Executive Committee

FELIX RATHEB
Position: Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Appointed to Exco: 2009
DOB: 1973
Nationality: South African
Qualification: B.Sc. (Hons.) (Elec. Eng.), MBA

Brief Profile

Felix completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at Wits University in 1995 and his MBA at UCT in 2000 and has more than 17 years of experience in the FMCG and fishing industries. In 2003 he joined Sea Harvest as a Commercial Manager, was promoted to Group Sales & Marketing Director in 2006, and CEO in 2013. In 2017 Felix led the listing of Sea Harvest on the JSE, and subsequently guided the growth of the company through a combination of organic and acquisitive growth. He was responsible for the acquisition and subsequent listing of Australian agri-business Mareterram Limited on the ASX and the delisting in 2019. Mr Ratheb has extensive experience in the South African fishing industry and currently serves as Chairman of the largest sector body, the South African Deep-Sea Trawl Industry Association (SADSTIA). He is also Board Chairman of the largest whitefish conference globally, the Groundfish Forum, whose headquarters are located in Canada, and was a Trustee on the board of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the global gold standard in marine sustainability certifications, from 2016 until 2019.

MUHAMMAD BREY
Position: Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Appointed to Exco: 2016
DOB: 1978
Nationality: South African
Qualification: CA(SA)

Brief Profile

Muhammad was promoted to the position of Chief Financial Officer of Sea Harvest Group at the end of April 2020 and is responsible for Finance, Internal Audit, IT and Procurement, as well as the Group’s organic and acquisitive growth strategies. As managing executive at Brimstone, Muhammad was responsible for managing the growth and performance of Sea Harvest, one of Brimstone’s investment companies. Subsequent to this, he officially joined Sea Harvest as Chief Investment Officer in 2016. In the latter position, he was responsible for driving the Company’s acquisition and growth strategy, as well as the performance of the Group’s various operating subsidiaries. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant who, upon completion of his articles at KPMG, joined the Corporate Finance division of Nedbank Capital where he implemented a number of mergers, acquisitions, listings and Black Economic Empowerment transactions. In 2009, he joined Brimstone as Managing Executive where his responsibilities included identifying, implementing and funding acquisitions, managing Brimstone’s investment portfolio and driving growth at portfolio companies.

KONRAD GELDENHUYS
Position: Chief Operating Officer (COO), South African Fishing
Appointed to Exco: 2013
DOB: 1969
Nationality: South African
Qualification: MBA

Brief Profile

Konrad joined Sea Harvest as Commercial Manager, responsible for managing and reporting on profitability across all sales channels as well as balancing production with market demand. In 2013, he was Managing Executive of Sea Harvest’s international business and shortly after was appointed as Group Sales & Marketing Executive responsible for managing sales across all domestic and international sales channels, as well as overseeing all facets of brand management and marketing. He has many years’ experience in sales management with broad international exposure.

Innocent Dwayi
Position: Group Human Resources (HR) Director
Appointed to Exco: 2024
DOB: 1981
Nationality: South African
Qualification: Master’s in Law (UCT), Master’s in Business Leadership (UNISA), Bachelor of Technology Human Resources Management (CPUT), Postgraduate Diploma in Management (GSB UCT).

Brief Profile

Innocent was appointed to Group HR Director in May 2024, overseeing Group Human Capital across all business units. He has more than 15 years’ experience in Human Resources Management and has held various positions including HR Business Partner, Senior HR Manager, Group Employee Relations, HR Executive, Corporate Affairs and Director in a Joint-Venture with expanded responsibilities. Since 2019, he continues to play a pivotal role in various industry associations. This includes Chairperson of the South African Deep-sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA); Business Unity South Africa’s representative at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) in the Labour Market chamber; and an executive member of FISHSA.

GERRIT NORTJé
Position: Finance Director, South African Fishing
Appointed to Exco: 2013
DOB: 1969
Nationality: South African
Qualification: CA(SA), ACMA

Brief Profile

Gerrit has more than 25 years of experience in the FMCG and manufacturing industries with the majority of these years spent with Sea Harvest. He has held various positions within the finance function, including heading up IT and procurement. His current role focuses on managing the finance of Sea Harvests fishing operations and strategic projects aimed at both organic and inorganic growth opportunities. He has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Accounting and an Honours Degree in Management Accounting from the University of Stellenbosch, as well as an Honours Degree in Accounting from the University of South Africa. Gerrit is a qualified Chartered Accountant (SA) and Associate Chartered Management Accountant. He completed his articles at Price Waterhouse Coopers.

