Leonie has 20+ years as a recruitment professional in the Sub Sahara African market and since January 2011 as AIMS International’s Managing Partner based in South Africa. She represented the MEA region on the AIMS International Executive Board from 2016 to 2022.
Leonie spent a substantial part of her career as a specialist FMCG recruiter and later branched out into Industrial, Energy and Financial Industries. Her passion for AIMS' global service offering and collaboration was sparked 2004 whilst working for a boutique Management Appointments firm, when she met with Rolf Heeb, AIMS German Partner who also served as EMEA head and later as AIMS President. This led to a South African collaboration and in 2008 Leonie launched the AIMS Executive Search brand in South Africa. Since 2011 she is the owner and Managing Partner for AIMS South Africa. She currently leads the Energy & Natural Resources Global Practice and is Global Sustainability Lead, working with the UNGlobal Compact and an internal team of Sustainability Ambassadors who are all passionate about responsible business. Leonie has extensive experience representing PE firms and International investors who are looking to appoint executive leaders and key professional staff for both start-ups and existing operations in the SSA markets.
Leonie is fluent in English and Afrikaans.
A born and bred South African, I love traveling and experiencing different cultures, mostly by eating and drinking the local fare... I feel very lucky to be able to combine my work at AIMS International and interest in global cultures and economies.
I live with my family, some a little furry, in the midst of the Cape Winelands, about 50 km outside of the beautiful Cape Town. Our home is headquarters to fabulous children; some born to me and others collected along the way and their friends. I enjoy cooking and experimenting with food, more recently vegan dishes. Our dinner table is the heart of our home where we congregate loudly and often debate controversial topics, sometimes to the discomfort of the more fragile guest.
We regularly visit interesting travel destinations and enjoy following and collecting art by young South African artists. When at home, my husband and I try and advance beyond elementary levels of Vinyasa Yoga, pretend we are good boxers and I enjoy a cold swim most mornings. I am also a National Reining Horse Association member and enthusiastic Western Reiner and try to spend as much time riding my gorgeous Quarter Horse mare, Jessie.
Languages
- English
- Afrikaans
Local Offices
- - south-africa
Global Offices