FRANCOIS STRYDOM - GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SENWES
Director since June 2002
B.Sc Agric (Hons) (Animal Science)
Francois acted as CEO from 1 June 2010 and was appointed as CEO on 6 August 2010. Prior to this appointment he was the director of operations, which position he filled from 2002. He joined Senwes in 2001 and was seconded to the former Kolosus Beherend as managing director. He started his career as animal scientist at AFGRI, and was promoted to the position of director: grain at AFGRI over a period of 13 years.
Membership of board committees: Risk
Other important directorships: Director of various companies in the Senwes group. He is also a council member of the North-West University and Agbiz
Francois obtained his B.Sc. (Honours) degree at the Free State University in South Africa. He started his career at OTK, now known as Afgri, in 1987 as a Livestock Specialist. He worked himself up through the ranks of the company in several operational positions until he was eventually appointed as Director of Grain and Diverse Operations. He was tasked with the turn-around, restructuring and takeover of several businesses.
He accepted an appointment at Senwes in May 2001 and was tasked to turn around the listed company Kolosus. After its successful completion he was appointed as Director of Operations on 21 June 2003, taking care of Grain, Trade, Hartswater Wine Cellar and the Insurance Division. Francois was appointed as Acting Managing Director on 1 June 2010 and from 6 August 2010 he was appointed as Managing Director of Senwes Limited. A comprehensive 2020 strategy was designed and approved by December 2010 and implementation started in January 2011.
The concept of designing the future and not predicting it was developed. It contained, amongst others, the concepts of consolidation, reorganising, geographic expansion and extending the value chains in the areas of strategic focus. Partnership development is one of the business model focus area and a variety of national and international partnership models were developed and successfully implemented to date.
The philosophy of the strategy is to initiate change in the sector and to facilitate this. International exposure of the Executive Committee to the best training facilities around the world is being done. Regular talks at leading conferences and business schools are given on this topic. He serves as Director on a number of Subsidiary Board's and is an Executive Director on the Board of Senwes Limited. Senwes is an agricultural business that focuses on the provision of production inputs primarily to grain producers, as well as market access for agricultural produce.
This is strategically coupled with the provision of value added services, which include, amongst others, financing, insurance and agricultural technical services. Senwes conducts its business predominantly in the North West, Free State, Gauteng, Northern and Western Cape in South Africa. The group also undertakes international trade in the SADC region as well as certain parts of East Africa.
