an independent non-executive director on the board of PPC Limited.

Ndumi Ketwa - Independent non-executive director

Age: 53

Appointed to the Board: 2023

Qualification: BAcc, Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy, Certificate in Sustainability Leadership and Corporate Governance

Other directorships:


City Lodge Hotels Limited, Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited and Exxaro Resources Limited

 

More than 8 years’ experience in financial services and automative

Ms Ketwa is a qualified Chartered Accountant (South Africa) and holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Durban Westville, a postgraduate diploma in Accountancy from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal and a certificate in Sustainability Leadership and Corporate Governance from the London Business School.

Ms Ketwa has over 29 years of professional experience, while her non-executive director experience is 15 years.

She serves on boards that include, Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited, City Lodge Hotels Limited and Exxaro Resources Limited. She also has experience chairing committees such as audit and risk, social and ethics and remuneration. Ms Ketwa has served in numerous executive roles including her current role as chief executive officer of Indyebo Incorporated, chief operating officer of Nedbank Group Internal Audit, as well as Partner in other audit firms.

Ms Ketwa has been appointed as an independent non-executive director of the Company and chairperson of the audit and risk committee with effect from 13 June 2023.

Peter Giliam - Independent non-executive director

Age: 67

Appointed to the Board: 2021

Qualification: BEng (Hons)

Other directorships: None

More than 30 years’ experience in the international automotive industry

Mr Giliam holds a BEng (Hons) in Automotive, Project Management and a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pretoria. Mr Giliam was previously the managing director of Robertson and Caine Proprietary Limited and has a wealth of experience in the automotive industry, gained through various senior roles, including, inter alia, project director at Jaguar Land Rover UK, vice president at BMW Group and plant coordinator of Metalsa South Africa.

 

He was appointed as an independent non-executive director of Metair and a member of the investment committee with effect from 1 May 2021. Mr Giliam also serves as a member of the remuneration and nominations committee.

Paul O’Flaherty - Chief Executive Officer

Age : 61

Appointed to the Board: 2024

Qualification: BCom, B. Acc, CA(SA)

Over 23 years’ experience in the infrastructure, manufacturing, energy and banking industries

Mr O’Flaherty is a qualified Chartered Accountant (SA) and began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. in 1986, having served as an audit partner for 6 years in the Energy and Mining sector. Since 2001, he has served in both CFO and CEO roles in JSE listed companies (Group Five Limited and ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited), the public sector (Eskom Holdings Limited) and in large multinational private companies.

 

Mr O’Flaherty has a remarkable track record across multiple emerging markets coupled with in-depth experience in turnarounds, restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, and programme and project management. Prior to joining Ernst & Young Inc., he had the overall responsibility for the $1bn separation of ABSA Bank Limited from Barclays Plc.

 

Mr O’Flaherty is a commercially focused leader and has gained extensive experience across the manufacturing, mining, infrastructure, energy, trading, and financial services industries. He has also served as a non-executive director of JSE listed companies.

Alastair Walker - Chief Financial Officer

Age : 49

Appointed to Metair: 2025

Qualification: CA (SA), B. Com (Wits), Bachelor of Accounting (Wits)

Alastair has extensive private equity and corporate finance experience. After working for Deloitte in both Johannesburg and London, in 2004 he joined Anglo American Corporate Finance where was he involved on several high-profile transactions. In 2007, he joined the Brait Investment Team where he represented Brait on the boards of both UK and SA based portfolio companies.

 

Since 2018, he has been investing and partnering with several SA based entrepreneurs across a range of industries.

Johan Mouton - Chief Operating Office

Age : 63

Qualification: BMW Management Development Programmes

Responsibilities: ATE, Automould, Smiths Manufacturing, Supreme Spring, First Battery, Mutlu Akü and Rombat

 

42 years’ experience in the automotive and logistics industries

Mr J Mouton has been appointed as the company’s COO on a fixed term contract, with effect from 1 October 2023. Mr Mouton served as the technical and logistics director at the BMW Group plant in Rosslyn from 2018 to April 2023.

 

Mr Mouton has a wealth of experience, over 40 years, in the motor manufacturing and logistics industry gained through various leadership roles, including, inter alia, director of painted body and press plant at the BMW plant in Oxford and Swindon (UK), vice president of body and press plant at the BMW Tiexi Plant in mainland China and assembly general manager at the BMW South Africa Rosslyn plant.

