New MD appointed in KZN

Having been with GVK- Siya Zama for 18 years and serving as Operations Director at its Cape Town office since 2013, Justin Meder has been promoted to Managing Director of the construction company’s KwaZulu-Natal operation.

GVK- Siya Zama CEO, Eben Meyburgh, shares: “The KZN business was established in 1968, shortly after the birth of the group in 1960. Our name is established and well-known in the region and with former MD Reece Hutton making the move to our Gauteng branch, we required an experienced insider with a steady hand to steer the ship. Justin has been with us for nearly 20 years and is well-versed in our company culture, plus he is a modern construction professional and great leader.”

Meder has close to 25 years’ experience in the industry, the bulk of which has been spent with GVK- Siya Zama. Over the course of his career as a Contracts Manager with the company, a position he held between 1999 and 2011, he oversaw a diverse range of projects varying in value such as Newlands Cricket Stadium, Gansbaai Secondary School, Constantiaberg Mediclinic and Oudtshoorn Police Station - ensuring that work was completed on time, to the highest quality and within budget.

He then advanced to Regional Production Manager with high-profile projects like the rehabilitation of the Cape Town Civic Centre and the rollout of ABSA branches across the Western and Northern Cape under his command. A short time later, he was promoted to Operations Director, handling all projects in the Western Cape with a collective value of over R500 million.

“Justin’s strength lies in his ability to work with a diverse team. He is well-loved in Cape Town by both his colleagues and clients and it is clear that Cape Town’s loss in this case is definitely KZN’s gain. Clients will find him to be a level-headed problem solver who understands their needs and someone who will go out of his way to ensure a positive customer experience, which benefits both the client and company,” says Meyburgh.

In his new role and region, Meder will be pushing hard towards achieving and exceeding the group’s objectives in terms of turnover, getting the best out of the KZN team and looking for new opportunities. “I am looking forward to stepping up and taking over the reins of the region. I see this as an opportunity to challenge myself, step out of my comfort zone and take the region to the next level.”