From mining to shipping ... the journey continues

Ups and downs in mining, oil and shipping are as much part of Jonathan Horn’s working life as driving a ball down the fairway or doing press-ups in the gym. With an impressive CV that includes a number of well-respected companies in the sectors mentioned above, Safmarine’s regional executive for Africa retains vivid memories of post-September 2008, when world economies were plunged into economic meltdown including plummeting demand for metals, oil and shipping. Horn professes to be no economist but is nevertheless optimistic the South African economy will recover a tad toward the end of the year, along with the economies of West and East Africa – and that this country should be on the up come the end of 2010/ early 2011. South Africa, says Horn, has better weathered the storm than many, due in the main to prudent financial disciplines introduced by former finance minister Trevor Manuel and the Reserve Bank’s Tito Mboweni, prior to the onset of the current crisis. Infrastructural development will also stand the country in good stead, including that for next year’s Soccer World Cup, which will provide a huge financial stimulus for now and in years to come. “Like many big companies, including those in shipping, Safmarine has had to adjust significantly to meet the difficult times, re-examining its cost base and deployment. “Relationships, getting closer to customers, have become really important in order to understand their needs, how the crisis has impacted on their businesses and how we can assist to help drive costs down and improve efficiencies in their supply chains. “We are both affected by the current global downturn, which is why it is so important to work together to find solutions that provide long-terms-wins for both of us. We always have and will continue to stay focused on our customers, on what is an ever-growing base.” On treasury’s forecast of zero economic growth this year, Horn says : “I don’t think it’s all negative because the annual forecast comes on the back of negative growth during the first two quarters of the year.” Born and schooled in Kimberley, Horn joined De Beers as a mining engineer after graduating with a B.Sc in mining engineering from Wits University, and later worked for the JCI Mining Group (Rustenburg Platinum Mines) after obtaining an MBA at Wits. Thereafter he was employed in various capacities by Engen before heading to Singapore as a vice president in Cap Gemini Ernst and Young’s Energy and Utilities practice in their Asia Pacific region. Horn joined Safmarine as regional executive for KwaZulu Natal at the beginning of 2004, took charge of AP Moller-Maersk’s southern Africa human resources division in Cape Town two years later, and was subsequently appointed deputy to Alan Jones, Safmarine’s then regional executive for Africa. Married for nearly 20 years to Cape Town girl, Cathy, Horn has two children, Jason (18) and Stacey (14), and devotes much of his time away from the office time (including frequent travel in Africa) to his family. He enjoys a round of golf, playing off a seven-handicap, regular workouts at the gym, listening to music and reading.