Chief Executives

From 1918 through to the present day, Sanlam has had various people at the helm. Read more on the company’s chief executives during its interesting and illustrious history.

Sanlam's top leaders didn’t always follow each other chronologically – at times there was some overlap, as well as frequent changes in titles.

Fred H Dormehl (Managing Director)
20 June 1918 – October 1918 (died of influenza during the Spanish flu epidemic)

Alfred MacDowell (General Manager)
1918 – June 1920

Dr Willie A Hofmeyr (Managing Director)
Acting managing director from 1918.
Also fulfilled the role of chairman.

C R Louw (Managing Director)
Acting managing director from 4 June 1920 – 1922.

G F de Villiers (General Manager)
17 March 1922.
With Louw as actuary and Feenstra as company secretary these men represented top management.

Dr M S Louw (Manager)
1 October 1927
Also actuary.
With Feenstra as assistant manager and De Villiers as general manager and company secretary.
Became general manager in 1935
Managing director: 1946 – December 1949

G F S de Villiers (General Manager)
1935 – October 1948

Dr Andreas D Wassenaar (General Manager)
October 1948 – December 1965 (when title changed)
Managing director: Dec 1965 – March 1969

Dr Andreas D Wassenaar (Managing Director)
December 1965 – March 1969

P J F Scholtz (Managing Director)
March 1969 – April 1978

Dr Fred J du Plessis (Managing Director)
May 1978 – April 1985

Pierre Steyn (Managing Director)
April 1985 - March 1991 (when title changed)
Executive head and deputy chairman: April 1991 – March 1993

Desmond K Smith (Managing Director)
April 1993 – December 1997

Marinus Daling (Executive Head and Executive Chairman)
December 1997 – April 2001

Dr Leon Vermaak (Executive Head)
May 2001 – December 2002

Flip de V Rademeyer  (Acting Executive Head)
December 2002 – March 2003 

Dr Johan van Zyl (Executive Head)
31 March 2003 – 15 July 2003 (when title changed)

Group chief executive:  Sanlam Ltd: 15 July 2003 – present day.