Sekhwela Mokgala - Chief Data and Digital Officer

Age: 42

Appointed to Metair: 2025 (AutoZone 2021)

Qualification: BEng, MScEng, CGEIT

Over 20 years’ experience, leading enterprise-wide digital transformation, systems integration and technology governance across automotive, logistics, ICT and Retail  

Lauren Otto - HR Executive

Age : 46

Qualification: BA Humanities, Advanced Management Diploma

23 years’ experience in Human Resources Management within retail and automotive industries.

Sanet Vermaak - Company Secretary

Age : 58

Appointed to Metair: 1998

Qualification: B Comm (Fin M) AIRMSA

25 years’ experience in company secretarial and the automotive industry all with Metair

Ms Vermaak joined the company in August 1998 and was appointed as company secretary in March 2001 and group finance manager in July 2003. From 1 April 2015, she shifted focus from finance and was appointed as group risk and compliance manager. She completed her B Comm Financial Management degree (cum laude) in 2005 on a part time basis and has more than 23 years’ experience in the listed company environment.

 

Ms Vermaak has been appointed as group risk and compliance executive from February 2023.

Glen Slow - Chief information Officer

Age: 60

Appointed to Metair: 2025 (AutoZone 2010)

Qualification: B Com Information Systems

30 years’ experience in information technology and business systems within automotive and retail environments

Seama Govender - Group Legal Executive

Age: 48

Appointed: 2025

Qualification: LLB (UDW)

Seama is an admitted Advocate of the High Court with 25 years of legal experience. She commenced her career at the National Prosecuting Authority before joining KPMG Forensic (KZN) in 2007. During her seven-year tenure at KPMG, she held successive roles, beginning as a Senior Forensic Investigator and advancing to Senior Manager, where she headed the Investigation Service line.

In 2013, she joined Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA) as Group Legal Manager. In 2015, she was appointed Divisional Head: Legal Services and Company Secretary, where she established the company’s in-house Legal and Compliance Department. Seama has 12 years of experience in corporate and commercial law, compliance and company secretarial functions, and has served as a member of both executive and industry body boards.

Selvin Konar - Smiths Manufacturing

Age : 56

Qualification: BCom (Hons), MBA

37 years’ experience in the automotive Industry

 

37 years in Metair Group

Selvin Konar holds the position of Managing Director for Smiths Manufacturing and Managing Director and Chairman of DENSO Sales South Africa, a Joint Venture company that Selvin was instrumental in forming with DENSO Corporation, Japan. Selvin commenced his career at Smiths Manufacturing in 1987 and has 37 years’ experience in the Automotive Industry having had exposure in both the OEM and Independent Aftermarket sectors.

 

He has spent time in Marketing, Business Planning, Costing and Purchasing, and served as Supply Chain Director before being appointed as Managing Director in 2014. Selvin obtained a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of South Africa (Unisa) and an MBA from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Selvin is currently enrolled for the Doctoral programme at UKZN focussing on the Digital Transformation of Metair subsidiaries considering New Energy Vehicles.

Damien Harris - Supreme Spring

Age: 50

Appointed: 2025

Qualification: Mechanical Engineering Degree (B.ENG) (HONOURS)

25 years’ experience in the automotive Industry

Mr. Damien Harris joined Supreme Spring in 2013 as the Plant Manager for Plant 1, bringing with him a strong background in operational leadership and process optimisation. During his tenure in this role, he played a pivotal part in strengthening plant performance, enhancing production efficiency, and supporting cross-functional improvements throughout the organisation. His collaborative approach and commitment to continuous improvement allowed him to contribute meaningfully to various departments, from manufacturing and engineering to supply chain and quality management.

 

In 2025, following the retirement of long-standing Managing Director Mark Barley, Mr. Damien Harris was appointed Managing Director of Supreme Spring. In this capacity, he now leads the company’s strategic direction, operational excellence initiatives, and long-term growth objectives. His vision focuses on innovation, sustainability, and strengthening Supreme Spring’s competitive position in both local and international markets.

