Meet the Team
Bulldog Abrasives is committed to excellence and value in everything we do.
Jason Baynes is the CEO of Bulldog Abrasives; he joined the company in 2008 when the abrasive company he owned was merged into Bulldog Abrasives. He started his career as a fashion photographer, before starting his own abrasives company. His role is to manage all operational and strategic aspects of the Bulldog Abrasives business. Outside of work, he is an avid climber who enjoys motocross, and surfing and loves cars. His secret talent is cooking and says that essential skills are to learn to love yourself and how to tie a clove hitch knot.
Jason Baynes
Bulldog Abrasives CEO
Daandre Erasmus started at Bulldog Abrasives in 2018 as the Group Financial Manager. He was promoted to Group CFO in 2021 which was a new and exciting opportunity. As the Group CFO, he manages all the functions involved with the Group finances and Group Financial Reporting. Outside of work he maintains an active lifestyle which includes gym, running, cycling and swimming. His secret talent is cooking delicious meals. He says that communication is an essential skill to know.
Daandre Erasmus
Group CFO
John Maroun is the Group CEO. He started his career in 1994 as the youngest of four brothers in the motor and auto body spares industry and went on to pursue his own business, MAB Autobody, which sold auto body parts, paint and consumables in the Wynberg area. MAB Autobody then purchased Bulldog Abrasives. His current role entails setting the strategic direction for the group, supporting the executive team, business development, and stakeholder management. His hobbies include spending time with his family, golf, horse racing and going to the bush. His secret skills are logical thinking and excellent maths ability. He believes that hard work, manners, honesty and learning to work with different personalities are essential traits.
John Maroun
Group CEO
Lawrence Glen joined Bulldog Abrasives in 2005 as CFO, after he was approached by a friend with a job opportunity after completed his articles. He is now the Strategic Projects Director and is responsible for identifying, evaluating and developing strategic projects that will grow the value of the Group. His main interest outside of work is his family and exercise. He says that a healthy balance in life is an essential skill.
Lawrence Glen
Director of Group Strategic Projects
Vincent Backos started with MAB Autobody in 2001 and joined Bulldog Abrasives after MAB Autobody was sold to BASF. He was appointed as COO in 2021 and is involved in all daily operations and oversees operational projects that help improve the business. He enjoys spending time with family and his hobbies are horse racing, music and movies. His secret skills are photographic memory and manual mathematics counting. He believes that everyone should gain experience and learn new things every day.
Vincent Backos
Group COO
Kevin Backos is the Group Procurement Director. He worked with his brother in a spares shop before starting MAB Autobody with John Maroun in 1994. His duties include purchasing inventory as well as inventory control for the group. His secret talent is that he is excellent with numbers and says that an essential skill everyone should learn is respect and responsibility.
Kevin Backos
Group Procurement Director
Marsel Rossouw joined Bulldog Abrasives in September 2023 as Head of Finance, overseeing the monitoring and management of financial operations. Marsel enjoys family time, hunting, cooking, and playing guitar outside of work. Although he doesn’t have a pet, his girlfriend's cat has adopted him. Marsel's secret talent is making a delicious salmon and cream cheese omelette, and he believes active listening and patience are essential skills for everyone.
MARSEL ROSSOUW
Head of Finance
Vicky Maroun started her career at Bulldog Abrasives in 1999 as a General Admin Assistant, and after finding her passion for graphic design and marketing, she worked her way up to the role of Marketing Director within the group. She now manages a team of creatives and ensures that the marketing strategy for the group aligns with sales goals and targets. Her hobbies include spending time with her family, running and reading. She says that time management is a key skill.
Vicky Maroun
Group Marketing Director
Dolores Merriman is the Senior Administrative Director and joined the industry in 1996 when her brother, Kevin Backos encouraged her to join MAB Autobody. Her interests and hobbies include walking and knitting. Her secret talent is that she is artistic and can paint and draw. She believes that if you work hard, you will reap the rewards.
Dolores Merriman
Group Senior Administrative Director
BULLDOG BUSINESS UNIT MANAGING DIRECTORS, MANAGERS & ASSISTANT MANAGERS
Andre Dormehl is the Managing Director for Bulldog Automotive, a division of Bulldog Abrasives. He has been with the company since 1995 and initially started as a delivery driver. He is responsible for sales, product training, new product development and overall functioning and operations of the Automotive markets Outside of work, one of his hobbies is going hunting. His secret talent is to remain calm under pressure and says that an essential skill to learn, especially in the trade, is to adapt to the different personalities encountered.
