CEO, Villa
After completion of a B.Sc Agric (Viticulture and Winemaking) degree at the University of Stellenbosch in 1983, André joined KWV as a Viticultural Extension Officer.
In 1986 he joined Ciba-Geigy as Marketing Advisor in the Cape. Various positions were held within Ciba-Geigy and the ensuing companies that evolved due to mergers. Positions included: Ciba-Geigy SA Head of Marketing and Sales (1992-1995), MD Ciba-Geigy SA (1995 – 1996)), MD Novartis SA (1996 – 1998), MD Novartis Australasia (1998-2000), MD Syngenta Australasia (2001 – Feb 2004).
Presently André is CEO of Villa. Further qualifications include: MBA (1989) (University of Stellenbosch) and a PhD. (Marketing) from the University of Stellenbosch (2002).
Villa is a market leader in South African crop protection products. With more than 250 product registrations and nearly 900 on-farm research and development trials conducted each year, the ISO-accredited company has a reputation for high quality and innovative products that help local growers achieve their goals.
The company partners with Land O’Lakes, Inc., a Fortune 250 global agribusiness and food company headquartered in the USA. Through Land O’Lakes’ leading crop inputs business, Winfield United, Villa has access to new capabilities and levels of agronomic expertise.
Villa’s head office is based in Johannesburg and a regional office is situated in Wellington in the Western Cape. Villa also has a product formulation site in Olifantsfontein where many of its products are produced. Furthermore, the academic arm of Villa, the Villa Academy was established to bring people together to learn how to use the latest product developments and in-field experiences to enhance service delivery, decision-making and productivity.