CMO - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Head of Technical Services
Andrew has a Ph.D. in Forestry, an MSc in Forest Science, a BSc in Forest Science, and an NDip in Forestry. He has visited over 30 countries in his 20-year forestry career and began his career as a practicing forester and managed new plantation developments in pine, eucalypt, and wattle plantations. During his early career, he managed fire protection, silviculture, harvesting, roads, and transport activities.
As his career progressed, his technical strengths emerged, and he filled technical management functions in commercial forestry culminating in his being appointed the Forest Engineering Manager of Mondi Forests. This significant practical and technical exposure has resulted in him having a keen understanding of the technical needs of operational forestry.
Job Titles:
- Country Managing Director
- Gabon
Ben has a B Tech in Forestry and has been working extensively in Sub-Saharan Africa since leaving the employ of Sappi Forests some 15 years ago, giving him the opportunity to work in over 10 countries over this period. His 30 years of operational experience in the forestry supply chain has equipped him with the required competencies to successfully roll out CMO Group Schemes across the world.
Ben pays attention to detail and his analytical nature of operations allows him to fulfill a specific role in CMO as a finisher. Ben strives to develop simple, practical solutions to complex issues and to visualize concepts through his artistic nature. He specifically focuses on developing CMO's unique HIRAC (Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Control measures) system, where a powerful risk-based, visual approach allows for work procedures to be uniquely configured to add value for all users in the forestry supply chain.
Job Titles:
- CFO
- Professional Accountant
Christi is a qualified Professional Accountant (SA) and a Tax Practitioner. He has been a partner in accounting firms since 2010, rendering expert accounting, tax, and financial management services. He possesses strong leadership skills and an exceptional work ethic.
In his current role as CFO, he oversees the financial and strategic operations of the Group including financial planning and analysis (FP&A) to drive profitability and performance improvement while ensuring compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements. Together with his team, he provides financial information and data, as well as advice on key business decisions in the Group's various corporate and divisional projects.
Job Titles:
- Head of Nature - Based Carbon Services
Ciska has an MSc in Environmental Management, an MBA, a Chemical Engineering degree and a BSc in Wood Science. Ciska has 25 years of experience […]
Job Titles:
- Country Managing Director
- South Africa
Corris is a formally qualified FSC and ISO auditor, having worked for more than 20 years in the auditing field as the Global Chain-of Custody Manager for forest certification standards for SGS. During this time, he was intricately involved in the development of forest certification standards with multinational teams from across the world.
As the Global Manager he visited over 45 countries to audit forest products companies, agents, and SGS affiliate offices to ensure that the integrity of the certification systems is maintained. He conducted training courses to expand the auditor capacity within the ranks of SGS and to ensure that back-office staff maintained a credible certification system. After leaving SGS, he joined CMO in February 2020 to head up the CMO Namibia operations with his offices located in Otjiwarongo, Namibia.
Daniel is looking back on a solid track record of 20 years of product development in the telco, banking, and logistics industries. He launched his first mobile service with Deutsche Telekom / T-Mobile during the introduction of T-Mobile's GPRS data network in Germany.
Daniel obtained his master's degree in Electrical Engineering and Technical Informatics from the University of Applied Sciences in Steinfurt / Germany. Since moving to South Africa Daniel headed up ABSA's mobile banking channels and billing systems before he founded and developed myEU.africa - SA's popular site for international shipments.
Inspired by CMO's innovative strategy, the smart business model, and a passion to make our world a better place Daniel joined CMO as Chief Technology Officer heading up CMO Digital. Daniel and his team are building the digital and mobile solutions required to make sustainable supply chain management a breeze.
Job Titles:
- Regional Manager
- REGIONAL MANAGER CMO BELGIUM
Eric began his journey in forestry by graduating as a Forestry Technician in 1979. For the next 30 years, he wholeheartedly embraced a career in logging, never missing an opportunity to attend Elmia fairs and extensively traveling to Canada, exploring both the East and the West, in pursuit of new career prospects.
These journeys always brought back fresh insights and innovative logging techniques. Eric ventured into various competitions, even representing Belgium as a Team Leader at several World Logging Championships-a role he still holds.
