Iaan du Toit, with 33 years of industry experience, 30 of them with Hytec, was appointed Cape Regional Manager effective 1 May 2017.
Iaan began his Hytec career on 1 July 1984 as a trainee fitter, whereafter he rose rapidly through the ranks with his first promotion to Fitter: Hydraulic Service and Repair taking place three years later. He filled this position for three years before being appointed Service Technician in 1990 through to 1994, when he was appointed Head of Service. He remained in this position for one year before deciding to take the bull by the horns and begin his own business in hydraulic services and repairs in 1995.
Returning to Hytec in 1998, Iaan joined Hytec Cape Town as Workshop Manager where he remained until 2002. In that year he was appointed Works Manager, beginning with DeBeers Marine In Ports, a position he enjoyed for 6 years before being appointed Offshore Manager Marine, Oil & Gas in 2008. 2011 to 2015 saw Iaan fill the position of Regional Engineering Manager for Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Saldanha Bay, until his appointment as Cape Town Branch Manager later in 2015.
Reporting to Mike Harrison, Iaan’s Cape area incorporates the entire Western and Eastern Cape, the coastline from !Gariep River at Alexander Bay to East London and the 3 branches in Cape Town, PE and Saldana Bay. His responsibilities include all aspects pertaining to regional management, with his portfolio including finance, operations and approvals, among others. He continues to carry out the duties and responsibilities of Cape Town’s Branch Manager.
When pondering his career highlights, Iaan comments that “in 30 years there were a lot”, but says that of all highlights over the years, his experience gained in hydraulics by working with Hytec; the completion of the Mossgas Platform installation; the completion of his first In Port with De Beers Marine; his branch and regional manager appointments, and “the fact that I can give back to others”, stand out the most.
Creating a pipe of new leaders for the Cape Town branch is on Iaan’s list of short term goals, as is providing support to the region in such a way that it performs at its peak. “Managing my own business helped me realise that people and things cannot be taken for granted, something which has helped me over the years in the Hytec Group.” He adds that his accumulated experience contributed to a part of his management style, which includes taking controlled risks; acquiring comprehensive information before any decision-making; and “trusting the people you employ.”
All work with no play is not good for anyone, so Iaan enjoys playing golf “when I have time”; enjoys good red wine and chooses Melkbosstrand as his favourite holiday destination, the place in which he also resides.
Business and maritime news are listed among his favourite type of reading materials, which extends to biographies when time allows.