Andre Dormehl
Automotive Managing Director
Ben Davies is the Managing Director for IWD, a division of Bulldog Abrasives He started his career at Bulldog Abrasives in 2008 as a sales representative He is responsible for sales, product training, and new product development and overall functioning and operations of the Industrial, woodworking and DIY markets. His main interests are spending as much quality time with his wife and daughters as possible, weight training to maintain a healthy physical and mental lifestyle and listening to music. His secret talent is that he can hip-hop dance and believes everyone should learn to communicate effectively.
Ben Davies
I.W.D. Managing Director
Banie Welthagen is the National Sales Manager for the HB Department at Bulldog Abrasives. He has been with the company for 30 years and says he didn't choose this career, it chose him. He enjoys fishing over the weekends and says that the essential skills to learn are to be humble and do everything at 110%.
Banie Welthagen
HB National Sales Manager
Dean Palmer is the National Sales Manager for the automotive division at Bulldog Abrasives. He has been in the industry since 1993 and in 2011 he moved to Bulldog Abrasives. In his spare time, he enjoys boating with the family and playing golf. His secret talent is his cooking skills, specifically authentic Indian cuisine such as biryani and curries. His essential skills that everyone should learn, are to actively listen and hear what people are saying.
Dean Palmer
Automotive Sales Manager
Paul Tollman started with Bulldog Abrasives in 2013 and he is the Category Manager. He has always had a keen interest in the hardware retail industry mixed with the industrial industry, which has a lot of technical and problem solving and producing a solution. His main function is to make ensure that hardware distributors have the correct products, are well stocked and have the correct promotions running. Outside of work he enjoys playing golf and is interested in motorsports and anything car related. He believes effective communication is an essential skill to have.
Paul Tollman
Category Manager
Justin Botha is the W.I.D. Assistant Manager and joined Bulldog Abrasives in 2021. He started his career in the tool industry and started growing in the Abrasives industry. His role includes managing sales representatives, troubleshooting, on-site technical support, and product training. In his free time, he enjoys weight training and navigating technical obstacles on 4x4 off-road trails. His secret talent is that he is very good at straightening his beard and believes that everyone should keep things in perspective when facing significant challenges.
Justin Botha
I.W.D. Assistant Manager
Michelle Hattingh works in Internal Sales and started with the company in 2019. She has been in the abrasive industry since 2004. Her job includes Internals and General Admin for I.W.D and Production. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family and attending live performances every chance she gets. Her secret talent is her cooking and baking skills and believes that everyone should work hard, stay humble and be kind.
Michelle Hattingh
I.W.D Sales Administrator
BULLDOG INTERNAL SALES TEAM
Alec Nasser is the Telesales Manager for Bulldog Abrasives and has been with the company for 21 years. His job is to ensure all orders placed via email or telephone are processed and delivered correctly. He ensures the buying department is aware of all short or low stock quantities, as well as managing the backorder list. In his spare time, he likes to spend time outside with family, gym, shooting and walking the dogs. His secret talent is that he used to be able to sing. He believes reading and writing are essential skills to learn.
Alec Nasser
National Internal Sales Manager
Saul Sham works in the telesales department for Bulldog Abrasives. He started working at the company straight out of school in 2010. Both his dad and grandfather worked in the industry all their lives. His job function is to answer all incoming calls, assist customers with their various needs and process orders received from customers and sales representatives. In his free time, his hobbies include going to the gym, walking with his dogs and taking aim at the shooting range. His secret talent is patience and cooking. Communication and teamwork are essential skills he thinks everyone should learn.
Saul Sham
National Internal Sales
Stephen van Vuuren is in telesales and started with Bulldog Abrasives in 2019 as a newbie in the industry, but quickly learned the ropes. His job is to ensure orders are processed, either electronically or telephonically, as well as process and manage repairs and services of customers’ machines. Outside of work he is a family man and enjoys spending time with them. He also goes camping and fishing as often as possible. His secret talent is playing cricket and was involved in the development of junior cricket. Communication and listening are essential skills that everyone should learn.
