South Africa’s Multotec has appointed Johan Robbertse as Group CEO, ending Thomas Holtz’s two-decade tenure at the helm of the mineral processing equipment manufacturer.

The leadership change comes as Multotec expands its international footprint while keeping South Africa at the center of its business.

The company now exports about 60% of its equipment and serves customers in 100 countries across six continents.

Holtz, who became CEO in 2008, has been elevated to chairperson as part of the transition. He will focus on strengthening board governance and supporting Multotec’s long-term international growth.

The handover took place at Electra Mining Africa 2026, where the company highlighted its evolution from a predominantly South African manufacturer into a global supplier to the mining industry.

Robbertse takes charge

Robbertse joined Multotec in 2010 and will lead a business employing about 1,900 people worldwide.

His appointment is intended to maintain continuity while keeping customer service, product development and innovation at the center of the company’s strategy.

“We’ve almost seen everything on a process plant, but we still learn every day, and that’s the beauty of having manufacturing.

It’s 53 years of specialist process knowledge that we can apply,” Robbertse said during the handover.

Multotec operates manufacturing facilities across Africa, South America, Asia and North America, with sister companies in Europe and Australia.

Africa remains key market

Despite its international expansion, South Africa and the broader African market remain Multotec’s largest market, accounting for about 60% to 70% of its business.

Holtz said the company continues to see opportunities across mining markets, although performance varies by commodity.

“South Africa and Africa is obviously a key market for us. We have every intention of staying here and growing here,” he said, adding that Multotec must also follow mining investment into new markets.

The company has manufacturing operations in Brazil and Chile and is expanding rapidly in China, where it has established a joint venture with a local mining partner.

Holtz said the Chinese operation will initially focus on supporting the local mining industry before expanding its product offering.

Holtz joined Multotec in 1996 as a project manager and rose through several leadership positions before succeeding his late father and company co-founder, Ernst Joachim Holtz, as CEO.

Multotec, founded more than five decades ago, supplies mineral processing equipment designed to improve recovery and reduce operating costs at processing plants worldwide.

Its latest leadership transition marks the next stage of its expansion while maintaining its South African manufacturing base.