Meet the EXCO Team
Reneé Griesel
Chief Executive Officer
Qualifications
BLC.LLB (University of Pretoria) Dip Tax (University of Witwatersrand) Attorney in the High Court
Experience
Rene Griessel served as an Associate Attorney at Rooth and Wessels from 1988-1990. She then became a senior lecturer in the Department of Mercantile Law specialising in Tax, Banking and Insurance Law.
Rene then served as an Executive Director at RMS Structured Insurance Group, became the CEO of FNB Credit Guarantee Ltd and served as the Director of RMS Specialised Lines Ltd from the years 1998-2007.
Rene Griessel is now the CEO of Abacus Insurance and Abacus Life since 2007.
Riaan Cromhout
Chief Risk Officer
Qualifications
Diploma Internal Audit, B. Compt. Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Control Self Assessor, G3 Risk Management, FAIS RE1 and RE5 qualified. Currently completing a Master’s in Business Leadership.
Experience
He is a seasoned internal audit professional with a wealth of experience spanning over 30 years in the disciplines of Internal Audit, Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance and Corporate Governance. Riaan is the Registered FAIS Compliance Officer for various Financial Services Providers.
Kobus Jordaan
New Business
Qualifications
Tertiary: BA (Political Science), BA Hons, COP, ICiBS, HCiI, Diploma in Insurance, RE1 Representative
RE5 - 2014 - Key Individual
Experience
Kobus has more than 25 years of experience in the intermediary, conventional insurance and cell captive insurance sectors. His experience was gained Jorcor Brokers CC, FE Wright/Sterling Hamilton Wright (Lloyds’ brokers), SA Eagle Risk Finance, Nova Risk Partners Limited/Centriq Insurance Limited, Guardrisk Insurance Company limited and now Abacus Insurance Limited.
Maga Moodley
Fintech Support
Experience
Magathaven was appointed as Fintech Support Executive on 1 October 2020. He has been in the insurance industry for more than 25 years and has considerable experience in both life and non-life products. He has held various senior management and executive positions during this time and has been a key individual for each of the financial service providers where he was employed. He has specialised skills in a call centre, claims, operations and project management.
Jane Roux
HR
Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts (Majors in Industrial Psychology and Sociology), Bachelor of Arts Honours (Industrial Psychology), Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management, National Certificate: Occupationally Directed Education, Training and Development
Experience
19 years experience in the Human Resource Function with 5 years in the Insurance Industry.
Gerrie van Niekerk
IT
Qualifications
Master's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Diploma in Advance Management Development Program in Retail (AMDP)
Experience
Gerrie has more than 20 years' IT Projects and Service Desk Management experience in diverse areas where his skills in resolving problems, improving customer satisfaction and driving operational improvements has been a major contributor to organisational success. His passion for operational excellence has been consistently recognised.
Bernadine Vincent
Finance
Qualifications
Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
Experience
12 years of financial services experience (Short and Long-Term Insurance).
Bernadine was appointed Finance Executive of Abacus on the 26th of November 2019. She had completed her articles with Octagon Chartered Accountants in 2008, whereafter she spent 5 years with Telesure Group Services as a senior financial accountant specifically for Auto and General Insurance and First For Women Insurance. She then joined AVBOB Mutual Assurance Society as a Corporate Reporting/Regulatory Accountant, after she then accepted a position as a financial manager of the Bophelo Insurance Group, in 2018 she was promoted to Chief Financial Officer of the Bophelo Insurance Group.