JSE listed Group, Omnia Holdings, has appointed Joseph Keenan as the new managing director of its mining explosives division, BME, as from 1 September 2015. BME is the leading supplier of explosives and services to the African mining, quarrying and construction industries. BME, which has operations in 14 countries across the African continent, focuses on safety, customer relationships, supply security and value adding technical services, remaining at the forefront of technology by regularly participating in research of new blasting techniques and products.
Joseph Keenan, Managing Director, BME
Says Rod Humphris, CEO of the Omnia Group: “Keenan is an accomplished international executive who brings over 20 years of global experience in the explosives industry, to our Group. He has held executive and non-executive positions in North and South America, Africa and Australia. He has a successful track record in the explosives sector, of managing high performance teams, being involved in start-up projects, developments, listings, strategic alliances, investments and global equity holdings.”
Humphris adds that Keenan will add value to BME as he has worked with cross cultural teams, communities and investors, implementing M&A strategies, operational efficiencies, best-in-class safety programmes and crisis management systems.
His most recent roles have been at Columbine Group in the USA, Pacific Hydro in Australia and prior to that, Orica in Chile. He has chaired the ANU Center for Latin American Studies in Australia and Peru Nitrates in Latin America as well as serving on the boards of PHC Energy Advisory Board, and two explosives JVs in Venezuela and Panama.
Joseph Keenan has a BSc Geology from Laurentian University in Canada, an MBA from Edinburgh Business School in the UK, and has completed post graduate programmes at Insead Singapore and Harvard USA Business Schools.
Humphris concludes: “As skills, expertise and talent are not easy to secure in the competitive environment in which we operate, we are delighted that Joseph will be joining the Omnia team and look forward to the contribution he will make.”
About Omnia: www.omnia.co.za www.bme.co.za
Omnia is a diversified, specialist chemical services provider with business interests balanced across chemical, mining and agricultural markets. The Group’s business model, which leverages its intellectual capital and technology, differentiates it from commodity chemical companies.
The Group’s three businesses (chemical, mining and agriculture) continue to provide high value, customised solutions built on a continually expanding knowledge base. Omnia’s unique business model places it at the forefront of the chemical services industry and involves matching customer needs to product innovation and application expertise to add extraordinary value to its customers businesses.