BBE has formally announced that, after more than three decades at the helm, Steven Bluhm will be stepping down from the executive management by handing over the reins to Wynand Marx. Marx will step into the role of CEO of the BBE Group with immediate effect.
The handover has been intentionally executed over the past few years with Marx absorbing steadily increasing executive responsibility by working in close collaboration with Bluhm.
Bluhm, who was the co-founder of the company in 1989, will remain the BBE Group chairman and stay on in his role as specialist technical advisor. He will start to focus his energy and vast technical and management experience on project work, technical workgroups and general oversight. Bluhm is not planning on retiring soon, but this can be seen as the start of that journey.
“Wynand has been CEO-elect for some time and I am delighted with this evolution. BBE is in competent hands with Wynand and his team, and I am fully confident that our culture, ethos, and professionalism will be retained and enhanced. I am really looking forward to watching the successful unfolding of the next BBE chapter,” says Bluhm.
Marx is a mechanical engineer whose entire technical career has been in mining starting with AngloVaal Gold Mines in the early 1990s. He has been with BBE for 17 years and served as MD of BBE Consulting for nearly 13 of them. Under his guidance, BBE Consulting has shown consistent and steady growth over the years.
He was also instrumental in the identification of business opportunities in Australia and Canada and the subsequent successful rollout of those businesses. Genuine globalisation of BBE has been one of Marx’s drives and passions, and now great synergy is emerging. Apart from his leadership roles at BBE, he is also one of the top specialist engineers at BBE. Notwithstanding his new role as CEO, he will continue with specialist technical inputs in project work.
“My 17 years with BBE has been an incredible journey and a great learning school. It has been a privilege to work closely with Steven during the hand-over period. Steven is not only a world-renowned specialist in mine ventilation and refrigeration, but also a great leader, strategist, and businessman, which is evident in BBE’s success over the past three decades,” says Marx.
“I can truly say I learned from the best, and I am excited and ready for the challenge of this new chapter. BBE is in a great position, and we are in for some exciting times. The Africa business is thriving, and the businesses in Australia and Canada continue to grow and excel. The change in executive management is now in place,” adds Marx.
“The team is energised and capable with a sound strategy complemented by solid execution plans. Combining this with the vast experience and wisdom of our older founders makes us a formidable group. BBE remains an independent owner-managed specialist mine ventilation and cooling company. Our independence allows us to provide world-class solutions to our clients by using the most suitable technology and equipment available. I believe this position’s BBE uniquely to provide bespoke solutions to our clients worldwide – first time, every time,” concludes Marx.
