The well-respected agriculturist Christo van der Rheede has confirmed that he will step down as Agri SA’s chief executive at the end of February next year. Recruitment for his successor has already begun.
Van der Rheede said his full-time involvement with Agri SA – the country’s largest agricultural organisation – will end when he turns 60 next year. While details are being kept under wraps, the organisation has confirmed that he will be utilised in a “new role” within Agri SA while supporting the new Agri SA boss until completion of his tenure.
“It has indeed been a privilege to be able to serve the agricultural sector in different capacities for the past seven years,” Van der Rheede said in a WhatsApp message to, amongst others, Food For Mzansi.
In a release, Agri SA added that its board has appointed a selection committee to drive the hunt for a new chief executive. It said, “While the process is underway, no information will be shared with any stakeholders. The board will make an announcement once they approve the successful candidate.”
Qualifying criteria for new Agri SA chief executive
Agri SA’s selection committee and Signium Africa, a recruitment firm, are soliciting applications through internal and external advertising measures and identifying potential candidates. The committee is on the hunt for a dynamic leader who meets the following requirements:
- A Master’s degree in political administration and public leadership, MBA or MSc in agricultural economics or relevant qualifications.
- Eight to ten years’ experience at senior management and board level.
- Proven career history in various leadership as well as strategic and decision-making positions at corporate and operational level.
- Agricultural sector knowledge and experience.
- Thorough knowledge of and experience in government systems and processes, as well as the economy and agricultural economy, including their international dimensions.
- The ability to identify the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal trends relevant to the agricultural sector and determine the most appropriate strategic direction for Agri SA to mitigate any risks emanating from these trends.
- The ability to view strategic policy options holistically and convert them into results by way of good process management.
- The ability to interact with their peers in the industry as well as higher ranking people in society
- The capacity to effectively negotiate and address conflicts while exhibiting openness and receptiveness.
- The ability to maintain good media relations and identify critical issues affecting the agricultural industry and communicate the implications of such in the print, visual and social media on a weekly basis and use it as a lobbying mechanism to lobby government, change public perceptions in favour of the agricultural sector and inform and grow public awareness of Agri SA; and
- fluency in English and Afrikaans.
Public nominations welcomed
The recruitment process has also been opened to the public to nominate individuals that they consider to be suitable for this position.
“We would like to, however, discourage you from directly approaching individuals you wish to nominate, as this could create undue expectations on their part.
“It will be up to Signium Africa to approach all individuals whose names are submitted through this process, secure their interest in the position and then assess their suitability, benchmarking them against the agreed specification and decide whether to put them forward for consideration by the Selection Committee,” Agri SA said.
Members of the public are encouraged to submit their nominations directly to Signium Africa by close of business on Monday, 13 March 2023. Nominations should include the individual’s names, current or last known position and employer as well as wherever possible their contact details and a brief background.
Send your nominations to Annelize van Rensburg on annelize.vanrensburg@signium.co.za or call 011 771 4800.
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