Stephen van Vuuren
National Internal Sales
BULLDOG BRANCH MANAGERS
Dino Sivlal started his career with MAB Autobody in 2000 and joined Bulldog Abrasives in 2008. He has always had a love for cars. His job as Despatch Manager is to ensure that all orders are dispatched efficiently, accurately and on time. His interests include fishing and cars. He believes that communication and thinking outside the box are essential skills.
Dino Sivlal
JHB Branch Manager
Imraan Cassim started at RSB Automotive in 2018 and is the Johannesburg Branch Manager. He has always been in the automotive industry and boasts more than 25 years of experience. His duties include assisting the CEO by managing the operations of the Group as well as the implementation and improvement of best operational practices across the organisation. He spends his free time watching and learning from DIY videos and has a passion for modified cars. He says that simple memory skills and learning to work through failures are essential skills to have.
Imraan Cassim
JHB Branch Manager
Gerard Zackey is the JHB Receiving Manager for Bulldog Abrasives. He started his career in 2004 when he needed a change from retail stores. His duties as Receiving Manager are to manage all the stock which includes storage, as well as inbound shipments and orders. Outside of work, he enjoys football, outdoor activities and practising Krav Maga. His secret talent is that he is a skilled chef and believes that everyone should learn how to braai.
gERARD zACKEY
JHB Receiving Manager
BULLDOG WAREHOUSE MANAGERS
Judas Madaune is responsible for managing the packing of all orders and ensuring that customers’ orders are packed accurately and correctly. His duties include sorting and packing orders. His hobby is gardening on the weekends. He says his secret talent is he is a good person, doing good things. He believes that it is essential to always learn and do good.
Judas Madaune
Warehouse Superintendent
Alpheus Sebele is a Stock Rotation Manager in the Johannesburg Warehouse. He has been with the company since 2008. He oversees all the Hackers and makes sure they pull the invoiced inventory as accurately and efficiently as possible. He also assists with training new staff when required. In his free time, he enjoys watching television, especially soccer. His secret talent is that he is very hardworking and honest. He believes an essential skill to learn is empathy.
Alpheus Sebele
Stock Rotation Manager
BULLDOG PLANT MANAGERS
Themba Nduli is the Conversion Plant Manager for Bulldog Abrasives and started his career in the Bulldog Abrasives plant in 2005 when the opportunity arose. He oversees ensuring that everything is working in the plant, training new hires and equipment maintenance. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to music and his secret talent is that he is an avid musician. An essential skill he believes is a must, is proper time management.
Themba Nduli
Conversion Plant Manager
Quinton John is the Conversion Plant General Manager at Bulldog Abrasives and has been with the company since 2012. He oversees the running of the belt and flap disc manufacturing plant, processing and invoicing of orders, and liaising with clients and general plant admin. His hobbies outside of work, are being outdoors, cricket and Formula 1. He believes that everyone should be prepared for what each day will throw at them.
Quinton John
Conversion Plant General Manager
Musa Siziba joined the Bulldog Abrasives team in 2014 when he was in search of a new challenge. He is the Production Manager, and his role includes managing the production and manufacturing of abrasives. His hobbies include playing soccer and computer games. His secret talent is soccer and singing and believes that computer literacy is an essential skill to learn.
Muza Siziba
Flap Disc Production Manager
BULLDOG OPERATIONAL MANAGERS
Sanderson Mwimanwa is the Logistics Manager at Bulldog Abrasives. He started with the company in 2009. His duties are to oversee all drivers and ensure daily deliveries are completed. He enjoys watching television and sports when he can. His secret talent is honesty and hard work. He says an essential skill to master is basic social skills.
Sanderson Mwimanwa
Logistics Manager
Oscar Mavundla is the Training Manager for Bulldog Abrasives. He has been with the company since 2002 and worked in various panel shops before joining Bulldog Abrasives. His duties include training the workers in the panel shops on the correct use of Bulldog Automotive products. His hobbies include planting crops and trees, and he likes to watch soccer at any opportunity he gets. A secret talent of his is his panel-beating abilities. He says that an essential skill to learn is to have an interest in the work you do.
