Chief executives

Sanlam's top leadership did not always follow chronologically, with some overlap at times, as well as frequent changes in titles.

Fred H Dormehl (Managing director)
20 June 1918 – October 1918 (died of influenza during the Spanish flu)

Alfred MacDowell (General manager)
1918 – June 1920

Dr Willie A Hofmeyr (Managing director)
Acting managing director from 1918.
Also fulfilled the role of chairman.

C R Louw (Managing director)
Acting managing director from 4 June 1920 – 1922. 

G F de Villiers (General manager)
17 March 1922.
With Louw as actuary and Feenstra as company secretary they formed the top management at the time.

Dr M S Louw (Manager)
1 October 1927
Also actuary.
With Feenstra as assistant manager and De Villiers, general manager and company secretary.
Became general manager in 1935
Managing director: 1946 – December 1949

G F S de Villiers (General manager)
1935 – October 1948

Dr Andreas D Wassenaar (General manager)
October 1948 – December 1965 (when title changed)
Managing director: Dec 1965 – March 1969

Dr Andreas D Wassenaar (Managing director)
December 1965 – March 1969

P J F Scholtz (Managing director)
March 1969 – April 1978

Dr Fred J du Plessis (Managing director) 
May 1978 – April 1985

Pierre Steyn (Managing director)
April 1985 - March 1991 (when title changed)
Executive head and deputy chairman: April 1991 – March 1993

Desmond K Smith (Managing director)    
April 1993 – December 1997

Marinus Daling (Executive head and executive chairman)
December 1997 – April 2001

Dr Leon Vermaak (Executive head) 
May 2001 – December 2002

Flip de V Rademeyer  (Acting executive head)
December 2002 – March 2003 

Dr Johan van Zyl (Executive head)
31 March 2003 – 15 July 2003 (when title changed)
Group chief executive:  Sanlam Ltd: 15 July 2003 – present day.