In most editions, we feature eminently qualified and successful CFOs: people with a career track record worthy of emulation –yet with remarkable commitment to grooming future financially qualified business leaders, to share with our readers, today –The Future CFOs, the lessons and tips –to inspire their own journey! This time, our Managing Editor –D. Valentine Nti, had the privilege of interviewing Charl Keyter who has also been appointed by The CFO Project Board to serve as the overall Chief Judge of the 2017 edition of The CFO Case Study Competition (for Universities around the world), and its junior version (for High Schools in South Africa). 

Charl Keyter is a CIMA-qualified Chartered Management Accountant and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, and a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration (MBA). He has been the Group CFO and Executive Director of Sibanye Gold Limited, the largest South African gold producer, since 2013. Sibanye Gold is a dual listed group –ranked in the Top 40 index of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), and on London’s Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE). Under the guidance of Charl Keyter as Group CFO, Sibanye Gold Limited recently completed a US$2.2 billion purchase of Montana, a US-based Stillwater, positioning it as the world's fourth-largest producer of precious metals. 

In addition to his role as Executive Director, Charl also serves on the audit committees of both the Chamber of Mines of South Africa and the World Gold Council. Charl has twice -2016 and 2017, been nominated as South Africa’s CFO of the Year. 

Thank you for speaking with us Charl 

The pleasure is mine! 

The CFO Case Study Competition 2017 project is set in your industry –the global metals and mining sector! Many of our readers aspire to become CFOs of major listed companies such as yours, a feat you have achieved today –probably way before you turned 40! Can you briefly share with us how your journey to the top has been?

I started my mining career in the small town of Westonaria in 1995 at the operations of Gold Fields of South Africa Ltd. I then spent time in various mines -and in various management positions, including Management Accountant at the Libanon Gold and the Kloof Gold Mines. In 2005, I was appointed Unit Manager -Management Accounting, in the Corporate Office, and during this time, I was also the Acting Senior Manager –Finance, for the Venezuela operation. Since returning to South Africa in late 2006, I held the position of Senior 

Manager –Finance, for the Driefontein Mine and Head of Finance for the South African Region. In 2010, I was appointed as Gold Fields’ Head of Finance for International Operations; from where I was instrumental in the unbundling of Gold Fields’ South African operations, after an extensive portfolio review, ultimately culminating in the formation of Sibanye Gold Limited. I would say my years of mining experience have prepared me both operationally and technically for this role in growing Sibanye Gold Limited into a global precious metals company. 

Interesting! Indeed, you only listed the group on the JSE in 2013, and today, it is amongst the Top 40. Can you share with our readers, the key initiatives or challenges you have had to grapple with since becoming group CFO, and on your path to building Sibanye as a global player? 

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