RICHARD GROENEWALD

Managing Director

MBA (UCT), Nat Dip Elec Eng, Dip Datametrics

Richard has established himself as one of the leading security management specialists in the industry in South Africa and into the Continent. He has challenged old ways and has provided security solutions with a much needed re-design to ensure relevance and change. In a career spanning more than 20 years, he has headed a number of industry-leading organizations, both in technical consulting and management positions, Richard combines keen business acumen with an exceptional level of technical and consultative competence. Having begun his career as an engineer with Telkom, constructing their ATM backbone, he went on to found Didata Consulting, after which he took responsibility for running the Old Mutual call centre environment. Good governance and efficient logistical support are Richard’s hallmarks.

IAN DOWNIE

Executive: Sales & Marketing

BA Law (Stellenbosch University), LLB (Johannesburg University), CWA DIP

Ian has extensive knowledge within the risk environment. Initially he joined Visum Risk Management as a partner and went on to found his own Risk Management Company. He then spent seven years in the security technology arena, advising on business best practice from a technology perspective.
He has consulted to many of the large blue-chip operations in terms of their physical risk and mitigating measures. He has designed top-end business enhancement offerings, such as remote monitoring and turnkey integrated risk solutions encompassing people, technology and processes.
Ian drives many of the Xone partnerships. His fundamental belief is that the customer always comes first. “Customer satisfaction is the benchmark of a great company – we do it with pride.”

GRAEME AURET

Commercial Director

CA (SA), BCompt (University of South Africa), DipAcc (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Advanced Management Program (AMP) Insead Business School - France

A Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in a number of finance disciplines, most recently as the Managing Executive: Corporate Banking at Nedbank, prior to that Graeme worked in Corporate Finance at Deloitte in South Africa and Ernst and Young in London, primarily in an advisory capacity leading M&A transactions.

Graeme’s expertise covers finance, accounting, and contractual negotiations, and includes complex deal execution, financing, debt advice as well as general financial advice.

His primary role within the Xone fold is the development and implementation of best practice as this relates to the project management, process design and implementation disciplines necessary to remain at the forefront of the electronic security industry.

Graeme is also a Board Member of Shine Literacy, an NGO providing English literacy skills to historically disadvantaged children in schools, assisting their upliftment to age appropriate literacy.

Graeme is married and participates in a number of interests including cycling, running and golf. He is also a novice sport rock climber. He enjoys travel and has an interest in good food and wine, which is often part of his travel experiences.

RAPHAËL ANDRO

Executive: Projects & Logistics

ESAIGELEC, Ecole Supérieure Atlantique d’Ingénieur en Génie Electrique, France. Master Degree in Electrical Engineering, option Power Electronics.

Over the last 15 years Raphaël has been responsible for the design and installation of substantial technology projects. These include nuclear facilities, government installations and other complex, large scale, enterprise implementations.

In addition to his strong technical skills he has an in-depth knowledge of project management, systems implementation, and standard procedures. Raph’s role at Xone specifically, brings together all Purchasing requirements into one area of responsibility.

His mantra is that Xone is able to cost projects that happen on time, on budget and to customer satisfaction

FRIK WIESE

Executive: National Operations

BA (B Mil) (Stellenbosch University)

During his employment in the Defense Force, Frik received various commendations and medals, amongst others a certificate for outstanding service from the Chief of the Army.

After resigning from the SADF, he joined Saracen Security International as a security advisor and training consultant, both in Angola, Sierra Leone and South Africa. He was then offered an opportunity as Operations Director of Specialized Industrial Risk Management (SIRM) based in Pretoria.

Frik was given the opportunity to work abroad in Indonesia, and shortly after that, to transfer his knowledge to South East Asia where he was involved with planning and execution of industrial security operations for various multinational companies including Chevron Texaco, Holcim Cement & Newmont Mining.

After almost 9 years, he returned back to South Africa in 2009 where he held the position of Managing Director for GES Africa until he was approached by Xone in 2016.  He represents Xone as Regional Operations Manager for all Inland Operations and is also a shareholder and member of the Xone Executive Committee.

Frik has travelled extensively the past 25 years and worked at several destinations which includes Africa, almost all Sub Saharan countries, Europe and South East Asia.

Krishnee Naidoo

HR & Transformation Director

Higher Certificate in Personnel & Training Management

A seasoned HR Professional, her areas of expertise are Talent and Succession Management, Performance Management, Industrial Relations, Learning and Organisational Development Compensation and Benefits and Transformation.

Her role at Xone is to drive and implement the people strategy through robust processes and practices and to champion our Transformation agenda. She believes that our people are key to business success and she is committed to implementing policies and good business practices to drive organisational transformation and achievement.