Managing Director will resign at the AGM after achieving his mission

On behalf of the Board of Tellus Holdings Ltd (Tellus), we announce that the founder and visionary of Tellus, Mr Duncan van der Merwe, has announced his resignation as the Group’s Managing Director after eleven years with the company.

This resignation will take effect on Tuesday, 17th November 2020, after Tellus’ Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Duncan is departing Tellus after realising his mission to contribute towards a safer and cleaner Australia and providing the company with a solid foundation on which to grow. Tellus is actively developing a portfolio of geological repositories that provide long term storage, treatment, recycle, recovery and permanent isolation services for difficult-to-manage waste types, plus the supply of related commodity products.

“It has been a challenging but a rewarding journey,” said Duncan van der Merwe. “As a sector leader, I am extremely proud of the social, economic and environmental outcomes we have achieved. With an asset in Western Australia in the final stages of commissioning, having commenced waste acceptance and storage operations and generating revenue, retaining a portfolio of exciting growth opportunities in Eastern and Central Australia, and possessing a solid business support team and strong financial position, Tellus is well placed for an exciting future.

Our experienced Board and strong senior management team will allow me the opportunity to step aside from day to day functions knowing that Tellus’ mission will continue in good hands. My resignation will allow me to recalibrate and take care of some pressing family commitments and personal objectives. I would like to thank all shareholders, some of whom have been with the company from the beginning, for their ongoing support that has allowed the company to grow to its current maturity.

I would also like to thank the high calibre team who’ve brought Tellus to where it is today, and the exciting future that lies ahead for them in their careers at Tellus. We have built a great Australian company and with a culture of which we can all be proud and I am sure that core Tellus ethos will continue to drive our performance into the future. I will leave the MD role with the utmost confidence that the Company is in very safe hands with an outstanding future,” he said.

The Board has appointed a global recruitment company to undertake an internal and external search for Tellus’ next leader. The new leader, along with the existing senior management team, will continue to deliver on the company’s objectives and will ensure a smooth transition.

“Duncan leaves Tellus in a very strong position for future growth and on behalf of the Tellus board, shareholders and employees I would like to sincerely thank him for his vision, leadership, and contribution to the group since its foundation, and wish him well for the future. He has left a fantastic legacy and we are delighted he will continue his involvement with the Company as a major shareholder and Board Observer,” said Phil Garling, the Chairman of Tellus Holdings.

dorrie krahe
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