Gavin Gerber Email & Phone Number

South Africa

Juniperberry Cosmetics produces a range of Fischer Tropsch (FT) waxes specifically for the cosmetic market. These synthetic waxes, produced from natural gas, offer significant benefits in cosmetics due to their purity and stability. In addition, specifically formulated blends find application in lipsticks, lip balm, blusher and fragrance stick applications.

Johannesburg Area, South Africa

• Following the closure of Industrial Urethanes at AECI, Miracle acquired the IP and trademarks for the discontinued urethane products.
• Focus is on supplying these and modified formulations to niche industries, applications range from decorative moulding to drill foams for exploratory mining.
• Miracle technology is “Green” and Montreal Protocol compliant.
• Aim to be solution provider for the local detergent market, sourcing strategic raw materials and establishing outlets for excess capacity.

South Africa

• 3 years’ experience as Managing Director of Experse, a business focusing of surfactant technology for emulsifiers for explosives, coatings for fertilisers and urethanes.
• Manage a staff of 115 people, with a revenue budget of R700 million, reporting to the chairman.
• Two manufacturing plants at Umbogintwini, Durban. The first producing 15 000 tpa of emulsifiers / emulsion fuel phase and 4 000 tpa of fertiliser coatings. The second produces polyol blends for urethane systems.
• The business has a strong focus on its own intellectual property (IP) producing unique products for trace element attachment (Biofix), solutions to maximise powder load (Nutri-Sperse) and high active emulsifiers.
• Role involves overseeing supply chain, sales, logistics, production and administration functions within the company.
• Responsible for driving the business strategy, i.e. focus on intellectual property and “formulating to maximise margin”.

Johannesburg

• 2 years' experience as Managing Director of Industrial Urethanes, a urethanes systems house, manufacturing and supplying products into the refrigeration, construction and simulated wood markets.
• Manage a staff of 65 people, with a revenue budget of R320 million, reporting to the chairman.
• Plant manufactures polyether polyols, through propoxylation and manufactures various blends.
• Role involves overseeing supply chain, sales, logistics, production and administration functions within the company.
• Responsible for revising the business strategy and implementing the new model.
• Involves reviewing production philosophy, establishing new technology alliances and supply chain optimization.

Johannesburg Area, South Africa

• 4 years experience as Managing Director manufacturing and supplying engineering polymers into the automotive, industrial and consumer market.
• Managed a staff of 136 people, with a budget of R160 million, reporting to the chairman.
• Plant manufactured glass filled grades of nylon 6/6.6 and mineral filled grades of polypropylene.
• Manufactured Du Pont engineering polymers (Zytel & Minlon) under license as well as toll manufacturing Dow Automotive polypropylene grades (Inspire & Engage).
• Tasked with developing new business strategy and implementing the same, due to loss of competitive advantage.
• Successfully restructured company from a loss making entity to a viable and profitable business. Now a division of Industrial Urethanes.

Johannesburg Area, South Africa

• 8 years experience as Sales Director / Manager supplying products into the detergent, cosmetic and toiletry industry.
• Managed a staff of 20 sales people, with a budget of R800 million, reporting to the managing director.
• Consistently managed the team to exceed budget targets, achieving five exotic targets and a Chemserve Performance Cup victory during this time.
• Performing company strategic planning is a key function of this position. Successfully motivated and justified a capital expenditure of R80 million for the installation of a new sulphonation plant.
• Over the last six years have managed and grown surfactants portfolio turnover by 60% to R320 million and profit before tax by 80% to R32 million.
• This role involves managing the entire supply chain logistics, including the team of three on-site forwarding contractors.

Bsc (Eng), Metallurgical Engineering

Education record