JSE-listed original-equipment manufacturer Bell Equipment has appointed two independent nonexecutive directors - Shane Fitzpatrick (with effect from July 1) and Harish Ramsumer (with effect from December 1).

Ramsumer will also serve as an audit committee member from that date.

Fitzpatrick is currently a consultant to the mining industry, focusing on operations, equipment use, sales and distribution. He has had much experience in mining, construction and agriculture businesses in Africa and Europe over the past 40 years.

He previously served as Barloworld Equipment mining, construction and rental executive director and Hitachi/John Deere/Wirtgen chief commercial officer in West Africa.

Fitzpatrick started his career as an engineer with Anglo American and holds a BSc Mechanical Engineering from Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He also completed the Programme for Management Development at Harvard University, as well as the Executive Development Programme at the Gordon Institute of Business School.

Ramsumer is a chartered accountant with more than 33 years of experience in auditing and business advisory services across various industries. He holds a BCom degree and a Diploma in Accounting from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

He served as a PwC partner and at its legacy firm for 33 years, including managing PwC’s KwaZulu-Natal assurance practice for the last eight of those years.

His particular strengths include strategy, business advice, finance, external audit, risk management and technical accounting, and he has significant automative experience, having served as Toyota South Africa lead audit partner for five years.

Since retiring from PwC, he now serves on two listed entities - as Premier Group independent nonexecutive director and audit committee chairperson; and as Mr Price Group independent nonexecutive director, audit committee chairperson and risk and information technology committee member.