TERENCE BROWN
Position: Managing Executive (Saldanha Operations), South African Fishing
Appointed to Exco: 2014
DOB: 1974
Nationality: South African
Qualification: Mechanical Engineering

Brief Profile

Terence has over 20 years of experience in the local and international fishing industry. He was appointed as the Operations Director in September 2014 and is responsible for all land-based operations. Terence was previously the Fleet Manager at Sea Harvest for five years and then moved to Oceana Group where he held various roles in fleet and production management. In addition to his roles in the South African fishing industry, he was a General Manager at Ireland Blyth Limited’s subsidiary, a Mauritian conglomerate’s fishing company listed on the Mauritian stock exchange. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Sea Harvest Foundation (NPC) and is a former Chairperson of the South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA).

RENALDO GROENEWALD
Position: Managing Director, Ladismith Cheese
Appointed to Exco: 2019
DOB: 1972
Nationality: South African
Qualification: CA(SA), MBA (University of Stellenbosch)

Brief Profile

Renaldo has more than 13 years’ experience in the dairy industry. He joined Ladismith Cheese Company as the Chief Financial Officer in March 2006, responsible for Finance, IT and various other line functions. He was promoted to CEO of the group in 2014. In 2015, he had to manage and rebuild the company after a fire nearly destroyed the whole factory. In 2019, he managed the successful sale of the Ladismith Cheese Company to the Sea Harvest Group. Renaldo also held several senior roles at Deutsche Bank and DHL when he lived in the UK for a few years and also held a senior finance role within the South African Department of Defence. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and completed his articles at Kruger & Co in Johannesburg. He also completed his MBA studies at the University of Stellenbosch Business School in 2013.

Simone Gounden
Position: Group Company Secretary, Legal and Compliance
Appointed to Exco: 2021
DOB: 1989
Nationality: South African
Qualification: Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

Brief Profile

Simone graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa as well as a member of the Maritime Law Association of South Africa. Simone joined the Company in 2018 as Strategic Services Manager and has been extensively involved in the recently concluded fishing rights allocation process. In 2020, Simone further honed her skills by completing courses in Financial Management and Commercial and Contract Law from the University of Cape Town.

Mats Jörnell
Position: Managing Director, Sea Harvest Aquaculture
Appointed to Exco: 2021
DOB: 1972
Nationality: Swedish
Qualification: BSc. Business Administration, University of Lund, Sweden

Brief Profile

Mats has over 25 years’ experience in European and other international FMCG within fish, food and confectionery. Various leadership positions in branded sales, marketing and export with MARS, Youngs, Findus and Nomad Foods. Mats is the current Managing Director for Sea Harvest Aquaculture and GM Retail Division.

MADODA KHUMALO
Position: Strategic Services Director, South African Fishing
Appointed to Exco: 2015
DOB: 1986
Nationality: South African
Qualification: B.Sc Hons (UCT); M.Sc (UCT)

Brief Profile

Madoda completed his BSc (Hons) in Ocean Atmospheric Science and Environmental Management in 2009 at the University of Cape Town and holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Cape Town in 2012. He has extensive knowledge in marine science with seagoing research experience obtained at various institutions, such as the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries in South Africa and the University of Cape Town. Madoda joined Sea Harvest as the Executive Assistant to the CEO and, in October 2014, became the Resource and Sustainability Manager. He was promoted to Strategic Services Executive in October 2015, responsible for Fishing Rights; and overseeing Sustainability and Corporate Affairs for the Group. Madoda is also the Vice-Chair for the South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA).

Costas Vayanos
Position: Managing Director, BM Foods Group
Appointed to Exco: 2021
DOB: 1964
Nationality: South African
Qualification: BComm Hons (UCT), CA(SA)

Brief Profile

Costas completed his B Comm CTA (Hons – Auditing) at UCT in 1984, whereafter he joined Deloitte Haskins Sells (now Deloitte) for the completion of his articles from 1985 to 1988. After qualifying as a CA(SA), he spent a year in the convenience store retail environment, after which he joined the Mediterranean Delicacies family business in 1991. During the next 16 years, he built the business organically into a focused retail and food service manufacturer and oversaw the merger of the business with Bettafresh Prepared Foods into what is the BM Foods Group today. In 2007, he was appointed as MD of BM Foods and was recently responsible for managing the sale of a majority stake of the BM Foods Group to Sea Harvest Group Ltd in 2021.