People
Management Team
Rudolf Niemöller
Chief Executive Officer
Rudolf is a director of FineTech and FineTech Opco1. He is a mechanical engineer with 12 years’ experience in transport and aerospace engineering, as well as in the chromite processing industry. His chromite experience includes designing, constructing and operating chromite recovery plants. Specifically, Rudolf has been closely involved in the R&D process that brought about the development and commercialisation of the InverSep Process® and the patented BerthaSep® Separators units. He has managed the construction and operation of the Rietfontein plant since 2021 and was appointed as Chief Operating Officer in October 2022.
Louwrens Cuperus
Group Engineer
Louwrens is a mechanical engineer with 10 years’ experience in R&D on mechanical, electrical, and process engineering projects. Specifically, Louwrens has been closely involved in the R&D process leading to the development and commercialisation of the InverSep Process® and the patented BerthaSep® Separators units. He has managed FineTech’s engineering functions, during the commissioning and operation of the Rietfontein plant since 2021 and was appointed Group Engineer in October 2022. In addition, Louwrens leads the in-house technical team addressing the technical problems associated with scaling up the FineTech plants.
Jacques Pansegrouw
R&D Manager
Jacques is a young chemical engineer and chemist (BSc (Chemistry) & BSc (Chemical Engineering)), with extensive mineral processing research experience. In 2021 He joined the FineTech team and spent his first 6 months under training with the R&D team. In 2022, he was transferred to FineTech’s Rietfontein Plant where he formed part of the commissioning team, after which he gained good operational experience working as a Shift Leader on the plant. In May 2023, Jaques was appointed R&D Manager at FineTech’s research facility in Pretoria, where he manages all FineTech’s test work and R&D activities.
Christiaan Janeke
Rietfontein Plant Manager
Christiaan is a Red Seal Millwright with 26 years of experience in working in the Chrome and Platinum Mining sectors. His engineering experience is wide ranging and covers both the mechanical and electrical aspects of the construction, commissioning, and maintenance of mineral processing plants. Chris joined FineTech in 2023 as a shift team leader on the Rietfontein plant, where he gained valuable experience in the operation of the InverSep system. He was promoted to Rietfontein Plant Manager in April 2024 and is responsible for managing all aspects of the operations at the Rietfontein Plant.
board of directors
Geoff Linnell
Non-Executive Chairman
Geoff is an Executive Director at Acrux Resources with 25 years’ experience in commodity markets, physical commodity trading, supply chain management, junior mining, and equity capital markets.
Rudolf Niemöller
Chief Executive Officer
Rudolf is a director of Kupferberg and Niemöller Kupferberg. He is a mechanical engineer with 10 years’ experience in transport and aerospace engineering as well as chromite recovery
Rudy Niemöller
Director & R&D Consultant
Rudy is the originator and developer of the InverSep® concept. He is a director and founder of Kupferberg and Niemöller Kupferberg and is a geologist with over 40 years’ experience in mining, farming, engineering, and chromite recovery.
Sean Browne
Non-Executive Director
Sean is an Executive Director at Acrux Resources with 21 years’ experience in investment banking, commodity derivative sales, structuring and trading, FX and rates trading, debt capital markets, structured mining finance, and deal origination.
Alastair Hodgkinson
Non-Executive Director
Alastair is the Chief Operating Officer for DRA Global. He is a mechanical engineer with more than 24 years’ experience in
implementing large-scale mining and mineral projects.
Wiehann Joubert
Non-Executive Director
Wiehann is the Vice President Finance and Risk for DRA Projects. He has 15 years’ operational and strategic management experience.
Lelo Rantloane
Non-Executive Director
Lelo is the Founder of Ata Capital, a private equity fund manager focused on non-traditional alternative strategies. He has 19 years’ investment banking experience in debt capital markets, structured and leverage finance, and securitization.
