BME, the blasting and explosives arm of the JSE-listed Omnia Group, has underscored its commitment to continental growth with the appointment of Meagan van den Berg as Managing Director for Africa. The move comes as the company seeks to scale its international footprint, which has expanded from its 1984 South African roots into high-growth markets across North America, Indonesia, and Australia.
In her new capacity, Van den Berg will oversee blasting operations across the African continent—excluding South Africa—while simultaneously driving the company’s global metallurgy initiatives. The appointment is seen as a strategic play to align BME’s technical expertise in minerals processing with its established dominance in explosive technologies, particularly in regions north of the Limpopo.
Ralf Hennecke, Managing Director of BME, noted that the new leadership structure is designed to leverage the company’s existing supply chain security to enable a more aggressive global rollout. “We are very pleased to welcome a person of Meagan’s calibre and experience into our executive team,” Hennecke stated in a media release. “We believe she will bring significant value to our business at this exciting time of our development in Africa and beyond.”
Van den Berg enters the role with a formidable 16-year pedigree in the mining and explosives sector. A mining engineer by training, her career has spanned the full value chain from frontline explosives engineering to board-level executive management. Her experience in leading multicultural teams through the complex regulatory landscapes of Southern Africa is expected to be a critical asset as BME navigates the diverse operating environments of the Copperbelt and West African mining hubs.
The appointment also highlights BME’s focus on academic and technical leadership within its top tiers. Van den Berg holds a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand and an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). This blend of technical and commercial acumen aligns with BME’s broader push into digital blasting solutions and “green” chemistry within its metallurgy division.
As mining houses increasingly demand integrated, data-driven solutions to lower operational costs, BME’s leadership reshuffle signals a pivot toward a more holistic “mine-to-metal” service offering. By consolidating its African and metallurgical leadership under a seasoned industry veteran, the company aims to solidify its position as a primary partner for global mining majors seeking both innovation and operational reliability.
