Madelise Grobler: DMA winner and multi-faceted ... - Words' Worth

10BUSINESS PROFILENew top team for PowertechPowertech’s recentlyappointed chiefexecutive officer andchief operating officerare no strangers tothe company, but theycertainly have theirwork cut out for themin their new roles.Neil KaytonLeon ViljoenBernard leadsTransformersBernard Meyer has beenappointed as CEO ofPowertech Transformers.Following a 20-year careerwith Eskom Distribution,Bernard joined Powertechin 2007 as engineeringmanager. He was promotedto chief operating officerfor Powertech Transformers’Power Division in 2009.When Norbert Claussenannounced his resignationfrom Powertech,the group took the opportunityto reorganise its managementstructure by introducing the positionof chief operating officer (COO). Itwas also decided to appoint Norbert’ssuccessor from within, rather thanmaking an external appointment.The new CEO, Neil Kayton, has beenPowertech’s chief financial officer sincehe joined the company in 2004. Hestarted his career with accounting firmErnst & Young where he completedhis articles, before being employed asfinancial manager at Universal RecyclingCompany – a member of the CapeGate group of companies. Prior tojoining Powertech, Neil was the financialdirector at international pharmaceuticalscompany, AstraZeneca.Leon Viljoen vacated the CEO seatat Powertech Transformers to take uphis new position as Powertech COO.Leon is an electrical and electronicengineer by training and has been withPowertech for twelve years in variousmanagement capacities.Commenting on the new appointments,Robert Venter, Altron’s CE, saidthat the Altron board believed thatNeil and Leon had excellent attributesand that they would complement eachother in leading the Powertech group.“They have both been with the groupfor some time and understand the intricaciesof the power electronics sector.We look forward to seeing them takethe group to new heights.”The next edition of Profile will featurean in-depth interview with Neil abouthis vision for Powertech.“They both understand the intricaciesof the power electronics sector”.Robert Venter, CE Altron