Yesigan Chinapen - Unitrade

Age : 37

Qualification: BCom, Management Development Programme

15 years’ experience in the automotive industry

 

15 years in Metair Group

Mr Chinapen joined Unitrade 745 in December 2008 and held various roles within the organisation before being appointed as Director in March 2019 and Managing Director in September 2023. During his directorship, he has overseen major projects and a complete facility relocation. He completed his B Comm degree (UKZN) in 2010 and an MDP (UKZN) in 2018. He has more than 15 years’ experience in the wire manufacturing industry.

Brent Latter

Age: 54

Appointed to Metair: 2025 (Automould 1997)

Qualification: BCom (Business Administration, Business Finance)

Alin Ioanes - Rombat

Age : 49

Qualification: Company Management, Masters in Management of Business Development, MBA

5 years’ experience in the automotive industry, 24 years in manufacturing

 

3 years in Metair Group

Alin joined Rombat SA in 2021 as CEO & Vice-President of the Board of Directors. A leader with over 20 years’ experience in international business environment. Previously he had been Managing Director & Member of the Board in various international companies.

He held various executive positions in manufacturing and consultancy. He holds an E-MBA and two master’s degree in management. His passion for sustainable businesses, for circular economy, it made him get involved in various initiatives.

Alex Holmes - Hesto

Age : 53

Qualification: MA (Hons) Cantab, Mechanical Engineering

29 years’ experience in the automotive industry

Jaco du Plessis - Lumotech

Age : 48

Qualification: IT Systems Architecture, MBA

24 years’ experience in the automotive industry

14 years in Metair Group

Jaco du Plessis is the Managing Director of Lumotech, a Tier-1 automotive lighting manufacturer supplying leading OEM platforms in South Africa. With more than two decades of experience at the intersection of operations, technology, and commercial leadership, he has progressed from software and systems roles into plant and enterprise leadership, consistently delivering measurable gains in quality, cost, and cash generation. His credentials include an MBA (cum laude; Best MBA Graduate), underpinned by a National Higher Diploma in Information Technology.

Jaco’s career spans IT systems development and analytics, IT leadership and ERP integrations, and successive operations mandates at Lumotech, starting with Logistics & ICT, General Manager Manufacturing & ICT, Manufacturing Director, Operations Director, and now Managing Director with full P&L accountability. He has led new business development, platform industrialisation, and technical partnerships across Japan, Thailand, China, and Europe, while embedding world-class disciplines in APQP/PPAP, Lean/CI, OEE, labour efficiency, supplier performance, and customer satisfaction.

His core skill set blends strategic execution and hands-on problem solving: P&L ownership and capital allocation, cost-down and localisation roadmaps, production systems and quality management, supply-chain design and inventory optimisation, and data-driven leadership. Known for his collaborative, transparent style, Jaco mobilises cross-functional teams, builds high-accountability cultures, and aims to turns operational excellence into sustainable growth.

Charles van Aswegen

Age: 61

Appointed to Metair: 2025 (First Battery 1994)

Qualification: Government Certificate of Competency: Factories (GCC)

Charles has 31 years’ experience in the automotive Industry. He joined First Battery in 1994 and was responsible for the initialisation, installation, commissioning and running of the first recycling facility. He held the position of Plant Maintenance and Production Manager from 1994 until 1999. He obtained the Government Certificate of Competency: Factories (GCC) in 1999 and was then appointed as the Group Engineer from January 2000 until June 2006.

 

In July 2006, he was appointed as the Factory Manager for the Benoni Plant, responsible for recycling, plant engineering and logistics and held this position until 2016, when he was appointed as Director Recycling and Logistics.  He was appointed as the Manufacturing Director in September 2023 and as of November 2025, he is also responsible for the Technical and Logistics division, where he now leads the company’s strategic direction and manufacturing operations.

Michael Da Paixao

Age: 56

Appointed to Metair: 2025

Michael is a seasoned retail executive with over three decades of leadership experience across merchandise planning, marketing and supply chain management in some of South Africa’s leading retail groups. As Division Executive of AutoZone South Africa, he drives strategic growth across retail and Mobility, leading brand positioning, customer engagement, private label development, and end-to-end import supply chains while managing and building high performing teams.

 

His career spans senior roles at AutoZone South Africa, Edcon, JD Group, and the AVI Group, where he consistently delivered improved service levels, profitability and operational efficiency. With a strong marketing focus across digital and traditional channels, Michael combines analytical thinking, commercial acumen and hands on leadership to deliver sustainable growth and longer-term value.