HH Fischer Dipl-Ing, Dipl-Wirtschaftsingenieur
Chief executive officer: CBI-electric
Director of companies
Appointed in 1984
Born 13 September 1947 in Germany

Helmuth attended the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany where in 1972 he obtained a masters degree in mechanical engineering.

Thereafter he studied business administration at the Technical University of Munich, Germany where in 1974 he obtained a masters degree in industrial engineering (equivalent to MBA).

His association with Barlow Rand/Reunert started in 1984 when he emigrated to South Africa to join Heinemann Electric (Pty) Limited (then 70% owned by Barlow Rand) as manager for manufacturing coordination and information systems.

In 1989 he was appointed managing director of Circuit Breaker Industries. On 1 January 2007 Helmuth was appointed chief executive of CBI-electric.

PW Smit MEng, MBA
Chief operating officer: CBI-electric
With Reunert group since 1987
Born 12 December 1961

Piet joined the group in the radar division in Stellenbosch as a development engineer in 1987. Studying part-time, he obtained an MEng degree from the University of Stellenbosch and, by 1994, an MBA from the University of Cape Town.

In 1999 he was appointed as managing director of Reutech Radar Systems and in December 2003 was appointed managing director of Reutech. On 1 August 2008, Piet assumed responsibility as chief operating officer for CBI-electric.

CE Schutte BSc (Eng)(Elec) Certificate of Competency
Managing director: CBI-electric: African Cables
Appointed June 1999
Born 13 July 1949

Ernst started his career as a pupil engineer at the then Union Steel Corporation of SA Limited’s non-ferrous division in 1973 after he obtained his engineering degree at the University of Pretoria.

He was later appointed as section engineer: electrical; maintenance engineer; production manager; marketing manager and general manager of Usko Ltd.

He served on the boards of Alustang (Pty) Limited, EPI (Pty) Limited, Transvaal Copper Rod Company and Usko Limited.

JA Vorster BCom, CIS, MBL
Managing director: CBI-electric: Aberdare
ATC telecom cables
First employed by ATC in 1971
Born 28 May 1949

Koos started his career as assistant accountant at Standard Telephones and Cables (Pty) Limited (STC) in 1969. He joined ATC in 1971 as accountant and subsequently held the positions of chief accountant and financial director prior to his appointment as managing director in 1986, a position he held until 1999.

Koos joined Marconi South Africa (Pty) Limited in 1999 as CEO. He left Marconi in 2001 and pursued his own private business interests until he rejoined ATC in October 2002 as managing director.

Following the merger of the ATC and Aberdare telecoms businesses in January 2007 in the new company CBI-electric Aberdare ATC Telecom Cables Pty) Limited, Koos was appointed managing director.

CGP Oliver BSc (Eng) (Elec), MBL, Certificate of Competency
Managing director: CBI-electric: low voltage
Appointed in 1998
Born 29 January 1957

Chris started his career as an engineer in training with Eskom. He joined Armscor in 1986 as programme manager. He held the positions of divisional manager and executive manager at Denel Aviation.

Chris joined CBI-electric: low voltage in 1998 as product manager and subsequently held the position of divisional manager until his appointment to the CBI board in 2005.

In 2007 he was appointed managing director of CBI-electric: low voltage.