The WASA Group - Building Tomorrow, Today
Meet Our Leadership Team
Pierre – Founder and CEO of The WASA Group
Birthplace: Republic of South Africa
Experience: 25+ years
Expertise: Public Prosecutor, Entrepreneur, and Global Business Strategist
Pierre is a seasoned legal professional and business leader with a diverse background spanning law, industrial solutions, and international business development. Having served as a Public Prosecutor in South Africa, he transitioned into strategic leadership roles across renewable energy, mining and infrastructure sectors, with a particular focus on risk, technology, and turnaround management. His career includes high-impact work across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
Experience & Expertise:
Legal & Corporate Leadership
- Former Public Prosecutor in the Republic of South Africa with deep legal expertise.
- Strategic leadership in corporate governance, compliance, and business operations.
- Strong background in negotiating and managing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
Industrial & Systems Solutions
- Pierre is a seasoned legal professional and business leader with a diverse background spanning law, industrial solutions, and international business development. Having served as a Public Prosecutor in South Africa, he transitioned into strategic leadership roles across renewable energy, minin and infrastructure sectors, with a particular focus on risk, technology, and turnaround management. His career includes high-impact work across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
- Expertise in systems integration, management information systems (MIS), and operational efficiency.
Technology & Risk Management
- Highly experienced in technology strategy and risk mitigation across complex, high-stakes environments.
- Skilled in threat analysis and the development of solution-driven frameworks for enterprise resilience.
Global Business Development & Turnaround Strategy
- Led successful business development and turnaround initiatives in the mining, energy, engineering, and civil sectors.
- Proven track record managing corporate enterprises across diverse cultural and regulatory environments.
- Extensive experience engaging with governments, multinational corporations, and industry stakeholders.
With a dynamic blend of legal acumen, technological insight, and international business experience, Pierre continues to focus on strategic growth, risk management, and sustainable development across global markets.
Arne – Member of Board of Directors
Birthplace: Sweden
Experience: 30+ years
Expertise: Entrepreneur & Business Developer in Natural Resources, Energy, and Tourism
Arne is a seasoned entrepreneur with extensive experience in mining, energy, and corporate development, he has successfully led multiple ventures across Sweden, Europe, the USA, and Africa. His focus is on identifying business opportunities, driving growth, and executing strategic acquisitions.
Experience & Expertise:
- Natural Resources & Energy
- Extensive background in mineral exploration.
- Has served as CEO of an exploration company, leading mineral projects from early-stage prospecting, acquisition and of a gold-producing company.
- Founded oil and gas investment companies in Texas, securing production assets in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.
- Tourism & Real Estate Development:
- Worked in business development and expansion in the travel and hospitality industry.
- Served on the board of a tourism company owned by a Swedish pension fund (AP fund), contributing to strategic growth and acquisitions.
- Led digital transformation efforts in booking systems and IT strategies.
- Built and managed a major resort in Sweden, hosting up to 2,500 guests daily, before a successful exit.
- Construction & Infrastructure:
- Engineer specialized in ground construction.
- Former foreman at one of Sweden’s largest construction companies.
- Business Development & Investments:
- Experience in M&A, due diligence, and strategic investments.
- Founded a company financing and distributing oil additive products.
With a strong track record in launching, leading, and scaling businesses across various industries, he continues to focus on innovation and growth in natural resources, energy, and tourism.
Tjaart – Director of Operations & Regional Development
Birthplace: South Africa
Experience: 25+ years
Expertise: Executive Leadership & Business Development in Mining, Explosives, and African Markets
Tjaart is an accomplished business leader with a strong background in the explosives and mining industries across the African continent. He has successfully launched and managed companies in new markets, driven turnaround strategies for existing operations, and delivered on strategic objectives for leading global explosives companies. His expertise spans technical, operational, and strategic domains, backed by formal qualifications in explosives chemistry and he holds an MBA.
Experience & Expertise:
Business Development & Turnaround Strategies
- Led Greenfields market entries and established new businesses across multiple African countries.
- Designed and implemented effective turnaround strategies for underperforming operations.
- Known for delivering sustainable, efficient, and results-driven management solutions.
Mining & Explosives Industry
- Extensive experience in global explosives management, including product and process optimisation.
- Proven success in managing operations and delivering strategic business outcomes for top-tier explosives companies.
- Deep understanding of technical explosives applications and mining optimisation processes.
- Strong relationships with key stakeholders in mines and governments across Africa.
Leadership & People Management
- Skilled in leading diverse teams in complex environments.
- Focused on building high-performance cultures and driving operational excellence.
- Recognised for strategic thinking, business acumen, and stakeholder engagement.
With a solid track record in building and transforming businesses across the mining and explosives sectors, Tjaart continues to focus on delivering growth, innovation, and operational excellence in emerging markets.