In 2009, Eric's career took a significant turn when he joined Blount Europe as the European Technical Services Manager. This transition opened up a world of possibilities, allowing him to gain a comprehensive understanding of the industry, from factories and research and development to marketing. It also provided him with the chance to connect with customers, including distributors, mass merchants, and end-users.
His travels took him to diverse corners of the world, and he had the opportunity to explore places like Russia and Africa. It was in 2017, during the Focus on Forestry Conference, where Eric met Michal Brink. That encounter ignited his curiosity and led him to delve deeper into the world of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). He's had the privilege of witnessing both sides of the industry, particularly during his visits to large companies in Congo Brazzaville.
In late 2020, Eric successfully completed an online course and obtained certification in Forestry Management and Chain of Custody. In 2021, he returned to the forest as a forester for a private estate, and more recently, he enthusiastically joined CMO as a Regional Manager for CMO Belgium.
Eric's objective is to leverage his extensive network to connect with CMO's offerings and contribute to its mission.
Job Titles:
- Country Managing Director
Megan has a National Diploma in Graphic Design and a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Science. She has provided creative services for both the financial and manufacturing sectors. Over the years, she has built-up a portfolio of skills ranging from graphic design/illustration, eLearning, animation, and video editing.
She is a team player and driven to always produce the highest quality creative outputs. In her current role as Head of Design, she is developing a new brand corporate identity and managing all design outputs, which includes building innovative user interfaces and user experiences for the Group's software.
Michal, possessing a Ph.D. in Forestry and an MBA earned in both the USA and South Africa, brings distinguished qualifications to his role as the CEO of CMO. He also holds a part-time extraordinary professorship in forest sciences at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, showcasing his academic prowess.
With an illustrious forestry career spanning over 80 countries across the northern and southern hemispheres, Michal has garnered extensive experience in forestry companies and held global leadership positions in major corporations. Notably, he served as the head of the worldwide forest certification division at SGS, the world's largest forest certification company based in Switzerland.
Over the past two decades, Michal has passionately pursued forestry as a consultant and trainer, dedicating a significant portion of his time to CMO. He sees forestry as more than just a job-it's a lasting hobby.
As the CEO and visionary behind the "new CMO," Michal plays a pivotal role as a team player, assembling a diverse mix of knowledge, skills, and experience within the executive team. This strategic approach ensures the successful international rollout of CMO's vision and values.
Job Titles:
- Country Managing Director
- MANAGING DIRECTOR CMO MALAYSIA
Rooted in a background as a botanist, Salahudin is driven by a passion for making a positive impact. Armed with a Master of Philosophy degree in natural resources and environmental management from the University of Malaya, he embarked on a dedicated journey in environmental conservation.
With over 30 years of expertise, Salahudin has been a pivotal force in renowned organizations, steering certification schemes, assurance programs, and standards with a global team. His leadership roles at the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and within SGS's Natural Resource Certification Section, the world's largest certification body, underscore his commitment to sustainable practices.
Specializing in the natural resource sectors, particularly timber and palm oil, Salahudin has collaborated with clients across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America. His profound impact resonates in fostering positive changes and creating a sustainable future for our environment.
Job Titles:
- Group Human Resource Manager
Taylor holds her Masters's degree in Human Resource Management, a BCom Hons Human Resources and Labour Relations degree as well as a BCom Human Resources and Labour Relations degree. She has spent her entire career based in South Africa and obtained her education from the University of Pretoria, boasting top-of-the-class and cum laude accolades. Starting off her career she spent time as a tutor and leader at the University and continued to build her network and skill set.
During the early stages of her career, she joined a well-known trade union and built excellent Labour Relations skills, knowledge, and first-hand experience. She then moved into the Human Resources department at the same Trade Union. Taylor's passion for Human Resources grew stronger as her career progressed, and she later joined one of the leading Corporate Paper and Packaging International Companies where she has worked her way up through the ranks, adding value in the People Development (PD) and Human Resource (HR) spaces. Here she gained substantial knowledge and expertise across the entire field of PD and HR.
She brings extensive theoretical and experiential, both national and international, knowledge to the CMO Group. Her technical background mainly spans the Professional, Mining, Manufacturing, Packaging, Paper & Pulp as well as Forestry industries. Taylor's focus is highlighted throughout all of the HR-related matters and her passion for HR leadership, people, and a highly functional workforce remains a recipe for great success.