Tharisa (THS ) has appointed Jacques Breytenbach as chief finance officer designate with effect from 1 May 2026.
He will succeed current chief financial officer Michael Jones on 1 August 2026 when Jones retires.
This appointment provides for a comprehensive handover period to ensure continuity and stability within the finance function of the South African PGM and chrome miner.
Breytenbach holds a B. Compt. (Hon)/CTA from the University of South Africa and is a qualified chartered accountant.
He is a seasoned chief finance officer and non-executive director with over 25 years' experience in integrated mining operations including the diamond and PGM sectors across Africa.
He has extensive experience in the listed environment, across both the Johannesburg and London stock exchanges, as well as capital structuring.
His broader expertise encompasses the shaping of financial strategy, optimising return on investment, leading full financial functions across diverse geographies, including South Africa, Tanzania, and other geographies within Sub-Saharan Africa, debt and equity fundraising, and implementing robust governance frameworks and digital systems.
He served as the chief financial officer of Petra Diamonds for eight years from 2016 to 2024, having previously served as group finance manager between 2006 and 2016.
Prior to this, he served as finance manager at Anglo American Platinum from 2001 to 2006.
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A lengthy handover period between two highly experienced executives should ensure that there’s minimal disruption to Tharisa during this changing of the guard. Tharisa’s operations incorporate some highly sophisticated financial functions, but Breytenbach’s track record shows a wealth of the type of experience required to ensure continuity. Tharisa also went out of its way to wish Michael Jones well, so this looks like a parting of the ways that is occurring on the very best of terms.