Oscar Mavundla
Training Manager
Denver Kleynhans is the Group IT Manager, he started his career in 2012 and has always had a keen interest in IT. His job functions include managing the IT department and ensuring that all systems are up and always running. He enjoys being outdoors, rugby and socialising. His secret talent is rhyming and says that an essential skill to learn is how to cook.
Denver Kleynhans
Group IT Manager
Marycke Pretorius is the Group Human Resources Manager at Bulldog Abrasives and says the industry chose her. Her daily duties include overseeing and running the Group HR functions and payroll, recruitment and selection, training and development and performance management among others. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, reading a good book and cooking and baking. She says that essential skills include effective communication skills, Self-awareness and empathy.
Marycke Pretorius
Group HR Manager
Mercia Edworthy is the Admin Manager and bookkeeper at Bulldog Abrasives. She started in 2015 and grabbed the opportunity to work for Bulldog Abrasives when the opportunity presented itself. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and looking after her dog and cat. She says that essential skills to have problem-solving, adaptability and the will to learn.
Mercia Edworthy
Finance Manager
BULLDOG DEBTORS
Adri Kitshoff started at RSB Autogroup in 2010. She is the Group Debtors Manager for She ensures that all debts are collected in a timely manner, and that new business is fully processed and reported. In her spare time, she enjoys making handcrafts for gifts. She says listening is a very important skill to learn.
Adri Kitshoff
Group Debtors Manager
Louise Roelofse is a Debtors Clerk for Bulldog Abrasives. She started with the company in 2016. Her duties are to build lasting business relationships with customers, stay in contact with them confirm payments as well as assist customers with queries and reconciliations where needed. Outside of work she loves spending time with her family and playing with her kids. Her secret talent is optimism and willingness to always learn something new. She believes it is very important to have good communication skills.
Louise Roelofse
Debtors Clerk
BULLDOG BUYING / IMPORTS
Hazel Chamane has worked in the imports department since 2015 and says the industry chose her. She manages the ordering and importing of products, supplier payments and recons on import files. She spends her free time cooking and baking Master Chef-style dishes. She says that essential skills that everyone should learn are reading, writing and listening.
Hazel Chamane
Group Buying / Imports Manager
Taryn Cheze has been in the abrasives industry since 2002 and moved to Bulldog Abrasives in 2018. She works in the imports department, where she tracks orders placed from international suppliers and checks import costs. She has a hamster and rescue dog and spends her free time reading, gardening and exploring new places. She places reading as her top essential skill.
Taryn Cheze
Group Buying / Imports
Jacquie Hannah has been in the buying and imports department for several years. She does inventory-based planning based on sales history and forecasting as well, as imports from various countries. Outside of work, her main priorities are spending time with loved ones, reading and going for walks with her Jack Russel. Her secret talent includes cooking and baking and says that an essential skill in today's world is advanced Excel.
Jacquie Hannah
Group Buying / Imports
BULLDOG HOSPITALITY
Steffanie van Jaarsveld is the Hospitality Manager and she joined Bulldog Abrasives in 2015. Her job functions are to manage the cleaning staff and cater for any onsite functions held in the training centre. Her grandmother and mother had a big influence on her career, and she developed a love for cooking from an early age. Her hobbies include CrossFit, cycling and running and she loves to paint and spend time in her home. Her secret talent is that she can sing and believes that resilience and the ability to cope with problems are essential skills to have.
Steffanie van Jaarsveld
Hospitality Manager
Poppy Dlamini is a Cleaning & Refreshments Manager at Bulldog Abrasives. She started her career in 2012 when she was looking for a new challenge and a different experience. Her duties are to manage the needs of all visitors and directors, assist with catering requirements and help maintain a clean working space. Outside of work she enjoys reading, cooking, and painting. Her secret talent is nursing and she is very affable. She believes that effective communication is an essential skill to have.
Poppy Dlamini
Cleaning & Refreshments Manager
Busi Mgidi is the Assistant Cleaning & Refreshments Manager at Bulldog Abrasives. She started with the company in 2020 when an opportunity was presented to her and she took it. Her main duties include ensuring a clean working space and assisting with general catering requirements. Outside of work she enjoys playing netball and cooking and being an excellent chef is her secret talent. She says being a good listener and building strong relationships are essential skills to have.
Busi Mgidi
Assistant Cleaning & Refreshments Manager
